DiscussWorldIssues - Socio-Economic Religion and Political Uncensored Debate

'Cause the cherries are bloomin'!

Winter has blended into early spring in these parts. Still, for us, it has been a bit cool lately with the last few mornings near or at the freezing mark. Still the flowers are really starting to do their thing.

The view off the back of my house down toward the valley and the town I live in. Yep, the cherries are full on now.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...chen2010SM.jpg

Camellia japonica is still flowering, though it is getting late now for them. The very last of them will finish by late April. This one is called 'Hagoromo'.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...HagoromoSM.jpg

An interesting and beautiful Japanese woodland flower is this Ophiorrhiza japonica - always one of the first wildflowers to bloom here.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...zaJaponica.jpg

And of course the late winter/early spring bloomer - a hybrid hellebore. These start flowering when the snow still flies!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...ellebore-1.jpg

Actually finished now, here is a little patch of crocus flowering just after the first snow drops (early March).

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...cusAgainSM.jpg

The only orchids flowering outside now are a couple Cymbidium goeringii, but soon many others will follow - Calanthe, Cyps, Thrixspermum, Gastrochilus, and a few Dendrobiums. April and May are glorious months here!