Special Invitation to a Royal Event this Friday…

Snowdrops, Mystery, Marvel and Madness!

Common snowdrop (Galanthus nivalis)

So you’ve checked your mailbox and there is STILL no invite to this Friday’s event? Well…here it is: this Friday evening Dr. Aaron Davis of the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew. Dr. Aaron Davis is a highly respected Plant taxonomist employed at Kew whose main research focus is on the plant family Rubiaceae in Madagascar, particularly Coffea. He has published over 75 peer reviewed papers as well as five books. His Ph.D. research was on snowdrops (Galanthus) and he continues work on snowdrops with a recent exploration trip to the Ukraine.
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In Bloom at the Gardens: Week of February 27

First Crocus at the Gardens

I checked my gardening journal this week. (I start each spring with good intentions, but writing in the journal occurs in inverse proportion to the amount of work that needs to be done in the garden!) I have been imagining that this winter has been longer and colder than recent winters. I wanted to verify that perception, using my crocus-o-meter.
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Spring blooms here, there and everywhere

Eranthis hyemalis blooming in Shady Lane on Feb. 25, 2009

The Gardens are quickly springing back to life with the 70+ degree days.  I was wondering what was blooming across the rest of the country, so I contacted a few colleagues across the nation to see how their gardens were waking up in comparison to Denver Botanic Gardens. 

Denver Botanic Gardens currently has many species of plants in full bloom or just beginning to bloom. Galanthus elwesii (snowdrops), Crocus sp. and cvs., Iris reticulata and its various cultivars, Cornus mas (Cornelian cherry), Eranthis hyemalis (winter aconite) and Helleborus sp. are all blooming. This morning I witnessed some of the magnolias (M. stellata  and M. x soulangeana) starting to burst from their buds in the Waring House garden as well where they grow in a sunny spot against a south facing wall.
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