THE MOST COLORFUL CREATURES HERE as April turns to May: returning male birds in mating plumage. The last week included the arrival of rose-breasted grosbeaks and Baltimore orioles…but I am straying, as the point is plants, right? Oops. A look at what’s blooming (including Uvularia grandiflora, above), the second in a series of new slideshows during this busiest of changing garden times.
Click the first thumbnail to start the slideshow, then toggle from side to slide using the arrow keys on your keyboard, or the arrows beside each caption. A few of these plants have more about them here on A Way to Garden already…links below the thumbnails. Enjoy!
Thank you for that wonderful tour. You almost made me miss spring in the northeast.
Thanks for the “breathe of Spring”. We can see Spring’s breathe here in southern Minnesota. Last I looked it’s only in the 30’s, but we do have a few brave things attempting to bloom. Buds on lilacs are showing color and scilla are blooming. No hummingbirds yet. Magnolia blossoms are starting to show color, but I hope they hold out for warmer weather. Warblers are coming back, but no hummingbirds yet. I’ll have to make note of what flowers are blooming when I first spot them.
Such unusual varieties. I live in Coastal Va. and I have never noticed these plants anywhere before.
Wow- you have lots more in bloom than I do in Chicagoland! I was just out for a walk so I can say for sure. My narcissus are just about to come out and I can’t wait for their smell in my house. Thanks for the lovely pics!
margaret…all I can say is thanks once again for the beautiful photos of your woodland treasures..and your informational descriptions that make me want to plant every single one of them in my garden !
Hi Margaret, Just finished your book. As a person who jumped off the speeding train herself, there is so much in it that I can relate to.
Here’s my question: have you ever tried to divide your Uvularia grandiflora? I would like to share it with a friend who likes the way the stem so delicately pierces through the leaves like fine thread. I sure don’t want to lose the plant in the process though.
Hi, Mary, and glad you read the book! I am about to divide my Uvularia as well. I was going to do it after flowering…and I just saw on an English site (where merrybells, as they are called, are more widely enjoyed I think) that that is the way to go.
Thank you for the great tour — I love spring in the Northeast, even this year which has been slow and cold. Wish I weren’t tied to the City so much this spring and could see my own garden unfolding.
Beautiful! And I’ve figured out the id of something of mine that I’d found this year that I recognized, but couldn’t put my finger on… celandine poppy. thanks! I love your Magnolia ‘Elizabeth’ – if we get another one, that’s the one I want. (We have ‘Anticipation’, a gorgeous creamy white, and ‘Jane’, a pink who is loaded with flowers.)
Thanks for the pictures of the Celandine Poppy. I bought a collection of native wildflowers from Cornell Cooperative and this plant was the only one to survive. None were labeled and I’ve wondered for three years now what it was. It is one of my favorites, seeding itself through the garden with its bright, yellow flowers.
You are welcome, Beth, and hello! I have had it for so many years, and have let it sow around, too. Makes me happy, and so easy to dig out if it puts itself in an unwanted spot. Do come say hello again soon.
Beautiful photos! Thank you for sharing. I live in northern Florida and spring is now a memory…we are heading fast into summer weather (hot and humid).
Absolutely spectacular!! Here in Wisconsin, my bloodroot is up, but on many cool days those basically square flowers just stay closed up. You and your garden are such an inspiration. Thanks.
The Asian Pear Tree is absolutely beautiful.
Spring is finally in full swing here. My Dr Merrill magnolia has been in full bloom for the past week, and Ann magnolia is starting to pop its bud casings to show glimpses of lipstick pink. My double bloodroot and hellebores are in full bloom, the red trillium is in bud, lots of primulas, hyacinths, and daffodils are blooming, as well as the one species tulip that the chipmunks somehow overlooked last year. Daphne mezereum has leafed out and almost finished blooming. I have the dark purple muscari next to a wave of light blue Valerie Finnis muscari. Leucojum are a cheerful spot of white amidst a flooded front garden. Spring also is the time for the body count. So far one dead hydrangea and an almost dead azalea. Not bad.
BTW, the Specials page at Bluestone Perennials has several plants this week that Margaret has mentioned here, including the hosta June, geranium macrorrhizum and a lespedeza, plus one of my favorite heucheras called purple petticoats.
Hi Margaret,
I thought you might enjoy seeing these photos from the British newspaper The
Telegraph
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/gardening/gardeningpicturegalleries/8490051/International-Garden-Photographer-of-the-Year-2011-winners.html
Cheers!
.
I see your bleeding heart is in bloom. I thought it was early in my garden, just about 20 min. north of yours, but maybe that’s just because it has been cold again, and the plant always seems a bit fragile to me. I should realize it isn’t fragile at all, after a contractor drove his truck drove right over the plant, and I dug up the broken roots, and replanted them and was rewarded with many new, healthy plants!
I am astounded that the grosbeaks and orioles arrive in your area at the same time they are here…eastern NE. The number of orioles is HUGE and they are not anywhere as “flighty” as they usually are on arrival. One flew in the house and allowed me to carry him outside…I’m possibly an oriole whisperer. The hummers are here and there is even a summer tanager…a newby. You hardly know where to focus with the dazzling show going on overhead and underfoot.
Love those red Trilliums!
After viewing your gorgeous photos I can’t wait to go up to the berkshires this Friday to see how my garden has progressed since I was there on April 25. Last year I planted 2 varieties of bleeding hearts, one of which was ‘gold heart’ and I’m so hoping they have returned. I am feeling so inspired!
Maybe you should change your tagline to “Garden know how and YA-HOO!!” These are beautiful!