First spring flowers bloom in beauty

It is so wonderful to see all the green leaves and flowers returning to Erie. There are a lot of daffodils blooming at many homes and businesses, but there are other flowers blooming, too. Those big yellow daffodils get all the attention -- let's look at four other small, but mighty early bloomers.

Snowdrops

I love snowdrops. They are the first ones to bloom in late winter. They are really tough because they can be blooming under 3 or 4 feet of snow and patiently wait to be uncovered by the melting snow. They are such a welcome sight after a long winter.

Snowdrop flowers look like three drops of milk hanging from a stem. The bell-shaped flower points downward. Snowdrops' Latin name is Galanthus, which means milk-white flowers. Snowdrop bulbs are native to Europe and Asia.

The bulbs are available at any garden center in the fall. They like to grow in full sun, in rich, well-draining soil, with lots of organic matter. They will multiply nicely and form handsome clumps. They are deer-resistant, but I have found that chipmunks or squirrels like to move the bulbs, as I have snowdrops growing in places that I did not plant them.

Siberian squill

If you see little blue six-petaled flowers this time of year, you are seeing Siberian squill, Scilla siberica. This delightful flower is one of the few true blue flowers. As you might have guessed, it is from Siberia, Russia and is hardy in zones two to eight.

Squill grows well under deciduous trees where they will complete their blooming before the trees leaf out. You can also plant them in lawns where they will finish blooming before the lawn needs mowing. They multiply into a beautiful drift of blue as the years go by. Like snowdrops, squill prefers full sun in well-drained soil rich in organic matter. The bulbs are sold in the fall.

Bloodroot

Bloodroot, or Sanguinaria canadensis, is a native woodland wildflower with daisy-looking white flowers and very interesting, multi-lobed leaves. It is native to Eastern North America. Bloodroot is a member of the poppy family. The flowers have eight to 12 petals and grow about 6 to 12 inches tall. It is called bloodroot because the sap is reddish-orange. Its Latin name, sanguinaria, means bleeding.

The sap was used by Native Americans for dyes. The plant is poisonous if eaten, but has been used medicinally for its antiseptic properties. It thrives in moist shady woods and near streams.

Grecian windflower

Grecian windflower, or anemone blanda, looks like a short, compact daisy. It comes in shades of blue, pink or white, with ferny-looking leaves. It is in the buttercup family and is native to the Mediterranean.

One great thing about these flowers is that they bloom for a long time -- four to six weeks. Anemones multiply easily and also self-seed. Like the other flowers, they like to live under deciduous trees in moist, well-drained soil. The tubers are available in the fall.

I hope you will try these smaller, but just as beautiful flowers in your garden next year. Why should the daffodils have all the springtime glory?

Volunteers needed

Volunteers are needed for helping with the Perry Square gardens. Workdays are Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10 a.m. to noon, but not on May 5 or 7. All tools, gloves and plants are provided. Call Gloria Knox, 873-0658, to sign up.

Orchid Show

Orchid Show May 9, 1 to 5 p.m., and May 10, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Splash Lagoon's Palm Court meeting room, Peach Street. Orchid vendors and raffles. Call Steve, 866-1830, or Victor, 520- 3393.

Amish greenhouses bus trip

Lawrence Park Garden Club will sponsor a bus trip on May 19 to Mercer County to buy flowers at Amish greenhouses and stop at other stores. Cost: $86, includes lunch at Tavern on the Square Restaurant. Call Marion, 897-7707.

Asbury Woods Nature Center

- Build a rain barrel, today or May 23, 1 p.m., Brown's Farm barn. Make a rain barrel from a 55-gallon, food-grade container. All supplies are included. Cost: $45, members; $55, nonmembers.

- Make a fairy garden, today, 1 p.m. Attendees will receive a planter, plants and fairy decorations. Cost: $8, members; $10, nonmembers.

Tom Ridge Center

Plant sale

Erie County Master Gardeners: May 9, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., Penn State Behrend's Wilson Picnic Grove, 5901 Station Road.

Garden club meetings

Emporium Garden Club, today, 10:30 a.m., Episcopal Church Hall, Walnut St., Emporium. Gail Ayers, owner of Frosty Hollow Bed and Breakfast and founder of the Frosty Hollow Herb Guild, will speak on container gardening. Call Jill, (814) 486-0244.

Cambridge Garden Club, Thursday, 7 p.m., Cambridge Springs Library, 158 McClelland St. A member of the American Chestnut Tree Foundation will share the work of this nonprofit organization dedicated to restoring the American chestnut to its native forests. Call Sandy, 398-8391.

Elk Valley Garden Club, Friday, 8:30 a.m., Wells park, 34 Main St. W., Girard. Members and Girard High School students will clean the park May 2, 10 a.m., Lake City Borough Building.

Members and Boy Scouts will clean the park May 7, 6:30 p.m., Valenza's Restaurant, 10220 John Williams Ave., Albion. Garden mart pep rally. May 9, 9 a.m., Pleasant Ridge Manor, 8300 West Ridge Road, Girard. Members will create Mother's Day corsages for the residents. Call Janet, 833-6123.

Fair View Garden Club, Friday, 11 a.m., Fairview United Methodist Church, 4601 Avonia Road, Fairview. Garden mart meeting. After the meeting, the members will tour the gazebo garden at Pleasant Ridge Manor. Call Linda, 474-2707.

Gospel Hill Garden Club, May 5, 6:30 p.m., Wesleyville Borough Hall, 3421 Buffalo Road. Annual spring cleanup of community planting areas of Gazebo Park, Wesleyville Historical Cemetery and the Borough Hall to prepare for May 15-16 plant sale. Bring garden tools. Guests and new members are welcome. Call Jane, 899-5982.

Heather Club of Edinboro, May 5, 7 p.m., 101 Lindsay Drive. Master gardener Heather Zimmerman will present the program of Mel Bartholomew's square-foot gardening. Bring plants for the plant swap. Call Pat, 734-1554.

Waterford Garden Club, May 5, 8:30 a.m., DJ's Greenhouse, 1004 East Lake Road, Transfer. Members will tour the growing facilities. Lunch follows at Hickory Grille. Call Cindy, 602-0866.

McKean Garden Club, May 6, 10:30 a.m., Brigiotta Garden Center, 414 Fairmount Ave., Jamestown, N.Y. Tour of the garden center, with lunch to follow at Babalou Café, 14 E. Second St., Jamestown. Call Doris, 838-3156.

SUE SCHOLZ is a member of Presque Isle Garden Club. Send garden news to susan.m.scholz@gmail.com.