May Blooms

The garden has finally started to come alive the past few weeks and even though the harsh winter took it's toll on my garden, most of it survived.

 It's Garden Bloggers Bloom Day again and I'm happy to share some of my blooms with you.

I'll start with my tulips and daffodils. I love this combination of  Tulip 'Christmas Marvel' and Daffodil 'Thalia'.

Tulip 'Angelique'

If there is one spring flower that I wish I had many more of, it's tulips. I just lose too many of them to the critters but I can't resist planting a few every fall.

These are the last of the daffodils. Not sure of the name.

I am loving the miniature flowers you can buy these days. These mini irises stand about 6 inches tall and bloom earlier than the tall ones. So cute!

Another favorite is bleeding hearts. Usually the pink ones bloom at the same time but they are behind this year. I'll try to post some next month.

I lost a lot of my forget-me-nots this winter. Enough remain to hopefully reseed themselves again.

Primroses

Variegated Solomon's Seal

Epimedium Rubrum also known as Red Barrenwort. 

The heart-shaped leaves of this plant have a red tinge which turns to bronze in the fall. The blooms may be small, however the whole plant makes an impact in a woodland garden. This plant can be used as a ground cover. I love the foliage on this plant just as much as the flowers. I will definitely be adding more Epimediums to my shade garden.   

 Heuchera 'Little Cutie Sweet Tart'

Virginia Bluebells are almost done blooming.

Pulmonaria 'Majeste' 

 Dogwoods are in bloom......

and the Crabapples are just done.

They were so beautiful this year.

To see more gardens in bloom head over to May Dreams.

Springtime Favorites

SPRING.....truly the best time of the year! I'm loving it even more than ever after the winter we've endured although I'm starting to wonder if we are going to have a summer this year. The cold just persists!

Every chance I get I love walking through the garden to see what new things have come up. It changes almost daily. Now if it would just warm up a little and a good dose of sunshine would really help, this girl would be really happy!

Here are some of the things I look forward to the most every spring.

H. First Frost

I always anticipate those first hosta pips emerging from the ground. I love the bright spring colors of the hostas, before the yellows fade to cream or turn green.

H. Winsome

 

Ferns

I love watching ferns awaken in the spring. They remind me of little seahorses! I've never tried it but they say fiddleheads are delicious sautéed in a little olive oil. I think I would rather enjoy my ferns in the garden.

 

Virginia Bluebells

The Virginia Bluebells are just starting to bloom. Probably my favorite springtime bloom.

These bloom for a few weeks then they go dormant so you might want to mark the spot so you don't mistakenly dig them up when planting annuals.

Trillium

 

The first tulips opening.

 

Bluebirds nesting are high on my list.

 

Baltimore Orioles

 

Rose-Breasted Grosbeak

 

I always make a note on my calendar when the Orioles return each year. This year the Orioles, Hummingbirds, and Grosbeaks all came back on the same day. So far the Grosbeaks have not nested here but move on after a few days, but I always hope someday they will decide to stick around for the summer.

 

I have several pairs of Orioles that nest here but this male has done nothing the last few days but sit on my window sills pecking on the glass. The females arrive a few days after the males so hopefully they get here soon. He probably thinks his reflection is competition.

 

Love Hummingbirds!

 

 

Fairy Gardens.

 It been too wet to work in the garden so I've been working on my fairy gardens. I try to do a few every year slowly adding to my collection. I especially love fairy gardens in my hypertufa planters. I will do a post on these when I get them done.