In our Topsy Turvy winter, where snow arrived late, all green things are still beneath the snow so I looked up and beyond the garden gate. My town is blessed with many Golden Willows, Salix vitellina, lining the creekside banks and beyond so I clipped a few twigs and popped those into water. There are many seasonal underground water courses through our mountain town and Willows are masters at finding those water sources. Spring Run off, spring freshet is a busy time for a our valuable winter snow as it melts and finds its way underground to the streams and large rivers that take it to the Pacific Ocean.

After clipping from a water loving plant I clipped a few branches from our drought tolerant native Western Larch, Larix occidentalis. My hope is that both will leaf out quickly as did the Forsythisa I gathered very early in February. Some plants respond better than others when forced inside the warmth of a home. Forsythia, Larch and Golden Willows are some of the best and by this time of the year, we are getting desperate for spring green. It will come of course and fast, as it always does. Then suddenly we will likely be back into drought but I sincerely hope not.

While cutting the Larch I noticed a cluster of white, cup-shaped, empty larval cases clinging to the bark. I am fascinated to know what insect emerged from them last year so without sure identification from my various apps and book, I have sent the picture off to a knowledgeable forester friend. Maybe you can help?

Larch branches always look dead until that tiny spike of soft green emerges. This year’s needles will emerge, hopefully, from the knobby spurs along each branch. I bent each branch to ensure it was indeed alive and did the thumbnail scratch test to find green cambium underneath the bark.

These two vases of buds, all still tight as drums, will hopefully open up in the next couple of weeks, when I will be able to show them again. Meanwhile they are vases of potential.

Thank You Cathy for hosting!

As always, I now look forward to seeing Snowdrops, Camellia blossom, daffodils and other luscious flowers from more (and less) temperate parts of the planet all supplied by talented gardeners.

Please go to Rambling In The Garden where Cathy hosts other gardeners’ creations.

In a Vase on Monday: a Bounce in Our Step