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.