April showers bring May flowers.

The blooms of High Noon Tree Peony are enormous. The sun lit up the azalea behind it so the image looks a little electric. I haven't figured out how to take pictures of flowers that are vivid without it coming out so bright.

A closeup of Rhododendron x 'Hotspur Yellow' (this is also sold as an Exbury Azalea). It's really more orange than yellow. The are mildly fragrant and can grow to 10 feet if happy.

A wider shot of the Hotspur above. 

Rhododendron ‘King’s Red’ (Exbury Hybrid) finally bloomed. It gave us a single bright red cluster. Hopefully it will grow this year. It has been dormant for two years.

Rhodoendron x 'Lemon Lights' in full bloom. This one has been fairly dormant for a few seasons so maybe it's getting ready to take off.

A classic Nellie Moser clematis. This one climbed 6 feet to reach the sun.

This is the gorgeous bloom if Iridaceae germanica Autumn Circus. It's said to bloom earlier than other Iris and its true for us. It was first this season. It blooms again in the fall.

A perfect White Hot Iris.

Two large, happy Lunaria Annua, also called Money Plant.

A grouping of Heuchera with bronze foliage. They really stand out against the green background.

Argyranthemum looks like a daisy but they are smaller. It's also an also annual.

Polygonatum odoratum 'Variegatum' better known as Variegated Solomon's seal. This season the have really spread into a nice grouping.

The tip of Raspberry Ice Bougainvillea. This is not a zone 7 plant but the variegated foliage and blooms are worth the hassle of managing it over winter. Just like Ficus or non-hardy Hibiscus.

A cherub surrounded by a bed of Sundrops (Oenothera fruticosa) that will bloom in late May.