6 on Saturday – 17MAY2025 – Almost Caught Up

Chris Mousseau

After a slow start to the spring it seems we’re almost caught up to normal, gardening-wise. I looked at photos from this time last year and just a few flowering shrubs and small trees aren’t quite at the same stage. Dandelions, on the other hand, seem much more abundant than normal, but perhaps I say that every year! In any event, here are six things in the garden; I’m joining Jim at Garden Ruminations in his weekly round-up.

Something prickly to start…these vicious thorns on Gleditsia triacanthos – honey locust – likely evolved to prevent deer from eating away at the bark. I find it an interesting juxtaposition against the delicate leaves now starting to unfurl. Most varieties sold at nurseries these days are thornless, but I purchased this one as a sapling at a native plant sale – seems to be the straight species.

Now for something soft…I planted five red maple – Acer rubrum – whips a few weeks ago, purchased at (again) a native plant sale in part to replace the many dead ash trees (thanks to Emerald Ash Borer). I know I’ll be long gone before they reach a similar height but they give me hope. As do the leaves that have started to emerge, signaling they’ve survived the transplant:

The final two daffodil species to bloom this year – Narcissus poeticus , which has bulbs that multiply too readily and a very similar but unknown daff which, every year, sends up a single flower stalk and just a few leaves:

N. poeticus
unknown…but pretty!

At exactly the same stage today as it was this day last year is Sambuscus racemosa – red elderberry. These produce very small berries not suitable for human consumption unless cooked with seeds removed. This is a volunteer shrub that is much too close (ie touching) to the house but so nice to see through the window next to my desk.

Although most of the pure yellow daffs are done for the year, something equally brilliant has taken their place – these Primula veris – cowslips – which keep spreading and now form a nice little area rug of green and yellow by the driveway:

And finally, something pink and cozy, Lamprocapnos spectabilis – Bleeding Heart. Have a lovely weekend everyone – and it’s a long weekend over here, as we celebrate Queen Victoria’s birthday with fireworks and merriment on Monday.

33 Comments

  1. There’s that Narcissus poeticus you mentioned to me! It is a beauty; I’d plant that one in a minute. I’ve enjoyed seeing the cowslips this year, or noticing them for the first time. When I was being introduced to British poetry in school, I assumed that cowslips were as imaginary as fairies — not so!

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    1. LOL re the imaginary cowslips! The only thing not to like about N. poeticus is how the bulbs multiply so quickly, meaning actual flowers become less and less. I need to dig them up and divide them. Other daffs don’t behave quite the same way for me.

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  2. Bleeding heart is such a beautiful plant! The maples are looking good! They grow relatively quickly, don’t they? I did not replace my ash trees as taking them down made for a sunny garden. I did feel bad about losing them, they were more than 50 years old, but I could not see treating them, my theory being that the treatment probably affects any insects that try to feed on ash. Now much of the ash wood is decomposing under my vegetable garden. The cowslips are very cheery!

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    1. Too many ash to seriously consider treatment….I do have enough firewood to keep the house warm for several more winters though. And yes, I believe (and hope) these maples will grow quickly!

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  5. So exciting to see it all happening. I have some bleeding hearts outside my patio. I just love them. And my service berry has bloomed so beautifully. But dropping blooms like crazy now.

    Mandy was in the County at The Drake for lunch with an ailing friend yesterday. She said that the restaurant had only a few tables taken – strange to see on a long weekend.

    😘

    Sent from my Galaxy

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    1. That’s sad about the Drake…the number of cars and trailers/RVs coming into the County yesterday late afternoon though was quite high. And Wellington this morning was hopping. Thank goodness the rain stopped before the sun came up. Quite the thunderstorm at 4:30!

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  7. Red elderberry was the first of my six, but was only foliage. Although supposedly native here, I have never seen it. I brought mine from Tangly Cottage Gardening. I do not mind planting them here since they are supposedly native, and their range is contiguous with that in the Pacific Northwest where they came from.

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  10. What is especially interesting about the Gleditsia triacanthos is that the young leaves are right next to the thorn as if it gives really a protective role until the larger leaf can no longer be eaten. Thanks for sharing. I really like the Narcissus poeticus

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    1. Temps are forecast to stay below 20 (68) for the next while here – helps just a few hundred meters from a Great Lake – and that should keep the daffs going a while longer. I hope.

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  13. I need to split my N. poeticus as I didn’t have many flowers this year, you have reminded me! Love all your cowslips, I’m going to introduce some to my mini meadow, so must save seed from the ones already here and get sowing!”

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  14. It’s interesting how every year in a garden or a location is different…and yet the same, or similar. That Honey Locust really does have thorns, doesn’t it? But what a wonderful tree. We have some here, too. And my Bleeding Heart blooms are at the same stage, as well. All your photos and plants deserve the kudos. Nice post.

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  16. A lovely six! Glad to see your cowslips are spreading nicely. And the Bleeding Heart is a beauty. You really have almost caught us up, but then we are late with everything by a couple of weeks here.

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