Seattle experienced a cold spell a few weeks ago, with multiple days below 20 degrees Fahrenheit. I moved some of my more tender potted plants into the greenhouse. However, I let the native seed pots ride the freeze out on their shelves outside.
When I checked the seed pots, I was disheartened. The precocious monkeyflower (Erythranthe guttata) seedlings had all disappeared, apparently cut down by the cold. A few other seedlings had also disappeared.
I went out today to check things out again, and there was a bit of a miracle. There were hundreds of monkeyflower seedlings again!
I suspect the precocious seedlings died in the freeze, but dozens of dormant seeds have reacted to the springlike weather and sprouted in the last week! Nature has it all figured out–she hedges her bets to ensure that some plants survive every year.
Other precocious plants this year are the Osoberry shrubs near the high school–one is in full bloom today!
I got to experience the effect of native plants on birds as a flock of bushtits flew through the green belt and visited this shrub and other natives in the area. I imagine pollinators and hummingbirds are visiting this shrub on nice days like today.