A walk along the Promenade:
Paperbush blooming in February. Although the Promenade still looks like winter, several plants are blooming.
NOT forsythia. This is winter blooming witch hazel and there are several along the Promenade. This shrub is a hybrid, a cross between two Asian species.
Fragrant sweetbox, native of the Himalayas, is blooming. You can often smell the fragrance to know it’s blooming before you see the tiny flowers.
Hellebores may pop through the snow to bloom.
Winter aconite. This was not on the Promenade, but down on Pier 3 in Brooklyn Bridge Park. I couldn’t help but include it in this collection of winter blooming plants.
Crocus, of course, took advantage of the warm weather in order to attract pollinators.
Snowdrops
Scientific names and families:
Parperbush plant/Edgeworthia chrysantha – Fiber Bark Family: Thymelaeaceae
Witch hazel/Hamamelis x intermedia – Witch Hazel Family: Hamamelidaceae
Fragrant sweetbox/Sarcococca hookeriana – Boxwood Family: Buxaceae
Helebore/Helleborus niger – Buttercup Family: Ranunculaceae
Winter aconite/Eranthis hyemalis – Buttercup Family: Ranunculaceae
Crocus/Crocus sp. – Iris Family: Iridaceae
Snowdrop/Galanthus sp. – Amaryllis Family: Amaryllidaceae
