Several things in the garden are showing early this year, whether it has been brought on by the quite mild Winter we had over here in the West.
The dark nearly black flowers of the Pittesporum (Pittesporum tenuiflolium) showing a month ahead of normal flowering time. Still richly scented with a delicious high fruity highlights to the scent.
The Pieris (Pieris forrestii 'Forest Flame') have the bracts coming out with the flowers, when they usually wait until the flowers are going over. Bumble bees enjoy the Pieris flowers for the early nectar at the beginning over the season. The white flowers are filled with a heavy musky scent that hangs heavily around the bush.
Erica arborea (Erica arborea alpina) is a few weeks ahead of time, usually flowering more toward the end of April rather than the beginning. The flowers are visited by many early insects drawn by the delicate honey scent.
This is one garden member that is still right on time, the Skunk cabbage (Lysichiton americanum). It's yellow hoods cause quite a stir with strangers to the plant, accompanied by the musky scent given off by the plant. I have never smelt a skunk, but the Skunk cabbage itself I find no offense to the smell. Heavy musky and distinctive, but not unpleasant. If you have a wet patch in the garden, it's well worth growing and as the leaves become ropy looking at the end of Summer, they can be cut down making lots of valuable composting material from deep roots that pull up loads of nutrients from the subsoil.
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