 |
| My front yard yesterday evening. |
 |
| My front yard today, Easter Sunday. |
April is when my front yard looks its best. This year my Kwanzan cherry blossoms are just starting to open, but aren't fully unfurled yet. I expect the morning rain will speed them along. The Thalia and Poet's Narcissi exude their lovely scents, and the creeping Phlox keeps on spreading, sometimes in the most unlikely places, like under the barberry 'Admiration' which is just leafing out.
 |
| Creeping Phlox peeks out under the barberry 'Admiration' |
The east woodland garden is getting ready for its annual display, with the Carolina Silverbell tree and the Pagoda Dogwood buds swelling, but it's not quite there yet. A Rhododendron and a Jacob's ladder under the Japanese maples are also getting ready for the show. I'll photograph those when they bloom.
The backyard looks lovely with the redbud tree in full bloom, and lots of Narcissi and Daffodils along the length of the bed. Narcissus and daffodils are the one plant family that deer do not eat, as they're poisonous, so these plantings are free to multiply.
Not so with the flowering Quince, which needs to be protected by a barrier or the deer would eat every bud! They nibble away at my spring bulbs: Glory-of-the-snow, Muscari and Spanish bluebells, but leave the Scillas and irises alone.
 |
| My back yard from the deck. |
 |
| The back bed with Daffodils and Narcissi |
 |
| Double flowering quince |
 |
| Back yard from ground level, with double flowering Quince in front. |
Closer to the ground, several of the dwarf iris 'Bluebeard' have opened up. Next to them, a couple of 'Prince Alfred' daffodils bloom with some Grecian windflowers (Anemone blanda).
 |
| Dwarf iris 'Bluebeard' |
 |
| 'Prince Alfred' daffodils and purple Grecian windflowers |
The Fothergilla is blooming, with its honey scented-flowers, and clumps of Thalia Narcissi and Mount Hood daffodils dot the beds.
Speaking of beds, I've spent most of the week cleaning and weeding them, pruning branches and old stems, fertilizing and mulching. The more I plant, the more work there is to do! My plan to eliminate more of the lawn dictates it.
At times I wish I had the money to hire one or two reliable helpers, but I can't afford it. Besides, the old adage that "if you want something done right, it's best to do it yourself" applies.
 |
| Fothergilla in bloom |
 |
| Clump of Thalia Narcissi |
 |
| The west yard looking towards the back. |
This is just the beginning of the flowering season--so many more flowers to look forward to during the enchanting month of April!
