Red-Flowering Current

I took this photo last week the day before we had snow. (March 9th) It is the first to flower in my native garden, and tells me that Spring will soon be here.

I bought two Ribes sanguineum plants from a Native plant sale at Richmond Nature Park in the spring the year after I planted my salal twig. One plant died off after the next winter, but the remaining plant has spread nicely. About two years ago, I pinned down a twig and covered it with soil so that a new bush would take root. And it did.

The flowers are a strikingly bright pink and hang in lovely chandeliers. Last year was the first year I found berries but I didn't try them. The Nature Park encourages the planting of red-flowering current because they attract wild birds like our local Rufous Hummingbird. Sure enough, a hummingbird whirred around here, although it seemed to be more interested in the purple flowers of the sage plant in my herb garden then it did anything in my native garden.

Update:
It's now April 6th and my current is in full bloom. As I sit at my desk inside directly across from it, I've seen the first of the giant bumble bees visiting it. Welcome friendly bees!