Tomorrow is my Mother’s birthday, February 8. A few years ago I realized that within a day or two of Mama’s birthday, the trillium in my garden will bust out of the ground.

Trillium is one of the coolest Spring ephemeral wildflowers. Most of my trillium is Trillium cuneatum. In some books it is called Little Sweet Betsy. Each plant has 3 mottled leaves that are variegated in shades of dark green, silvery green and purple. My trillium emerges from the ground with a deep maroon flower bud atop the trio of leaves. It is very beautiful for a month or six weeks before dieing back to the ground.

Trillium is difficult to find in nurseries. Most of my trillium clumps were dug from private land. Although I have propagated some from seed. Since trillium grows in the cool weather, it will continue to survive in a clear-cut or even in a kudzu field. Trillim can survive in these adverse circumstances because the more invasive inhabitants do their invading during warm weather and go dormant during trillium’s growing season. I have a favorite clear cut that I visit to rescue trillium. I plan to make several forays there this winter because the site is due to be developed soon.

Most of the trillium I have collected is planted in my shady back yard or on my trail through the adjacent woods. My woodland trail is in need of maintenance. Now, since trillium viewing season has arrived, the trail maintenace task will rise to the top of my To Do List.

The daffodils are starting to bloom now. ‘February Gold’ has been blooming for a couple of weeks. It is golden yellow with reflexed petals. It looks like a golden shooting star. Just yesterday the Barrett Brownings started blooming. It is white with an orange cup and oddly, is thriving in the shade of the 100′ white oak in my back yard.