Bloom Day-April 09

From In the Garden

Unknown Tulip

From In the Garden

Virginia Bluebells. Mertensia virginica.

Solomon's Seal, aka Polygonatum odoratum var. thunbergii 'Variegatum'

Phlox divertica (Woodland Phlox) and 'Herman Pride' Lamium, aka Lamiastrum galeobdolon

Magnolia stellata 'Royal Star'

White Bleeding Hearts.

Bleeding hearts, aka Dicentra spectabilis. Also blooming is Dicentra formosa 'Luxuriant'

Jacob's Ladder, aka Polemonium reptans

Chrysogonum virginianum, aka Green and Gold

'Delaware Valley' Azalea

'Vanhoutte' Spirea. Also blooming (not pictured) is Bridal Wreath Spirea. The two are often confused but if you look close at the flowers there is quite a difference. I will at some point post pictures of both, but on http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/64375/ they show pictures of both the Vanhoutte spirea and the Spirea prunifolia on the page listing Bridal Wreath spirea. It is important to know there are at least two types of spirea known as 'Bridal Wreath' and 'Vanhoutte' is but one.

Primrose. I purchased a few of these last spring for pots. I then planted them in the garden and assumed they died. Surprise! I am very happy about them wintering over!
Standard Dwarf Bearded Irises. These are the most wonderful irises I have found as yet. I grow four cultivars (Boo, and three more I have to find the names of) and love these! I am preparing a post on these as they are quite different from bearded irises.

Azaleas, one of these things is not like the others-can you tell which one? Four are 'Hino Crimson'. Since one of the five died I replaced the dead one with a fake 'Hino'. It is pretty obvious I know, but better than a bare spot.

Tulips. We are a bit overrun with tulips-all sorts including....

Yucca Tulips !
Species tulips (Tulipa linifolia)
Trillium. I have no clue what kind of trillium this is growing in my Woodland Garden. Can you see the dreaded violet in the picture. I hate those things. They'd probably be okay if they stayed out of my lawn.

Pulmonaria 'Trevi Fountain' . Also blooming 'Diane Clare'.

Corydalis lutea

Muscari and Hellebores.

Blooming but not pictured are: two types of pieris, many daffodils, kerria, hyacinths, camelias, begenia, candytuft, lilacs, dianthus, leucothoe, pansies, gooseberries, strawberries, honeysuckle, colombine, clematis, bearded irises in white and purple, violets, dandelions (hate these two weeds!), fothergilla, creeping phlox in several colors, Bluets (Houstonia caerulea), aucuba, spiderwort, and oak trees.

Some plants have bloomed and already passed by. They are: crabapples, 'Emerald Triumph' viburnum, silver maple, and the 'Newport' flowering plum.

The major differences between this April's Bloom Day and last April's are: the crabapples were not past as they are this year, 'Homestead' verbena was already in bloom, as were begonias, and strawberry begonias. But for the most part all of the same plants are blooming, with the exception of the tree peony. I am not sure if I'll get blooms this year from my two tree peonies.

Looking at this post I notice I've added many more natives and wildflowers to Tiger Gardens. A bit of a change as I am a more of a traditional type of gardener tending to stick with tried and true 'perennials' normally found in borders. I don't think many wildflowers such as bluebells and woodland phlox are in borders, but I may be wrong.

In bud and nearly ready to bloom are: Lo-Gro Sumac, 'Summer Snowflake' viburnum, 'Homestead' verbena, Ninebark, and 'May Night' salvia. Many more things are showing buds including: astilbes, and peonies.

in the garden....looking at everyone's blooms today and trying to get some garden work done-it IS spring ya know!