Northern magnolia flower before and after frost: 17 and 26 March 2026 (photo by Kate St. John)

28 March 2026

A week ago I posted a photo of a northern magnolia flower with snow (top left). This week that same flower and all the others on the tree are brown and shriveled from frost damage (top right).

After it warmed up (again) this week brave tulips bloomed along Fifth Avenue in Oakland. They’re brave to chance another frost and brave to chance being eaten by deer. Yes, deer on Fifth Avenue near the Cathedral of Learning. I’ve seen them cross from Clapp Hall to the Heinz Chapel side. to munch on treats like these. Looks like one of these plants in the background was eaten before it bloomed. Hmmm!

Tulips blooming along Fifth Ave in Oakland, 26 March 2026 (photo by Kate St. John)

Our native trees are cautious but the aliens are leafing out: Viburnum plicatum at Frick Park and Amur honeysuckle just about everywhere.

Invasive Viburnum plicatum puts out new leaves, Frick Park, 22 March 2026 (photo by Kate St. John)

Amur honeysuckle leaves, Frick Park, 22 March 2026 (photo by Kate St. John)

Also This Week: On the night of Thursday-Friday 26-27 March, 2.10+ inches of rain fell in the Raccoon Creek watershed. On Friday morning Friends of Raccoon Creek State Park visited the area and posted the resulting flood at Raccoon Creek Wildflower Reserve here on Facebook. The wildflowers had just begun to bloom but they’re under mud and water now. When the water recedes a few will bloom late. The rest won’t recover until next year. Alas! I was going to go see the flowers this coming week.