Curves and Curls

Another interesting feature of the local flora is the prevalence of curves and curls. All around the area I continue find corkscrew branch tips, curvaceous trunks, and curling creepers.

Some of these plants clearly use the strength of other plants, such as the self-supporting trees, to provide them with structure and footholds for growth. Other plants just seem to enjoy twisting!

I’m interested to learn whether some of these creeping plants are in fact stranglers, or if they live symbiotically with their supportive friends. For those who simply like to curl, I have to wonder: what inspires them to grow this way?

Trees and floral mysteries

This week brought a lovely warm spell to my home, coaxing out the first fresh green leaves on a young tree in the backyard. The bud burst has begun!

While happily trying my best to capture some images of these first leaves for you, I stumbled upon another early springtime wonder: the croci. But they aren’t at all where I expected them to be! I found the purple crocus popping up out of some leaf litter just beside the driveway. The surrounding greenery is some type of ground cover, the name of which I do not yet know.

In the mean time, I have huge patches of swelling flower bulbs just aching to open – and I have no idea what they are. My best guess is that they might be some type of small daffodil. It would be grand if they were hyacinth, but the greens look too short. Then again, at this point, I’d believe ANYTHING is possible! Stay tuned!