Farm Journal

Thoughts and images from life at Foster Road

Entry: APRIL 24, 2009

Journal Entries

Sprouts

It’s greening up all over and every time I visit the house, I tour the grounds to see what treasures were buried under all that snow. There are many plants I recognize: chionodoxas near the house, daffodils in the lawn, and perennials—columbine and poppy—sending up shoots in the myrtle bed by the workshop. There’s a stand of daylilies by the willows and a planting of iris under one of the great maples.

But it’s the plants that are new to me, and the woodland plants that I remember from childhood, that are most fascinating. The towering tamarack (sounds, and looks, like a b-movie monster) has the most charming growth. I did not take a picture the first day the buds broke green, but they looked like beading all along the branches. Now they have pushed out into little bishop’s hats amidst the almost unnaturally abundant cones. These must be terrible germinators, delicious to squirrels, or otherwise procreation-impaired to require such numbers. I have no experience with this plant so it will be fun to watch its habit unfold.

In the woods are sweeps of dogtooth violets, with leaves that look like trout and nodding yellow flowers. Violets, vinca, and the brassy green willow are shouting with spring. There are many other plants that I cannot yet recognize by leaves alone which I may know when they come into flower. I hope I’ll be able to keep up my watch. The next month will be a riot of beginnings.