Garden therapy and Harbinger-of-Spring.

Harbinger-of-Spring (Erigenia bulbosa)

This week I am very depressed, so happen yesterday I decided to clean my garden pots a little bit. It is too much early to start planting now, but I enjoy playing in soil. Most of my perennials died this winter, but my chives are coming back and my lavender maybe still will live.




Last year my girlfriend gave me gloves with plastic claws, and they are really fun for digging. I also planted some coriander seed today, because cilantro is fine with cool weather. Old Farmers Almanac says we still have cold weather in middle March, so happen I will wait for every other plant.

This morning I went to Clifton Gorge again. We have a lot of rain this last week, so happen some areas were flooded. I can see the Little Miami River carried these logs and sticks onto the trail and pushed away many leaves.


Hepatica is blooming now. When the flower stalk grows, it curls down the flower to protect it from soil. The flower bud and stalk are covered with fine hair. They have a fur coat to protect from early spring cold. The Hepatica leaves are now more green, and they will become more and more green into spring. Hepatica flowers are white or pink, or sometimes purple. Each flower  has three green sepals, six petals, many white stamen, and many green pistils. When the Hepatica flower is finished, it looses all the petals. Most Hepatica plants have several flowers.

I also saw many Harbinger-of-Spring (Erigenia bulbosa). These flowers are tiny and white with maroon anthers. If you do not look for them you will miss them! The leaves are also small and very divided.

I hoped I would find Snow Trillium (Trillium nivale), but I think it likes higher areas. I was very close to the water today. Maybe if I return again and walk on the upper trail I will find them.

Hepatica leaves in the rain.

I went to Clifton Gorge this morning. It is 50 degrees today, but the rain is cold. I saw no people. I heard only water and rain and Canada geese. It is never quiet in Clifton Gorge, because you can always hear the river. But it was quiet with no people. I think the rain keeps them away.

I went to Clifton Gorge to find Spring. Recently the weather is warm and wet. I thought maybe I can see some early wildflowers today. It is still too early, but I can see Spring.

I found Hepatica everywhere. They were hiding under snow all winter. Hepatica leaves have three lobes. The lobes are sometimes pointed and sometimes round, but they are all Hepatica nobilis. 

 Hepatica leaves are many different colors. Later they will be more green, but now they are often red and brown.

 The flowers are only buds now. Maybe I will see them next week.

I found some Ebony Spleenwort (Asplenium platyneruon). I don't know how it is still alive from last year. There were many stonecrop buds (Sedum tenatum) on rocks but they will not bloom until later.

There were some small walking ferns (Asplenium rhizophyllum) still alive also.

 There were many brown liverworts. I think they are Conocephalum conicum. They will be green in the Spring.

 Spring is soon. I am ready.