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Wednesday 18 April 2012

Look What's Blooming!

My red tulips bloom first and are on the wane. ~


I'm anxiously waiting for the white tulips I planted last fall to open and fretting over whether they are in a sunny enough spot.

The new kind of Forget Me Nots, that I put in last year are starting to bloom ~


The first two bunches have opened and the leaves have dark green veins on a dusty white background.

But, the show stopper this week is this! ~



Trillium grandiflorem (White Trillium)

I live in Ontario and the Trillium is our emblem and official flower.  It's a small, woodland plant from the lily family.  The flower is made of three leaf like bracts, for the petals, that are pure white.  As the blooms age they turn to pink.

The seeds are spread by ants who swallow them and ummmm redeposit them elsewhere. They are very delicate and difficult to transplant.  I was lucky to have two of them take in my front yard.

It is common belief that it is illegal to pick Trilliums in Ontario, but that is only true in conservation areas and provincial parks.  Still, you don't ever want to pick them as it seriously injures the plant.  Without the bracts, the plant can't produce food for next year and may take many years to recover.

Only fairies should pluck the blooms and only when they are in dire need of new haberdashery! ~ 


Aren't these the dearest little flowers?  I'm sure the first ones were planted by dryads!



27 comments:

  1. We have them here, too, and it is illegal to pick or transplant them here. I think they are such a beautiful, shy little flower and I love the way the make little blankets of white in the woods around here. xo Diana

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    1. Isn't it odd that it's illegal to pick them in several states and not illegal in the province that has it as their official flower? What a lovely line, "little blankets of white"!

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  2. How exciting! Love that red tulip!

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    1. I think the squirrels transplanted that tulip off by it's lonesome. It seems to love it there and has bloomed longer than the rest!

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  3. Beautiful pics Maureen! I'm waiting for my burgundy trillium to bloom...hoping! Love, love, love that yours have bloomed so beautifully. xo wendy

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    1. You will definitely have to post pics when it blooms!

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  4. What a sweet flower and I love the folklore that goes with it. How fortunate you are to have them blooming in your garden. So pretty.

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    1. I made up the fairy part. lol You know I can be a bit fanciful at times.

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  5. The red tulip is beautiful. I keep forgetting to plant more tulips and daffodils. I just love flowers. It makes me happy.

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    1. I know what you mean! I always plan to put new varieties of bulbs in and forget when the fall chill sets in.

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  6. I love garden surprises! Right now I am enjoying a blooming hibiscus in a place I planted one about four years ago. Hibiscus are tropical and die if we have a freeze (which we usually do). I guess some seeds from four years ago managed to root this year. I'm not complaining :).

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    1. Imagine an Hibiscus coming back! This has been the queerest year for plants.

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  7. Things seem to be popping up everywhere....thankful for spring!

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    1. My flowers are so untended this year that it is a miracle they bloom for me!

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  8. Such a happy, beautiful post Maureen! I didn't plant anything since I hardly have time to take care of them + in an apartment house plants are all I can plant but I love when they surprise us once in a while. My cactus is blooming since its really hot in here...pretty red flowers :)

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    1. Soon you will be in your own home and can garden for real!

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  9. Lovely post and beautiful flowers!

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  10. Oh these are beautiful Maureen! I just realized your blog is not on "My Blog List" that shows on my blog. I'm SO sorry. You are one of my most faithful followers. I'm adding your blog today so I don't miss and post and so others can link over too.

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    1. Awww, thanks. It's so nice to have your with me!

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  11. I love those forget-me-nots. I grow them every year, or rather, they grow themselves, because they self-seed. Flowers that shade of blue are not common, and that's one of the reasons I like them so much. I like the leaves on yours better.

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    1. I have masses of the usual Forget Me Nots but got this one from my cousin's son who is a horticulturist. I must ask him what it is called.

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  12. I love trillium and have 6 different varieties - one is native and was in our woods when we arrived, the rest I have added from native plant sources. They are just beginning to spread. Spring is so exciting. Every weekend I can't wait to see what has come up in the woodland garden. I definitely agree tht sometimes you simply have to recognize that the fairies have to take what they need. In the long run their presence in our gardens will bring us much joy and luck! Have a wonderful week.

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    1. I can use a little luck right now and hope the fairies are on my side!

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  13. It must be lovely to potter around your garden and maybe relax a little after everything you've been through recently Maureen.
    I enjoyed your pretty post - because I really mustn't go into my garden until I've finished a few more things inside !!!

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    1. Awww, thanks Fiona. I'm hoping to get a little time to garden this weekend before it gets out of hand! Have a great weekend!

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  14. My how interesting I love that crazy ant stuff. This is one of the things I enjoy about blogs you learn things you other wise would never know.

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    1. I was just saying that to my brother today. I can always find someone online who knows how to do it or who lives in the place I'm curious about, etc.

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