Astronomically speaking, it’s still spring, but for some people summer starts with the arrival of truly hot weather, or with Memorial Day. For me, summer starts with the first sighting of the hot orange-red flowers of trumpet creeper (Campsis radicans, Bignoniaceae). Look at this magnificent specimen dominating a snag by the Potomac (click on the photo).  —>

This species grows impressively long vines (40 feet, by some account), 
with impressively large flowers (up to four inches long).

And with that, I’m off to check on the irises, and see what else is happening along the river this week.