Spring Evening, Evanston Illinois, 27 April 2013

Vinca major (Periwinkle) - in several front yards

Scilla sp. (Squill) in several yards, also on openspace near CTA station on Main etc 

Close up of Squill

Pachysandra - gardens around Evanston (thanks Kim Frye for reminding me of the name)

TREE ARCHITECTURE

This is a great time of year to start looking at tree architecture.  Even if you have not perfected your winter tree ID skills, take note of the branching pattern of trees and as they leaf out in the coming weeks put a name on them!  Want to learn more about tree architecture (see here)

Ulmus americana (American Elm) (not the typical architectural expression for this tree).

 Gymnocladus dioicus (Kentucky Coffee Tree).  Note the seed pods from last year. 

Catalpa speciosa, Northern Catalpa.  Very distinctive architecture.

BUD BURST

Good time also to watch bud burst.  The maples are very busy this weekend.

Acer platanoides Norway Maple.  Notice opposite buds.  As the trees grow this arrangement of the buds continues to be expressed in the shoots, branches, limbs etc.

WORMWATCH!

Oh yep, worms... all non-native worms in Chicago.