Here’s what’s blooming in town this week to make your walks more enjoyable Page 14 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, April 4, 2025 Saugus Gardens in the Spring By Laura Eisener A mong the birds that never left the area during the winter are herring gulls (Larus argentatus). They are the most abundant species of seagull in our coastal areas. They usually lay their eggs on offshore islands like Egg Rock (a prominent stone island in Lynn harbor that got its name not for its shape but because gull eggs could be found there). Often when I stand by my kitchen sink in the morning, I look out the window and see gulls flying west, presumably from the shore, inland to areas where they can scavenge for food. Their diet is extremely varied, and they have adapted to living near humans very readily. They may pick up crabs and clams from a beach, fly up and drop them from a height onto pavement or stones so that the shell breaks, making it easier for them to reach the meat. They are fans of fast food – often seen clustered around a bag of fried clams, French fries or other food that someone has dropped – and will even steal someone’s picnic off their blanket or occasionally right from their hands! I’m not sure whether this group in the rainy parking lot on Monday were expecting a handout or if the open space just reminded them of a beach. Darley Dale heath (Erica Lenten roses are finally in bloom. (Photo courtesy of Laura Eisener) darleyensis) is a hybrid between two winter heath species (Erica erigena and Erica carnea), also known as Scotch heath, spring heath, alpine heath and winter-flowering heather. The thought of heaths and heathers will conjure up visions of the landscapes of Emily Bronte’s mid19th century novel “Wuthering Heights” and the windswept moors of mysteries and Gothic romances. “The Hound of the Baskervilles” is a haunting mystery by Arthur Conan Doyle featuring his well-known detective Sherlock Holmes, set in the moors of Devon. Another classic British novel, “Lorna Doone: A Romance of Exmoor” by R. D. Blackmore is another book in which the moors are a vital part of the story. PlacHerring gulls were reflected in the wet pavement of a shopping area parking lot last week. (Photo courtesy of Laura Eisener) es where acres of heath and heather grow in the British Isles are often sparsely populated landscapes because the rocky granite outcrops with nearby sphagnum bogs were not very conducive to farming and are still seen as somewhat deserted and spooky in modern times. And those mossy bogs, of course, could swallow up a person who had wandered in while lost. Heather (Calluna spp.) is a closely related genus that grows in similar habitats, and it is very similar in appearance, although heather blooms in early summer, usually June around here. Both have tiny, pointed evergreen foliage and bell-shaped flowers that may be pink or white. Winter heath can be somewhat variable in bloom time, depending on winter temperatures and snow cover. I have seen them bloom outdoors any time from February to April in past years in eastern Massachusetts. They are hardy enough for our winters if their other needs are met – they like sun, especially in the morning, demand good drainage, but need consistent watering. Along the coast, they can grow as far north as Acadia National Park. Heaths and heathers belong to the heath family (Ericaceae) along with rhododendrons, azaleas and many other shrubs familiar in our gardens. Lenten roses (Helleborus orientalis) are finally open in my garden. These are sometimes sold as houseplants in winter but can be planted in shade and like the winter heath will bloom sometime from winter to early spring. These plants came from the Middle East originally and are in the buttercup family (Ranunculaceae), not related to roses at all. Tomorrow is National Dandelion Day – celebrated every year on April 5. To some GARDENS | SEE PAGE МС Darley Dale heath is one of the earliest blooming woody plants in spring. (Photo courtesy of Laura Eisener) Daffodils bloom on the Central Street side of St. John’s Church in Saugus. (Photo courtesy of Laura Eisener) One of the earliest pollinators visited a crocus in my garden this week. (Photo courtesy of Laura Eisener)
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