Elbow Bush

One of the first shrubs an aspiring botanist comes to learn in these parts may be elbow bush (Forestiera pubescens). (Man alive. It is surprisingly easy to misspell Forestiera as Foresteria). Elbow bush gets its name from the close to right angles the twigs make coming off the stems, much like if one held ones forearm at a right angel to the back arm. Isn’t that interesting.

But the actual interesting characteristic of elbow bush is its astonishingly early flowering time. Here we are on February 16. Yet elbow bush is in full flower. What pollinators are around on such an early date? Well. Honey bees are around. But hundreds of years ago there were no honey bees in these parts. So how did elbow bush get along back in those days?

The flowers as here depicted are indicated by the yellowish-green coloration. Stands out fairly well against the other interesting colors of a typical Republico winter. Who's to say it's not beautiful?

Did everyone get their sheep sheared on Imbolc? My Goddess I am hope so.