Here Comes the Melt

A view looking back on Roy's tracks late last week (Thursday); moving toward "walking ice"
. . . at least if you weigh <165 lbs. (which I most certainly don't)

As cocky as I was in my last post about winter setting in "to stay for a while," the last couple days and the forecast for the next few doesn't bode well for staying white (or maybe even frozen). Such is winter in Ohio, I guess. Forecasts called for temps in the upper 30s for highs yesterday and today, but I bet we were closer to mid-40s yesterday and at least lower 40s today with a fair amount of sunshine. Things are getting sloppy. (Sigh)

Marsh or Swamp Rose Mallow (Hibiscus moscheutos L.)
in winter display
(note Phrag seeds draping stem/remnant flower parts)

Roy did capture some really neat images in the brilliant sunshine -- while the temps were still polar. I particularly like the one to the left, not only because of the visual interest of the remnant seed head, but also because of the contrast between this perspective and what you'd see of the bloom in mid-July.

Marsh Mallow, beyond being a great name, can be a remarkably beautiful plant. I've seen blooms in our marsh easily 6" across, and the colors can range from pale white to vibrant pink, with all of the color and complexity of internal flower "parts" that are a hallmark of the hibiscus family.

The good news is that these plants are native and can be really cool to look at -- singly and en masse. The bad news is, they tend to error on the "en masse" side, often growing aggressively (almost invasively) when conditions are right (or wrong). And the shrub-like growth form can definitely grow taller than me (6'5"), so they can be a force to be reckoned with from a management perspective. Based on what we were seeing toward the tail end of this past growing season, I have a feeling we'll be talking -- and tackling -- my good friend marsh mallow more next year.

A splash of summer color amidst winter blacks, browns, grays, and whites (when we can stay cold enough!)