Amelanchier Week

A little earlier than other years, the Amelanchier rotundifolia attracts attention on Monday of 2011/16, seems to peak on Tuesday and Wednesday, and by Friday has already faded in the midst of the plant's new green leaves. A plan to plant Amelanchier ovalis has been held up by a lack of supply: my understanding is that this does not flower till much later in the cycle. By the end of the week, the Magnolia stellata has also lost all its flowers: just watering with the hose knocks them off. The brevity of these shows contrasts with the sturdy endurance of the daffodils. Spiraea 'Arguta' is a fine mass of hard white flowers. But Halimiocistus sahucii, which always has such a fine display of white flowers, looks all but dead after the winter.