Blogs » Compost this! News of the obscure, irreverent and horticultural

Early risers

By MARCIA NELESEN ( Contact ) Tuesday, April 14, 2009 - 3:53 p.m.

So, I get to do a round-up of some of the best gardening spots in Rock and Walworth counties for our Summer Source edition. This is one assignment that won’t feel like work. Not that council meetings feel like work.

I’m already planning my route, which will likely include such standbys as the Flower Factory, K&W Greenery and Northwind Perennial Farm. Any more suggestions out there?

Talking gardening, has anyone noticed that stuff seems to be coming up faster than other years? My bluebells are up and one even has a bud, even though my hepatica just started blooming. That seems a little early for the Virginia bluebells. I think my peonies grew as I watched on Sunday. It’s not that it’s been really warm lately, but maybe it’s been warm enough. Is it just me?

I also have to share some thoughts on one of my favorite plants. My white lungwort is already blooming and will keep blooming for weeks. The blooms might be small but they are so plentiful that they make a statement. And, the spotted leaves stays interesting all summer long. Any other favorite early, early spring flowers out there?

White lungwort and scillia. Notice the cute spotted leaf.

White hepatica

Purple hepatica

reader COMMENTS

Click here to view reader comments

(8)

pepepez
Apr 26, 2009 at 1:35 p.m.
Suggest removal

bleeding heart

sequester
Apr 22, 2009 at 10:57 p.m.
Suggest removal

Marcia, don't forget to look for the native spring flowers at Palmer and Parker parks: kitten toes, pasque flowers and scilla! All beautiful harbingers of spring time!

kbunge
Apr 17, 2009 at 1:42 p.m.
Suggest removal

Love those hepatica, Marcia. Gorgeous!

bwheelock
Apr 17, 2009 at 10:48 a.m.
Suggest removal

"Not that council meetings feel like work." Hahahaha!

brandeen2
Apr 17, 2009 at 9:12 a.m.
Suggest removal

Pasque flowers (see http://www.botany.wisc.edu/herb/wisflora...) are still blooming in the Rock River Parkway, south of Fisher Creek Trailhead, and also in Rockport Park...BUT there has also been signs of digging up plants. Buy only from known vendors...plant thieves shouldn't benefit at farmer's markets.

kenseth24
Apr 17, 2009 at 1 a.m.
Suggest removal

I stopped out at Natures Touch on Hwy 11 last year. They had 10 times the perennials that everyone else had. I was told they had over 1,000 varietes on hand.

BalancePoint
Apr 16, 2009 at 10:55 p.m.
Suggest removal

Monches Farms NW of Milwaukee.

kfrey
Apr 15, 2009 at 3:21 p.m.
Suggest removal

How about Enchanted Valley.

Before you post a comment, consider this:

Note: GazetteXtra.com does not condone or review every comment. Read more in our User Policy Agreement

Keep it clean. Comments that are obscene, vulgar or sexually oriented will be removed. Creative spelling of such terms or implied use of such language is banned, also.
Don't threaten to hurt or kill anyone.
Be nice. No racism, sexism or any other sort of -ism that degrades another person.
Harassing comments. If you are the subject of a harassing comment or personal attack by another user, do not respond in-kind. Hit the "Suggest Removal" button on offensive comments.
Share what you know. Give us your eyewitness accounts, background, observations and history.
Do not libel anyone. Libel is writing something false about someone that damages that person's reputation.
Ask questions. What more do you want to know about the story?
Stay focused. Keep on the story's topic.
Help us get it right. If you spot a factual error or misspelling, email newsroom@gazettextra.com or call 1-800-362-6712.
Remember, this is our site. We set the rules, and we reserve the right to remove any comments that we deem inappropriate.

Post Comment

Commenting requires registration.

News:

Opinion:

Blogs | Columns | Political Cartoons | Polls

Sports:

Multimedia:

Community:

Births | Couples | Obituaries | Death Notices

Blogs

Blog List | Latest Blog Entries

Services:

Reader Rewards | Retail Locations

Copyright ©2007 Bliss Communications Inc. All rights reserved. Use of this material and this site are subject to the GazetteExtra Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Content may not be published, broadcast, re-distributed or re-written.