Early flowers

Leaving from home late this afternoon, I noticed that the old pink quince next to the driveway (moved from our house in Georgia and one of the first shrubs we planted as young homeowners) has open flowers. Definitely spring is on the way, in spite of the sleet and snowflakes on the road.

I always notice its buds in (what passes for) the dead of winter here, and has been particularly so this year.

The shoots on the coral honeysuckles (Lonicera sempervirens) are elongating quickly, the bare vines supporting young green leaves.

Daffodil shoots are well up, and the first flowers of weedy winter annuals are evident, too.

I saw some open speedwell flowers (Veronica arvensis) in the lawns near my office this morning.

This is a photo from Missouri plants.com.

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Winter flowers

Even though 'official' winter is just underway, our recent mild weather has encouraged a few early winter flowers.

These aren't natives, to be sure, but hardy imports from Asia, Camellia japonica (Camellia) and Chaenomeles speciosa (Flowering Quince). Their early flowers are an encouraging part of gray winter days (at least what passes for gloomy winter days here).

I'm thankful that we don't have too many dark days; a fellow on a nature walk this morning said 'this is what Chicago is like all winter.' Without the snow, I guess. But, that doesn't sound fun to me, although I celebrate folks who can embrace winter snow and ice with a full heart.

But I thought today WAS a gray, cold day, and I was glad to see the Professor Sargent camellia flowers and the quince flower buds.

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