Ok, now I AM jealous... it snowed here most of yesterday... sigh. I have searched our area for years and years for skunk cabbage. I have come to the (possibly erroneous) conclusion that the environment in these parts will not support a cabbagedom, either because of the acidity of our soil (changing the ph levels in our wetlands) or our temps just get too brutal and freeze the ground too deeply. Just theories on my part. Every time someone has told me that they have seen skunk cabbage round here and I go check it out, it turns out to be wild hellebore. (I apologize if this comment prints twice like yesterday- when I hit the "publication' button it telles me to re-enter the word verification; when I do, it prints my comment out twice!)
Hi Mary, I follow the vernalpool@yahoogroups.com list. There have been local reports of wood frogs, salamanders, and peepers but I've not heard any either.
What incredible shapes in that emerging shoot. It is grown here as a ornamental-I will try and check out how far advanced it is. I know most places seem cover the crowns to protect them, yet I'm sure your winters are much colder. Perhaps it is the damp here that is the problem.
I looked into propagation, thinking of sending a starter. Seems that seeds are the way to go but harvest time won't be until the fall. I've read that the fruits go fast to the local critters but if I keep a careful I might be able to get some seeds. The cabbages are at my mother's and I mow her lawn each week so I can keep watch on when fruiting begins. More on this in the fall! :-)
For such a pretty flower, they sure do stink!
ReplyDeleteYup! They are aptly named, aren't they? :-)
ReplyDeleteThat IS a sure sign of spring. I was thinking today, here it is April already, and I haven't heard any March peepers yet.
ReplyDeleteOk, now I AM jealous... it snowed here most of yesterday... sigh.
ReplyDeleteI have searched our area for years and years for skunk cabbage. I have come to the (possibly erroneous) conclusion that the environment in these parts will not support a cabbagedom, either because of the acidity of our soil (changing the ph levels in our wetlands) or our temps just get too brutal and freeze the ground too deeply. Just theories on my part. Every time someone has told me that they have seen skunk cabbage round here and I go check it out, it turns out to be wild hellebore.
(I apologize if this comment prints twice like yesterday- when I hit the "publication' button it telles me to re-enter the word verification; when I do, it prints my comment out twice!)
Hi Mary,
ReplyDeleteI follow the vernalpool@yahoogroups.com list. There have been local reports of wood frogs, salamanders, and peepers but I've not heard any either.
Sorry that Blogger was misbehaving for you, Gretchen. Looks okay now. I deleted the dupe from yesterday.
ReplyDeleteHaving grown up with skunk cabbage in the back yard, it seems so common. And yet, at my place there is none and the wetlands seem similar.
What incredible shapes in that emerging shoot. It is grown here as a ornamental-I will try and check out how far advanced it is. I know most places seem cover the crowns to protect them, yet I'm sure your winters are much colder. Perhaps it is the damp here that is the problem.
ReplyDeleteI looked into propagation, thinking of sending a starter. Seems that seeds are the way to go but harvest time won't be until the fall. I've read that the fruits go fast to the local critters but if I keep a careful I might be able to get some seeds. The cabbages are at my mother's and I mow her lawn each week so I can keep watch on when fruiting begins. More on this in the fall! :-)
ReplyDelete