Gotta love lilac!

This is Evangeline Lilac (Syringa x hyacinthiflora). Planted last season it has now produced very large, showy, fragrant flowers. Its blooms much earlier than other lilac so you extend the season of fragrance by planting a few of these in a sunny location.

A closeup of another Evangeline Lilac bloom. The fragrance is excellent. I don't understand why garden centers won't feature lilac during it's blooming season in our area. They always showcase azaleas, rhodos, hydrangea and crepe myrtle but show no love for lilac.

We planted a few Rhododendron x 'Hotspur Yellow' (this is also sold as an Exbury Azalea). They are about ready to explode with blooms so I thought I would post the first to pop open.

 A bumble bee enjoying a snack of Kerria Japonica pollen.

Zen and the art of Bleeding Hearts (dicentra) and Lilac Wonder tulips. The white Iris on the left will bloom next month.

Warm spring brings early blooms.

Kerria japonica 'Pleniflora' really did take root over the last season and is blooming nice this spring. Its will probably take over the entire corner of the raise bed its in.

Magnolia 'Betty' finally took hold this season and bloomed more than it every has. It usually blooms in April.

Another combo shot of the Bridal Wreath (foreground) and Peach tree (background). The flowers of Bridal Wreath (Spiraea prunifolia 'Plena') are sterile and does not set seed. It will self-root as lower limbs touch the soil and start to grow roots.

Start of the 2012 season! A mild winter and warm spring brings early flowers.

Narcissus "Chromacolor" is one of the best performing daffodils. It blooms just as the King Alfred's are starting to wane. 

The  Plum trees are blooming nice this spring. This is by far the best display since we planted the trees.

The mild winter and very warm spring (its 83 in March!) really made the slow growing Helleborus bloom heavily. They have been blooming since December.

Forsythia is usually one of the first to bloom. Its now blooming with the trees.

We planted a Chinese Apricot tree last spring and this is the first season for blooms. It appears to have  settled in nicely so we expect lots of growth this season.

The classic Peach tree blossoms.  The plants are flowering so early that we don't have many pollinators to take advantage of the flowers.