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| Rhododendron 'Southgate Brandi' |
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| Rhododendron 'Southgate Brandi' |
This year for the first time I have flowers on a Rhododendron I planted several years ago. Rhododendron 'Southgate Brandi' had formed buds the previous spring, but the deer ate them before they had a chance to open, so this past winter I put up a barrier to keep them away, and finally get to enjoy the gorgeous pink flowers.
On the east side of the house, while the delicate bells of the Carolina Silverbell tree have dropped to the ground and begin to set their curious four-sided pods, the Virginia Fringe tree (Chionanthus virginicus) brings forth its frothy flowers and leaves, highlighted by the patch of dark purple columbines. It's amazing how quickly everything changes in a matter of days at this time of the year.
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| East side beds |
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| Virginia Fringe tree (Chionanthus virginicus) with purple Columbines |
Other surprises awaited me here--the variegated Jacob's ladder (Polemonium 'Brise d'Anjou') presented its first delicate blue blossoms. The leaves of this cultivar as so gorgeous the plant really doesn't need any flowers to be more decorative, but together they are lovely.
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| Polemonium 'Brise d'Anjou' with Ajuga 'Black Scallop' |
Another Rhododendron which had not been prospering I transplanted to a shady spot of the front yard last summer, where it would be more sheltered from the wind. As you can see, it is definitely happier in its new location and covered with lovely white blossoms.
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| Rhododendron 'Unique' |
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| Rhododendron ' Unique' |
The Azalea 'General Semmes' which I dug up and replanted into a shallow pot to place under the shade of the cherry tree in front is also looking better. These acid-loving favorites don't do well in our alkaline soils, so I've been experimenting with ways to provide them with more favorable conditions, from pouring lots of sulphur to acidify the soil around them, to transplanting into pots with more suitable soil. The latter solution may be my best bet eventually, but I enjoy these experiments and learning through trial and error.
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| Azalea 'General Semmes' |
The irises exploded into color around the first of the month. My front walk, despite becoming more shaded as the trees grow, is very colorful at the moment.
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| Irises by the front walk. |
The front bed on the west side of the garage is also brimming with flowers: bearded and Dutch irises. Soon the roses will begin to make their show.
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| Dutch iris |
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| Yellow and Dutch irises on the west |
As the early spring daffodils and narcissus fade, other flowers begin to emerge. The scent of the lilacs in back yard is permeating the whole area. The purple 'Bloomerang' lilac has reached it final size, I hope. The other lilac 'Primrose,' which was supposed to have pale yellow flowers seems to not be the variety I purchased, but something else with white flowers. The flowers are not very plentiful this year--several stems died off over the winter, but I hope it will recover soon.
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| The back yard on May 1st. |
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| Back yard. |
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| Circle of Spanish Bluebells (Hyacinthoides hispanica) |
The circle of Spanish Bluebells under the Zelkova tree is already past its peak--the photo above was taken about a week ago. The Japanese maple 'Amber Ghost' has leafed out and the Ninebark tree 'Amber Jubilee' in front of it seems to have survived the depredations of the deer. The new conifer I planted last fall, the tiny Korean fir on the left (Abies koreana 'Horstmans Silberlocke'), is getting ready to bring forth some new shoots. This should develop into a silvery beauty eventually reaching some ten to fifteen feet high.
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| The yard from the west side of the house. |
The Clematis montana odorata climbing on the trellis mounted on the brick wall of the house is also blooming, along with some of the perennials in the border below.
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| Clematis montana odorata |
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| Thalictrum aquilegiflorum 'Nimbus White' |
In one of the back beds the meadow rue (Thalictrum aquilegiflorum 'Nimbus White') that bloomed last year for the first time, is fuller this year, with more flower spikes. It's such a delicate-looking plant! I've planted some seeds of the more ordinary meadow rue also but it's hard to tell at this point if they have sprouted, among so many other weeds hatching. I added a Royal fern (Osmunda regalis) behind it, the tiny fronds are barely visible thus far, but will reach nobler proportions in a few years.
Soon the roses and peonies will be starting. I can hardly wait to see some of the new varieties I added in the last couple of years that have yet to offer their first blooms, as well as what other shrubs and the annuals I planted from seed this spring will bring to the summer garden.
