Design

Henbit flowers A morning walk found more winter flowers. Henbit ( Lamium amplexicaule ) is a winter annual (weed) from Europe, the earliest flowering of a large group of plants that germinate here in the fall and flower in winter or spring, produce LOTS of seeds, and wait until the following fall. It's really a lovely plant, however pesky it may be. A Japanese apricot ( Prunus mume ), normally flowering in February, has open flowers with many flower buds ready to open.

Even though 'official' winter is just underway, our recent mild weather has encouraged a few early winter flowers. These aren't natives, to be sure, but hardy imports from Asia, Camellia japonica (Camellia) and Chaenomeles speciosa (Flowering Quince) . Their early flowers are an encouraging part of gray winter days (at least what passes for gloomy winter days here). I'm thankful that we don't have too many dark days; a fellow on a nature walk this morning said 'this is what Chicago is like all winter.' Without the snow, I guess. But, that doesn't sound fun to me, although I celebrate folks who can embrace winter snow and ice with a full heart. But I thought today WAS a gray, cold day, and I was glad to see the Professor Sargent camellia flowers and the quince flower buds.