Spring Adonis

Spring Adonis
Adonis vernalis
(ad-ON-iss) (ver-NAH-liss)
Ranunculaceae (ra-nun-kew-LAY-see-ay)

I had a post on this plant last spring also. I guess with so little blooming right now combined with my enthusiasm for getting some flower pictures there is going to be some invariable overlap from season to season. This picture shot at the Estate with my Sigma 17-70mm. For the money the lens is pretty good and overall I have been quite happy with it.

I thought my little Adonis plant had died as I don’t remember seeing it last year but there it was yesterday literally shining in the dull brownish-grey border. I did read that you have to be careful not to damage the (underground) flower buds in the fall so maybe that is what happened last year.

Adonis is great for borders and can also live in the woodland garden in part shade. It does require good drainage. This year it even beat the Crocus blooming and is flowering with the Snowdrops so it is very early. It blooms for several weeks and then completely dies down in the summer. All parts of this plant are poisonous but it used in the treatment of some heart ailments.