Spring sights

February 22, 2008


Nodding summer snowflakes (Leucojum aestivum ) are opening under the flowering Mexican plum, creating a fresh, white, early-spring display.

Scenting the garden, Carolina jessamine (Gelsemium sempervirens ) lights up the south fence.

Inside the mass of flowers, I heard a chick cheeping for food.

When I peered through the vines, I saw this fledged sparrow being fed by its parent. A few minutes later, he fluttered to the top of the fence and I got his picture. A sparrow isn’t exactly emblematic of spring, but I’ll take it.
All material © 2006-2008 by Pam Penick for Digging. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited.

0 responses to “Spring sights”

  1. wiseacre says:

    You sure that’s a Nodding snowflake? Looks like a fairy lampost to me 🙂 Either way I think the flower is beautiful. Much more so than the snow falling here.
    It’s actually called “summer snowflake,” though clearly it blooms in early spring this far south. But yeah, I prefer it to real snowflakes too, though my snow-deprived kids would not agree. —Pam

  2. Frances says:

    Oh what a great sign of spring, baby birds. We are weeks away from that here, but things are starting to perk up a bit. Hellebores, quince, daffodils are beginning to open, the birds are chirping noisily, the tree buds are swelling, and most noticeable, the dawn is coming sooner. Yea! Thanks for showing a contextual shot of the jasmine!
    Frances at Faire Garden
    It sounds like things are most definitely perked up in Faire Garden. Enjoy all your early flowers too, Frances. —Pam

  3. Mary Beth says:

    I only grow a few common bulbs (caladiums and amaryllis) – Your Nodding Snowflakes are breathtaking! What a gorgeous sign of Spring!
    I’m enjoying the summer snowflakes, and I’d recommend them for you too. Any bulb that does well in hot climates is a good find, right? —Pam

  4. Jan says:

    The summer snowflakes are my favorite. I remember seeing them in an old abandoned garden in a small Southern town, and ever since them I have wanted them.
    Jan Always Growing
    Yep, they’re supposed to be a tough bulb for the South. I’m pleased with them so far, but I really need quite a lot more to make an impression for anything but a closeup. —Pam

  5. jodi says:

    Lovely, Pam. Here’s a little example of how different our climates are: in Antigonish, about 3 hours from here, my friend’s Leucojums bloom in mid-late May. Here, they get around to popping up by mid June. I planted a whole bunch more this fall–well, on Christmas Eve, during a melt–so I hope to have more of them this June….
    Hmm. So is our early spring what your high summer is like? Clearly I need to head up to Nova Scotia come July for some summer relief! —Pam

  6. Robin says:

    I love the green on the white flower of the snowflake, so pretty.
    It is decorated nicely, isn’t it? —Pam

  7. Lisa at Greenbow says:

    Gorgeous flowers to behold while waiting for the ice to melt.
    Oh dear, ice? Well, you should be getting some pretty pictures if you have ice, dangerous though it is. But I hope you get thawed out soon, Lisa. —Pam

  8. Diana Kirby says:

    I’m going to have to add the summer snowflakes to a list somewhere to plant next fall. They are so delicate. And I love the long shot of the full jessamine against the fence – it’s nice to see the whole thing in bloom, in addition to the close ups.
    I think after a while, all the Austin garden bloggers will be growing the same plants, don’t you? 😉 Either through sharing or just plain inspiration. You definitely should try summer snowflakes. Anything this easy should be grown by everyone. Are you on heavy clay, Diana, or caliche? —Pam

  9. irena says:

    ahhh, spring….it’ll be at least another few weeks before I can even see soil. We’re still buried under about two feet of snow. If i ever move, I’m coming to Austin. Your growing season is amazing.
    cheers
    irena
    Yes, we have a very long growing season while still having seasons (i.e., not tropical). I do enjoy that about Austin, among many other things, including the glorious cool-but-not-cold winters. —Pam

  10. Kim says:

    Man… I am feeling the longness of winter right now, so these were welcome sights. I keep looking at the little clump where I know my neighbor has snowdrops, but have yet to see any white other than actual snow. (If even I could get a hellebore to bloom, or winter aconite to pop up its pretty head, I’d be okay!)
    It won’t be too long, will it, Kim? Surely March will bring you some early spring flowers too. Until then, I hope visits to all the Southerners’ blogs will help stave off those winter blues. —Pam

  11. ewa says:

    Your Carolina jessamine looks so lovely on this wooden fence. and if it is scented as well, then the beauty is complete. We do not grow it here in Poland.
    Greetings,
    Poland is probably too chilly for it. But I’m sure you have equally beautiful, cold-tolerant beauties to compensate. —Pam

  12. Carol says:

    So that’s what spring looks like? It seems like our last spring was so long ago. But today is bright and sunny, so even though the temps are below freezing, the ice is melting. Just a few more weeks, and I’ll be out planting some peas!
    Carol, May Dreams Gardens
    Yes, don’t you remember, Carol? 😉 If the ice is melting, spring can’t be far behind, right? You could retitle your blog, for now, Pea Dreams Gardens. —Pam

  13. kerri says:

    It’s great to see the bigger picture of the Carolina Jessamine on the fence Pam. It’s just sings of spring, doesn’t it, like that baby sparrow? 🙂 The snowflake is so beautifully delicate…a real fairy flower.
    We have bright sunshine today and temps hovering around 38º, a very pleasant change. But we’re still looking at white, which I actually much prefer to dirty brown 🙂
    Happy springtime in Austin to you!!
    The white stuff looks beautiful to me because we so seldom get to see any snow. I’ve enjoyed all the cold-climate garden bloggers’ winter photos. But I’m sure it’s getting old at this point. Hang in there! —Pam

  14. Katarina says:

    Beautiful shots! I thought the white flower was a Snowdrop, at first. That’s one of the things that’s so great about blogging – you learn something new each day!
    /Katarina at Roses and stuff
    These summer snowflakes look a lot like snowdrops to my eyes too. Thanks for dropping by, Katarina. —Pam

  15. Very pretty and Spring-y that summer snowflake! Over here they are called Spring Bells, perhaps a better name for them. 🙂 I remember your jessamine from last year and I coveted it then too, such a wonderful plant and scented as well!
    I like the name Spring Bells better too. So you haven’t found a Carolina jessamine for your garden yet? —Pam

  16. Marie says:

    Beautiful post 🙂
    Thanks, Marie. —Pam

  17. That first photo is just exquisite, Pam.
    We took our out-of-state family to Zilker Gardens this week and saw the snowflakes growing in good-sized patches near the Taniguchi Oriental Garden. Those scalloped edges really get me!
    As usual, my garden lags behind yours, so we have many jessamine buds swelled and yellow, but few open flowers.
    Annie at the Transplantable Rose
    I adore the scalloped edges too. I’d love to seem them growing en masse. I hope you had a good visit with family, Annie. You certainly enjoyed nice weather while they were here, right? —Pam

  18. Dawn says:

    What a lovely snowdrop Pam. It reminds me of the sweet little fairie flowers in The Spiderwick Chronicles.
    Speaking of movies, yesterday after I dropped the Spring-Fling check by your house (hope you found the envelop under your porch mat, btw) and got back into the car my son said with awe, “That looks like a house Giselle [the magical princess from the film ‘Enchanted’] should live in”. Translation: He was quite impressed by your front garden. 🙂
    I did find your envelope—thank you. And I’m simply in love with your sweet son now. What a generous compliment! And I just love it when children notice gardens, even cut-back, waiting-for-spring gardens. 🙂 —Pam