Flowers: Full, Fast, and Fertile

Wow! It is spring without a doubt. This a wonderful time to take a stroll through the Parks; wake up in the morning with a mind clearing walk, enjoy lunch with a sandwich in hand, or unwind in the early, getting  lighter/later  evenings – all while taking in the fast changing displays of bulbs and flowers.

Our native Serviceberries, Amelanchier canadensis and Amelanchier laevis, are in full bloom, brilliantly taking the place of the Cherries whose petals have fallen almost like a dusting of snow. The Daffodils and species Tulips are filling the slopes and beds with brilliant yellow and orange flowers. Other bulbs are growing rapidly. The smaller Fritillaria meleagris, or Guinea Hen Flowers, are my favorites and can be easily seen along Congress Street. Our Parks are just as ready as we are for this spring that has been teasing us along. Leaves are emerging on nearly all of our trees. In Chinatown and the Urban Arboretum the Azaleas and Rhododendrons have started their bloom cycles. Viburnums, Lilacs, and Fothergilla, the next group of spring flowering shrubs, are showing color in their flower buds and will likely start blooming next week.

Fritillaria meleagris

Rhodendron (Indica Type) ”Macratha Pink’

The first perennials to bloom after the stately Hellebores, lavish and densely overflowing with blossoms, will be the Peonies in Chinatown, Fort Point Channel, and the North End Parks. The native plants are no slouches either – soon we will be delighting over spring blooming Red Barrenwort (Epimedium x rubrum) in the Urban Arboretum, and Canada Columbine (Aquilegia canadensis) in the Wharf District and Dewey Square Parks. Each week’s escalating promise of sunshine, clear skies, continuing  blooms, and tender foliage certainly puts us all in a cheery state. Come down and see Boston in the spring through our rose-colored glasses.

Epimedium x rubrum

Amelanchier canadensis