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.

Fall color on Skyline Drive

Fall is here and the final blooms of the season.

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. 

The end of September and the garden gives one last flourish.

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.

The end of June and its a beautiful sunny day.

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.