On the Homefront: Wisteria Season Is Here!

Chinese Wisteria (Wisteria sinensis)

Chinese wisteria is in full flower right now here in Georgia.  It lines part of our little dead end road.  Even though this vine is considered an invasive species, the flowers are so beautiful and the fragrance is so lovely it is easy to overlook the less attractive qualities.  Spring has arrived unusually early this year, and everything seems to be flowering at once.  In addition to the wisteria, other species in flower right now include azaleas, dogwoods, redbuds (Cercis canadensis), forsythias, bridal wreath spiraeas (Spiraea prunifolia), peach blossoms, wild cherry blossoms, spice bush, Carolina jessamine, irises, bugleweeds, Spanish bluebells, late-blooming daffodils, and even the lowly Dutch white clover in the lawn.

The yellow Florida Azalea (Rhododendron austrinum) at the top
is a native species; all others are ornamental cultivars.

Forsythia bush

Wild Cherry blossoms (Prunus sp.)

Spice Bush (Calycanthus occidentalis)

Carolina Jessamine (Gelsemium sempervirens)

Bugleweed (Ajuga reptans)

Spanish Bluebells (Hyacinthoides hispanica)

These daffodils with clusters of small flowers are quite fragrant.

Dutch White Clover (Trifolium repens)

Butterflies are everywhere, the birds are singing and building nests, frogs are chorusing after dusk, and I even saw some fireflies out on the warmer evenings.  A newly hatched luna moth was in my barn a few nights ago, its wings still unfurling:

Spring is a beautiful time of year in Georgia, and I intend to enjoy it while I can before the summer heat arrives!