I finally got around to putting the hummingbird feeder out. Hummingbirds usually arrive in my area, in mid-May, so I'm about 10 days late, this year. Hopefully, some visit again, this year. They, being migratory, are affected by loss of natural habitat, pesticides, and climate change. Unlike other parts of the country, only ONE species of hummingbird comes this far north...the ruby-throated hummingbird. Strange but, I have only seen all green females or juvenile males, at my feeder. Only adult males have the red spot, in the throat area. Once here, they usually stick around to almost October. So, they stay much longer than orioles do. I also spotted a red admiral butterfly, today, that I have not seen in years. Unfortunately, I can guess, they too, are affected by loss of habitat, pesticides, and climate change.


Here's a pic of my Pindo. I got it from Steven in Alabama, a couple of years ago, as a 3 gallon. It has since been bumped up to a 10 gallon pot. Surprisingly, it does quite well indoors, during winter, with not too much light, in a "cold" room (about 50-60 degrees):


https://photos.app.goo.gl/6v57Xs128Sb9wRhJ7



Here is a plant species, that was brought to my attention by Cincinnati Frank, years ago. It is a deciduous shrub, that is native to the state of Alabama. The plant is the Alabama Snow Wreath, Neviusia alabamensis, and it is in bloom now. This plant is fully hardy, here, requiring no protection. As you can see, -10F did not affect it...



https://photos.app.goo.gl/v2zupdMma1KRTom56



New leaves are forming on this avocado tree. This variety is, 'Day'. It is a Type B avocado:


https://photos.app.goo.gl/Mwqf1i71otvFdwjz8



SNOWBALL VIBURNUM, Viburnum opulis sterlis, is blooming, with a backdrop of blooming Japanese Marigold Bush:


https://photos.app.goo.gl/kbjwGgcPfB7PKqz9A



GOLDEN CHAIN TREE is blooming. The blooms are over my head, now. For some reason, it is not flowering as heavily, as usual, this year. Must be the winter, that was unusual for recent winters..


https://photos.app.goo.gl/r6mLLhwcnbsciovN7



The RICE PAPER PLANT, Tetrapanax papyrifer, is now returning from its roots. A natural leaf mulch (I didnt apply it), enabled it to survive my -10F winter...


https://photos.app.goo.gl/RknLKGyQ3Zb2wX8F8



The STAR of BETHLEHEM, Ornithogalum umbellatum, a late spring bloomer, is doing its thing:


https://photos.app.goo.gl/rDTRAaRAWyw1aQZK6



A FIFTH type of MAGNOLIA, is blooming now. Actually, this type is Skinner's Michelia, or Michelia skinneriana , and is reputed to be one of the hardiest forms of Michelia:


https://photos.app.goo.gl/6tT18t9SezL5FNiPA



The variegated CHINABERRY, or Melia azedarach 'Jade Snowflake', is putting out new foliage. I planted this, last year:


https://photos.app.goo.gl/RbgcfeyuDmMUeUVH9



BLUE flowers rock!

Below is a pic of Italian Bugloss, in bloom. Notice the star-shaped foliage of Sweetgum 'Gumball', nearby. Gumball is a dwarf, shrub form of the shade tree. Its small size makes it squeezable into a small garden, like mine. Nevertheless, it is a sweetgum. You can also see the foliage of a BEAUTY BERRY shrub. It usually gets tip-kill, but replaces any lost growth, during the season:


https://photos.app.goo.gl/VZDK9Uhje3SyHT4D9


Oddly, LITHODORA overwintered in my garden (first time!), despite my -10F low, and is blooming. Perhaps, being covered in snow for weeks, during the coldest part of winter, helped...


https://photos.app.goo.gl/DkS7PobPB1bN6Zrc7



HARDY Geranium...these don't need to be re-planted, every year, even in the North...


https://photos.app.goo.gl/uZTt8DDQbg8y25Wo8



The HARDY IMPATIENS I planted, last year, survived the winter. The variety is 'Sichuan Gold'...


https://photos.app.goo.gl/fpLE2EoT1qY3JRRb6



POKE is hardy here, and grows as a perennial...


https://photos.app.goo.gl/EgQ94hDLjByfhm2c8




The BRAMBLEBERRIES are blooming, in prep for fruit set...

LOGANBERRY

https://photos.app.goo.gl/qwoVi7AWtgm2gs2U8

BLACK CAP Raspberries

https://photos.app.goo.gl/Wb5TFZ6aNvUHAbBa7


BLACKBERRY

https://photos.app.goo.gl/msUFkZ1BM2qSPTso9


BOYSENBERRY

https://photos.app.goo.gl/eHgGrMfPpJXF4EDN7



A SIXTH type of MAGNOLIA, is preparing to bloom. This one is is the OYAMI Magnolia, or Magnolia sieboldii 'Colossus'...


https://photos.app.goo.gl/qGvcTNm1vqz7xQZo7



CROCOSMIA is now re-growing from the ground. Amazing, that these were once thought to need to be dug and stored, each fall. As you can see, they get a "natural mulch", that I don't apply. The leaves are from the dwarf redbud tree, immediately above, and a big silver maple in my yard, that towers over everything...


https://photos.app.goo.gl/ugXqLFfsuRtmgFpy9



The TAMARILLO/Tree Tomato, is preparing to bloom. The fruits that form on this tropical tomato and eggplant relative, ripen indoors, during the winter months:


https://photos.app.goo.gl/VM8RWYaDV2Z9QC4S9