In another landmark of spring I found coltsfoot blooming in Schenley Park last Wednesday, March 8.
Coltsfoot (Tussilago farfara) is an early-blooming Eurasian plant whose flower resembles a dandelion except that it blooms when it has no leaves. The leaves, which are shaped like a colt’s footprint, come out after the flower is gone.
This morning it’s 14oF so the flowers are closed tight against the cold. Coltsfoot will survive but I’m not so sure about my daffodils.
Looking back, I’m wistful. It was only three days ago that the temperature was 60oF and these hazelnut catkins blew in the wind along Schenley Park’s Lower Trail.
(The logs in the photo are an old ash, killed by emerald ash borer.)
(photos by Kate St. John)
Looks like my daffodils have bit the dust. I did cut about a
dozen to brighten the dining room. I wish I had cut more.
And the rabbits have found the tulips before I could put dried
blood around them.