Liz Christy Garden

Winter Aconite (Eranthus hyemalis)


A Daffodil (Narcissus) in the Cyclamineus class, called thus since the sepals flare back much like a Cyclamen.

Scilla (Scilla verna)

A crocus, and an early spring pollinator



Flowering plum (Prunus x blireana)

Plum bark - It has lenticels and the color of a Cherry, but has thick peels that are almost corky looking.

Sarah Roosevelt Park

This park isn't much to look at, but if you look closely, there's quite a bit happening there right now.

Daffodils (Narcissus sp.)

The appropriately titled Lenten Rose (Helleborus orientalis).

Andromeda (Pieris japonicus)


And Crocus (Crocus vernalis)

Here's some trivia for you: the pollen in a crocus flower is saffron. The saffron must be harvested by hand and is thus quite labor-intensive. Which explains the high cost of this spice.

I am going to try and post more photos of things in bloom as I am seeing more and more. Forsythia is blooming and I saw some Iris reticulata on 5th Avenue in a tree pit near 10th street. That's a surprise as this is a diminutive and underappreciated plant.

Chinese Lilac Tree (Syringa reticulata) is beginning to leaf out, too. This is the only tree I've seen leafing out so far. However, the buds on all the Bradford Pears are opening and the Red Maples are finally about to bloom.

Two of my favorite things

Plants and French.

Check out today's French Word of The Day and see a great photo of Pyracantha coccinea.

Happy first day of spring!

A *Major* Sign of Spring

Today is a typical, blustery March day. The sun comes out and you warm up. Off come the scarf and hat. The clouds blow in and you get cold again. Still, it's leather jacket weather (or whatever it is vegans wear), and not wool coat weather. A good thing.

Better still, I had my first Mr. Softee siting:


It's still a bit cool (or at least windy) for me to get a fudge-dipped cone (vanilla and chocolate twist, please). But seeing the Mr. Softee truck made warmer weather seem downright imminent.