Home of the Practically Perfect Pink Phlox and other native plants for pollinators

Monday, February 18, 2013

Collinsia verna, Where Are You?

I've looked everywhere for you, crawling on hands and knees through the wet clay, pulling back the leaf mulch, hoping to see the small seedlings that have always greeted me in February.
 You are nowhere to be found!
Collinsia verna  is a winter annual that can be found growing in rich deciduous woodlands 

Blue-Eyed Mary is a native winter annual that blooms in the Spring, sets seed in the summer, germinates in the fall and then starts growing in February.  

I love it and have my fingers crossed in hope that it's better at hiding than I am at searching.

~Although, the Blue-Eyed Mary was a no-show I did see
False Rue Anemone (Enemion biternatum ), always one of the first Spring ephemerals to bloom.


Early blooming daffodils.

Tommies!

An array of beautiful Hellebores.






Aren't they worth mucking about in the mud!

A few  Dandelions for the earliest  visiting honeybees.




Hamamelis 'Diane' holding court in the understory, and 

Slippery Elm glowing above it all.
~~~~~

Really, not bad for a chilly few days in the garden...

xoxogail

I am several days late for Garden Bloggers Bloom Day, but don't let that keep you from popping over to May Dreams Gardens to see what Carol is up to...

 Gail Eichelberger is a gardener and therapist in Middle Tennessee. She loves wildflowers and native plants and thoroughly enjoys writing about the ones she grows at Clay and Limestone. She reminds all that the words and images are the property of the author and cannot be used without written permission.

25 comments:

  1. Not bad at all, dear Gail! I do so hope your blue eyed Mary shows up soon, knowing how much you love it. What a beauty that cutie false rue anemone is! That blue sky is the stuff of dreams.
    xoxoxo
    Frances

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  2. Beautiful blooms!
    I especially love the daffodil! I'm guessing that wonderful light is near sunset.
    Have a wonderful day!
    Lea
    Lea's Menagerie

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  3. Even if you didn't find blue-eyed Mary (love that name!), it was certainly worth crawling about in the garden to see all those hellebores--gorgeous! Even though I know you're a couple zones warmer than I am, I'm still surprised to see the daffodils and crocuses already blooming--such a welcome sign of spring. I hope Mary arrives soon!

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  4. Oh, I needed those blooms today. The wind is whipping about making the wind chill feel like single digit temps. Send it north please. Enjoy your day.

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  5. I hope Blue-eyed Mary shows up soon. Until then, your other flowers are beautiful! It was well worth crawling through the mud to photograph them!

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  6. Good luck with the blue-eyed Mary! Do have seeds, or can you get them?

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  7. I always get excited to see your new spring arrivals. It means that it won't be long and I will be seeing the same things. I hope Mary shows up for you. She is a beauty. Happy GBBD.

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  8. Oh, that is lovely. I am excited to see your ephemerals. You have many different ones from mine. Hugs.~~Dee

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  9. Beautiful photos! My hellebores and crocus are cheering me up as well. I must remember to look for seeds of Collinsia verna--I am always looking for things to add cheer to the winter landscape. Thanks for introducing me to this charming plant!

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  10. Just beautiful! Your photos make me feel I am right there in your garden...so much loveliness!

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  11. At this time of year, these blooms are a balm!

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  12. I think H. 'Diane' has the prettiest color!! You have a lot of great color!!

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  13. I'm getting antsy looking at all these pics of spring blooms. We are still a good month away to see any of these.

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  14. Wow, you're about a month ahead of me and I am jealous! Those Hellebore shots are stunning! They're good models to start with, but your talents and your camera certainly do them justice. Beautiful post, Gail!

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  15. Definitely worth a tramp about in the mud and sunshine. I love those Hellebores and wish I could grow them down here, but alas, I'll just have to enjoy them through bloggers who grow them and share them like you. Thank you ~ FlowerLady

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  16. Gail I love your early blooms...I hope to see these in a couple of weeks.

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  17. The Colinsia is adorable! I'm sure it will appear soon. Your other spring blooms are lovely. I can't wait for my own Tommies!

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  18. The Collinsia has a look about it that it might be good for cuttings - providing you can find the original plant. Enjoyed reading about your Naturalist Class. It is wonderful to find an activity and like-minded group of souls. Kevin & I are going to sign up for some birdwatching/naturalist classes in March. Wondered if you have read Wesley the Owl by Stacey O'Brien - took it out of the library last week on the recommendation of blogger Barbie and couldn't put it down - delightful story about a biologist who raised a barn owl for 19 years. In the meantime, thanks for the blossoms - things are very snowy/raining and blah here at the moment. Can always count on my southern neighbours for a flower snack this time of year.
    B.

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    1. I haven't Barbara but will look for it at the library...Thanks for the recommendation.

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  19. It can be amazing what turns up when you look for something else.

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  20. My gardeners heart needed to see those beautiful blooms....

    Hope you find your special one.

    Jen

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  21. Sigh here in NH we still have lots of snow.. Your wonderful flowers are beautiful :)
    ~Erika

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  22. Gorgeous, gorgeous photos, Gail! Even that Dandelion had me smiling! As I stare out at a pure white snowy landscape I'm wishing I lived closer to you...

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  23. Yippee! Spring is starting it's trip to the north. It looks to be a later start here than last year, but I will be patient for awhile.

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  24. Oh, you! I always think there may be a chance of posting before you (ha)! Things are looking Very Good down your way! I have a little more planning to do, yet. Happy Early Spring, Gail!

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"Insects are the little things that run the world." Dr. E O Wilson