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.
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.
The Monkshood was not as vigorous this year but still put out some nice blooms.
Mardi Gras Rose glowing as the always do.
Orange Mystery Rose. We always have large fragrant blooms on this unknown variety.
Penny Mac Hydrangeas blooming for the last time this season.
Polygonum cuspidatum "Crimson Beauty" in full bloom. They start out pale white and turn red. So far it has not been invasive.
The perfect mushroom with baby under the cap. With all the rain we've had since the hurricane the spores are abundant. We have shrooms everywhere.
Good 'Ol pink Knockout Rose.
The last of the Peppermint Schnapps Hibiscus. This one reached about 8 feet.
This is a Golden Stargazer but it has a nice unexpected orange hue. Not sure why but its nice. We planted a few more last fall between the lilac and this is the first set of blooms from that group.
Our mature bed of Golden Stargazers is just amazing this year. About 7 feet and covered in large fragrant blooms. The trick is planting them in 100% compost. When the first shoots appear in spring, slide a few house plant fertilizer spikes down the side of the new shoot.
This is a photo of the right rear garden. It's not quite peak bloom but very nice.
Red Crocosmia is now in bloom. We lost about half of the bed to critters eating the bulbs.
Anise Hyssop Blue Fortune or Agastache Blue Fortune, originates from the Greek word aga, meaning "very much," and stachys, meaning "spikes," referring to its abundant flower spikes. Its leaves taste like black licorice. Poliators love this plant but bumble bees get wasted on the nectar. They are too stoned to fly and just cling to the flower. When happy this plant will reach 4 to 5 feet tall.
Jacob Cline Monarda or Bee Balm. This image is a little too bright in the full sun today but it shows how nice this plant looks in full bloom. It's very easy to grow, spreads but isn't invasive and it's a magnet for pollinators.
The Mystery Lacecap Hydrangea in its full fuzzy glory. Its an odd but beautiful bloom.
I didn't take this picture but this year we are seeing the beautiful Zebra Swallowtail butterfly (Eurytides marcellus) in the garden. It seems to be more skittish than the Black and Tiger Swallowtails but I hope to get a few images when our huge Butterfly bush comes into bloom. They seem to like our White Gooseneck Loosestrife (Lysimachia clethroides). Thanks to Hugh Christy for this image. Please don't sue us.
Early blooms of a Cityline Venice Hydrangea. For some reason the blooms are not full mopheads this year. It still has great vivid color.
Oakleaf Hydrangea Alice with a large bloom. The leaves on this plant are HUGE this season. We have several planted behind the patio so in a few years they will cover the fence and create quite a dramatic setting.
Classic Nikko Blue Hydrangea just on the edge of full maturity. I love how blue stands out against green leaves.
The dainty bloom of Lady in Red Lacecap Hydrangea. You cant really see it in this image but the stems are red.
Old fashioned Annabelle Hydrangea flopped over after a heavy rain storm. This is the reason it gets a bad reputation. The stems cant support the weight of the blooms so its beautiful until a heavy downpour flattens it. They never really recover. For this reason I'll be replacing it in the fall.
This is an unknown Lacecap variety that we found in the castaway section of an Amish garden center. It has large full blooms and very strong stems. The lesson is, don't overlook ugly plants (perennial) at the nursery. You can get a great deal and nurse it back to health.
This is a new stand of Penny Mac Hydrangeas named after Penny McHenry, founder of the American Hydrangea Society. They have a few unusual traits. It blooms on old and new wood, is a repeat bloomer in the same season and has both large and small mopheads on the same plant. Can wait until they reach full maturity (up to 6 feet) in a few years. I've added some natual sulphur (from Espoma) to turn them blue. Its safer than Aluminum Sulfate, is non-toxic and approved for organic gardening.
This is shot of Annabelle, Nikko and Endless Summer Hydrangeas together with Liberty Hostas and a branch of Fallopia.
