Aurinia saxatilis

This is Aurinia saxatilis, also called Basket of Gold. Picture taken April 24, 2010. Like the rock cress pictured a few days ago, Aurinia is another plant in the sizeable Brassicaceae family.

Link to Aurinia saxatilis:

Link to Aurinia saxatilis:

Perennial flax

This is perennial flax (Linum perenne 'Perenne Blue'). Picture taken April 24, 2010.

Link to Linum perenne:

Lily-of-the-Valley

Lily-of-the-Valley, Convallaria majalis. At Purdue Horticulture Gardens, April 18, 2010.

Link to Convallaria majalis:

Yellow Wood Sorrel

Yellow wood sorrel (Oxalis stricta) is another incidental plant that can often be found in your back yard. This is at Purdue Horticulture Gardens, April 16, 2010.

Link to Oxalis stricta:

Link to Oxalis stricta:

Link to Oxalis stricta:

Mock strawberry

Here we have a substantial population of mock strawberry (Potentilla indica) in the periwinkle bed under the juneberry tree, pictured here. This is an incidental plant, you might find Potentilla indica growing in your back yard. The leaves look something like a true strawberry (Fragaria) but they have yellow flowers rather than the white flowers that Fragaria has. The yellow flowers will develop into red mock strawberries that resemble real strawberries until you look at them up close. Both Potentilla and Fragaria are in the rose family of plants (Rosaceae). Picture taken April 16, 2010.

Link to mock strawberry:

Link to mock strawberry:

Link to Rosaceae:

Primula x polyantha

These are Primula x polyantha, a hybrid of Primula veris and Primula vulgaris. These are at Purdue Horticulture Gardens, find them near the drumstick primrose.

Pictures taken April 9, 2010.

Link to Primula x polyantha:

Link to Primula x polyantha:

Link to Primula veris:

Link to Primula vulgaris:

Link to Primula vulgaris:

Arabis caucasica compacta

Wall rock cress (Arabis caucasica compacta 'Snowcap'). Picture taken April 9, 2010. Arabis is in the Brassicaceae plant family.

Link to Arabis:

Link to Arabis alpina:

Link to Arabis alpina subsp. caucasica:

Link to Arabis alpina subsp. caucasica:

Aubrieta

Two varieties of Aubrieta x cultorum. Pictures taken April 9, 2010. Aubrieta is one of the msny plants in the Brassicaceae, the mustard family.

Link to Aubrieta:

Link to Brassicaceae:

Link to Aubrieta:

Redbud

The redbud trees (Cercis canadensis) are flowering, this one is at Purdue Horticulture Gardens. Picture taken April 9, 2010.

Link to last year's post on Cercis canadensis:

Rhododendrons (P.J.M. hybrid)

Rhododendron x 'P.J.M. Hybrid', these are in front of the Horticulture headhouse. More rhododendrons are now flowering in front of the Horticulture building and also in front of the vet school. Pictures taken April 5, 2010.

Link to Rhododendron (P.J.M.):

Link to Rhododendron (P.J.M.):

Link to Rhododendron:

Saucer Magnolia

Saucer magnolia trees (Magnolia x soulangeana) are common in the Lafayette area. They are just beginning to flower. This saucer magnolia is at Purdue Horticulture Gardens. Picture taken April 3, 2010.

Link to Magnolia x soulangeana:

Nanking Cherry

Nanking Cherry (Prunus tomentosa) is in full bloom at Horticulture Gardens. Picture taken April 3, 2010. The edible fruit ripens in early summer.

Link to Prunus tomentosa:

Pulmonaria

This is lungwort (Pulmonaria 'Apple Frost') at Purdue Horticulture Gardens. Pulmonaria is in the borage family of plants (Boraginaceae). Pulmonaria is not native to Indiana, our native Mertensia looks much the same and will be flowering in the woods soon. Picture taken April 2, 2010.

Link to Pulmonaria:

Link to borage family:

Link to last year's post on Mertensia: