Pat’s Wildways: It’s Spring!

Every year, I am still amazed at the wonder of spring in our neck of the woods. Each year, the azaleas on Amelia Island seem more vibrant, colorful and abundant than ever. The redbuds are the first trees to flower in our area, but shortly afterward, the azaleas take over. Even the wilds of Fort Clinch State Park show their spring colors with some wild cherries blooming, and overall the light refreshing green of the new foliage on most of the trees and shrubs. The air is redolent with the smells that accompany this flourishing. Wonderful.

Along the edge of our roadways out in Nassau County, wild zephyr lilies are blooming in low white patches that may look like trash when speeding past, but on closer inspection, these are beautiful little native white flowers that locals call “Easter lilies” since their bloom time corresponds to the holiday most years, like now. Lyre leaf sage, with purple flowers, are more abundant and mix with the purple spiderwort flowers blooming all over the place now, including in my backyard. I really don’t mind these “weeds” and let them grow where they may. Their native beauty is an attraction for me, not a nuisance.

And talk about smells! Years ago, I planted wisteria vines on the four posts supporting our pergola. Three have since died and that’s a lucky thing. The surviving vine has now spread over the pergola and high into the nearby crepe myrtle tree. I often think that I should harness its spread, but then spring comes and the fragrant purple blooms take over.  One honeysuckle vine now joins in with its own bright red flowers and wonderful scent. Our backyard smells like a perfume factory. Glorious!

A few months ago, I planted a bunch of sweet pea seeds, and now they, too, are fulfilling their purpose. It’s a great time of year when I can gift friends with little bouquets of these delicate, fragrant flowers. Just a small handful of these provides a powerful natural scent that fills a room. I seem to be the only source of these flowers around here and they are much appreciated. I’ve also planted zinnia seeds, like always, and in a few months, I will have enough of these colorful flowers to spread around too. Giving out flowers makes me happy.

I’ve also gotten my pots back in shape, with herbs and flowers and, trying again, one tomato plant. For some reason tomatoes never grow for me, but I just can’t help myself from buying another and trying again. And this year I’m trying catnip again. Our former old cat, Dumela, was not a fan of catnip in her later years. Maybe, like some older people, she lost her sense of smell. But our new cat Melina is another story. Just one fresh leaf puts her in a slobbering, rolling fit of ecstasy. So, of course I’ve planted more just for her.

This year we are trying something new. With the help of Bucko and his electric auger, we drilled deep holes for gladiola bulbs that I impulsively bought when they were half price at Lowe's. And, in my usual overdoing it way I bought 100 bulbs — far too many. But what the hey? With Bucko’s help we planted them with no idea if they will fare well in our yard. The armadillos have already dug up some of them, but some should survive, here’s hoping. Spring, if nothing else, is a season of hope.

Our bottlebrush tree is in full bloom now too, and the squirrels are having a feast on the tips of the flowers, which they chew off the tree and drop to the ground, that is now covered with these red cast-off flowers. Other trees in our yard are just now beginning to leaf out. A little native buckeye tree we planted a number of years ago has slowly grown and now is beginning to show leaves and tiny flower starts. The bald cypress trees we planted 20 years ago now tower over our retention pond and have barely begun to show leaves, but I know they will arrive soon.

I hope everyone is enjoying spring as much as I am. No matter what shape your yard is in, or what roads you travel, new life is all around you. This is the time to be thankful for nature and the joy it provides to those of us who notice. Breathe the air, smell the flowers and be grateful another new year is upon us.

Pat Foster-Turley, Ph.D., is a zoologist on Amelia Island. She welcomes your nature questions and observations. patandbucko@yahoo.com