That's this year's flower buds next to last year's berries.
Lonicera sempervirens is a native honeysuckle that blooms with the early migration of the hummingbirds, though this year I think it's going to flower even earlier then that. At this rate it might even beat the Daffodils.
Something that is blooming is the yellow crocuses. Note the stink bug (dead or dormant I think) trying to stay warm inside the flower.
So all these early blooms got me wondering what else is pushing out new growth this early.
This years crop of Tall Goldenrod,
Solidago altissima, is getting a head start on the invasion this year. I think it's time I finally ripped a few dozen of these out of the garden.
Solidago rugosa 'Fireworks' is also spreading nicely.
The Mountain Mint,
Pycnanthemum sp., is conquering the milkweed patch nicely. I'll be ripping this out liberally.
The stuff smells great and minty too.
The Sedums are bursting back.
Ironweed.
Roundleaf Ragwort, Packera obovata, is also spreading some. It's doing so in nice, garden friendly, tight clumps though. Despite it's seeds being transported by the wind it seems to be growing as a well behaved ground cover. I like this plant so much I'm thinking about spreading it around the yard everywhere. Note the flower buds starting to appear.
And then there's Golden Alexander, Zizia aurea. What this is doing with flower buds on it this early is a mystery to me. This is just one plant of the 4 doing it. Perhaps this is a seedling that's got its wires crossed somewhere.
