Japanese Magnolia Extravaganza.

March 19-25 2010,

In the last week I have had occasion to shoot over a thousand frames of the Japanese Magnolias that grace the Arkansas State Capitol Grounds.  They are --as would be expected --an annual event, though they seem to be EXTRA gorgeous this year, in part, because they stayed on the trees without a freeze.  Like everything else this year, they bloomed about a week later than last year, and given that the last three years have bitten the blooms and turned them brown, that's a welcome delay.

The Japanese Magnolias, are - as the name suggests - a transplant. I have yet to find one in the wild, but they stand for me, as the gateway to Spring.

We appear to have three varieties of the Japanese Magnolia on the Capitol Grounds -- One variety characterized by longer petals and branches (and which blooms a few days earlier), another version with short stubby branches and a denser bloom pack, and one lone small tree with a purple, rather than soft pink bloom.

To see even more, check out these Facebook Galleries:  JMag 2010-1, JMag 2010-2, JMag 2009, and JMag 2003-2008 --- Then be sure to become a Fan of the FB Mightyworks Project Page. Thanks.

Henbit

Repost: As of March 16, 2010 the Henbit are going strong, with the Purple Dead  Nettle just starting to emerge.   Looks like we are a week behnd last year in growth patterns.


Henbit: Lamium amplexicaule
Also known as: Multi-stories (mine), Giraffe Head, Llama head (mine).

Henbit is one of those things that never seems to go fully away. I have seen Henbit sprigs in the muck of a January winter, and they are one of the first blooms to announce themselves upon our lawns. Some folks call them weeds, but I have always thought of them as crushable flowers. (i.e. the kind we walk on, and discover to our great delight.)

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Henbit can be seen in great purple patches, and are often found in the presence of at least one thing which is not Henbit, Purple Dead-nettle (Red Dead-nettle) Lamium purpureum . Both Henbit and Purple-Dead Nettle produce a similar flower and are part of the Mint family. They often claim the same territory. When I first encountered the later I thought it to be an alternate season growth of the Henbit.



That which is not Henbit:




Purple Dead (or Red-Dead) Nettle.

(You can also see some in the big Henbit patch at top of page.)

Self Heal

Lyre leaf Sage