Is that a pea? Or sweet pea? It definitely looks like it is dancing around that pole. Most of my plants are barely sprouting from their dormant roots. I just spent the day removing the leaves that had collected from around last year's perennial stalks. This is the first time in many years that none of my snapdragons overwintered. So, I need to get some seeds planted, if I want any snaps this year. My coneflowers are taking over the world. Last year I kept meaning to pot up some of the volunteer seedlings that had flourished in our moist spring, but never did. So, this year I have at least one hundred year-old plants that should bloom, if I let them. So, I guess I'll let them.

Martha

Its impossible to know what kind of pea that is until it matures. Sweet peas are just peas with fancy flowers after all. I have eaten the peas produced right there in the garden and they are not bad.

mccommas, I've always heard that sweet peas are not in the same family as edible garden peas, though they do look similar. My understanding is that sweet peas (Lathyrus odoratus) are poisonous and no part of the plant should be eaten.

I'd bet it's a Sweet Pea. Lathyrus odoratus. They look different to edible peas, Pisum sativum, right from the start. Some people call Pisum sativum 'sweet peas' to different them from things like Black Eyed 'peas', which are actually beans. I think that's where the confusion lies. And it is true that Lathyrus is poisonous.

It's a sweet pea! Either King's High Scent or Prima Ballerina (forgot to label this one). This is from inside, we're in zone 5B so the only thing blooming yet are crocuses and hellebores.

They are really good when they are still soft and tender. I only ate a few as there was not enough to harvest for any kind of meal.

mccomas, you were very lucky there were not enough for a meal. As we said above, Lathyrus odoratus, Sweet Pea, the plant in the OP's picture, is poisonous and it is really important that people are not led into confusing it with edible peas, Pisum sativum.

If you have been eating Lathyrus I would urge you not to do so again and not to suggest it is acceptable to try it. http://www.pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Lathyrus+odoratus

Wow! Thank you for the information and link, floral_uk. If there Is not yet a dangerous plants thread, it might be good to start one.

OB love that photo and thread name!