April, already! This is the time of year when you dare not blink or you'll miss something. Plants are waking up, stretching and smelling the coffee in the form of warmer temperatures and longer daylight hours. It is my favorite time of the year with everything still fresh and new and alive with promise. Except for my 'Chandler' blueberry plant which looks scary-sad. But we won't discuss that today. Instead we'll, enjoy the positive.
Taking advantage of the "free shipping" in February, I purchased several plants from Annie's Annuals. Included in the lot was Eccremocarpus scaber 'Pink Lemonade'. Look! It has already started blooming!
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| Eccremocarpus scaber 'Pink Lemonade' |
It's still in a pot because I was worried about a late frost. With the predicted 85 degrees (F) predicted for Thursday, I'm thinking we might be finished with any cold threats for the season. So, where to plant it...
Boxed tulip bulbs from Winco (grocery store) last fall are vibrant and lovely and fabulous!
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| This tulip has been in the garden for several years, despite my consistently errant trowel. |
One of my favorite shrubs, Lonicera tatarica 'Arnold Red' has been in my garden since 2001. It never fails to wow me with its fragrant, spring flowers.
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| Lonicera tatarica 'Arnold Red' |
Every year I have a little contest to see which of my rose bushes will bloom first. This year, the award goes to this little thing--Rosa chinensis 'Angel Wings'. I grew it from seed last year. It was surprisingly easy.
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| Rosa chinensis 'Angel Wings' |
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| The 'Angel Wings' rose bush, about 2 1/2 feet wide and tall. |
Last year I purchased two of these cute, white-flowered Primulas for a shady border. They are performing really well.
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| Primula sieboldii 'Late Snow' |
My only surviving Loropetalum is blooming right on cue. I'm not sure which species it is. But it doesn't really matter because it's perty.
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| Loropetalum sp. |
I've also finally figured out how to grow all the new Daphnes being introduced to willing gardeners--leave them the **** alone! No transplanting, no over-primping... just plant it and sit back.
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| Daphne x rollsdorfii 'Wilhelm Stacht' |
Only one new Clematis vine (so far this year). Typically I go for summer-blooming varieties, but this cute spring-bloomer had me at first sight.
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| Clematis alpina 'Constance' |
I LOVE the genus Dianthus. Here is the first bloom of the year. I'm not sure which variety because I have so many.
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| Dianthus sp. |
Visiting my sister in Woodburn last month, I purchased this cute Viola at Al's Garden Center. It's super fragrant. Although it's a hybrid, I hope it will reseed and come true.
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| Viola x 'Hip Hop' |
Speaking of fragrance, oh goodie! It's almost time to perfume the room with Lily of the Valley blossoms.
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| My containerized Lily of the Valley plants... Convallaria majalis |
I'm loving the foliage on my 'Lemon Wave' Hydrangea.
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| Hydrangea macrophylla 'Lemon Wave' |
But, my favorite Hydrangea foliage is on Hydrangea 'O Amacha Nishiki'.
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| Hydrangea serrata 'O Amacha Nishiki' |
I know Plume Poppy is a spreader but I love it anyway...
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| Macleaya cordata or Plume Poppy |
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| Ultra-compact, Acer palmatum 'Ben Hime' |
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| Persicaria runcinata 'Purple Fantasy' |
I love the fuzzy foliage on this little Salix...
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| Salix nakamurana var. yezoalpina |
I'm seeing 'Spotty Dotty' Podophyllum all over now. It wasn't that long ago when I thought it was "rare." Such a cool plant for the shade garden.
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| Podophyllum 'Spotty Dotty' |
And now, lookie! Flower buds...
Look at all the white leaves on my Fatsia 'Spider's Web'
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| Fatsia japonica 'Spider's Web' |
Fortunately I'm finally seeing some green on my hardy Banana. I was starting to think it was a gonner.
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| Musa veluntia 'Dwarf Orinoco' |
And now for some yard shots:
For about the past year or so I've been collecting river rocks. I really like green jasper or other green-hued ones. For now, they're making their new home right here along this border.
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| The White-Striped bug master. |
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| The neighbor's dog Tucker. |
I hope you're enjoying your gardens!
Spring has certainly found you! We are about 3 weeks ahead here in the Great White North--and loving it! Lovely as always to have a peek at your garden. :)
ReplyDeleteI love the
What a great collection of green rocks! This year and last, Spotty Dotty seemed to be everywhere. I'm hoping my little Loropetalum flowers this year. Your garden is looking good!
ReplyDeleteI'm certain you're enjoying your garden - it's absolutely wonderful! That double tulip produced the first deep sigh from me and those pretty much continued throughout the post. We're experiencing the first hot breath of summer (discounting February, which I'm treating as a true anomaly) but there's a slight chance of rain at the end of the week so I'm maintaining a positive outlook.
ReplyDeleteOohh! I love those green rocks! I also have 'Purple Fantasy' persicaria and I love that misty speckle leaved hydrangea. Drool....! But how do you grow a rose from seed???
ReplyDeleteYou are so far ahead of us in Ohio... I love your beautiful blooms you shared today Grace. Happy Spring!
ReplyDeleteThat daphne is beautiful! I'm adding more daphnes to my garden. They're such tough, rewarding plants, and most of them are much more reliable than Daphne odora. I love the wide shots of your garden. It really looks fantastic!
ReplyDeleteYou have some lovely things happening in your garden! I have to find that Primula--Late Snow--I've got some shady areas with a lot of green that could use a white pop. I noticed that the ruffled pink tulip you said you had "run into" with your trowel, is the same variety that I "should have" destroyed in my own garden, and haven't for some reason. That tulip has good karma-:) Supposed to be 80 degrees on Thursday--yikes! I've just fed everything...guess it's time to water now. Darling Violas...Take care.
ReplyDeleteOoh, I'm crazy about those white primulas. Kinda silly to single anything out amidst all this lusciousness.
ReplyDeleteGosh, Grace! So much going on in your garden. We also love plume poppy but most of ours have died back. I also love lily of the valley. Hope we get some blooms this year. Enjoy your garden!
ReplyDeleteGreat title, and so very true. We haven't quite reached that point here in the Upper Midwest, but I'm amazed at how many plants are coming on strong even though we're having some very cold nights. Grace, your garden is an inspiration!
ReplyDeleteSo many cool plants! I always see something new in your garden, Grace! And so many blooms already!
ReplyDeleteWhat a treat Grace to see your garden waking and growing....here we patiently wait! But soon I won't be able to keep up with it all...
ReplyDeleteAs always, I enjoy seeing your garden as it is weeks ahead of mine. We had a small setback here, frigid temps including snow over the weekend! It was most unwelcome, but this week should be much nicer. I like your little bug master. I've never seen a snake in my garden here, but I'd like to. I might be frightened for a minute, but in general, snakes don't frighten me, especially here in Ohio where they are pretty small and harmless.
ReplyDeleteI'm still waiting for my ' Angel wings' to bloom , looks like any day now! I thought it would be the first , but I just noticed R. Lady banks with a few tiny blooms.
ReplyDeleteOh my gosh, that Pink Lemonade! I just bought Eccremocarpus 'Pink Champagne', never having heard of it, and put it at the base of a trellis out front. I hope it's as pretty as yours!!!
ReplyDeleteAnd that Daphne. I have a new "want" for my list.