Tulips in April

Color in April is a wonderful thing. Today I am going still thinking about what I like about my bulbs and what to add next year. Most of the color coming up makes me very happy, so I took lots of pictures! Here is an over all view of the mailbox garden, where I focused the bulbs this year. I currently have 5 species of tulips blooming or about to bloom, plus a smattering of other things.

From April 11, 2010 Garden

Below the crabapple are Greigii tulips called "Professor de Monsseri" which mix well with the small daffodils.

From April 11, 2010 Garden

And a close up with Juniperus horizontalis 'Mother Lode' in the background.

From April 11, 2010 Garden

Closer to the mailbox, a Single Early tulip named "Flair" is really showing off.

From April 11, 2010 Garden

I love the look of paint brush strokes on each petal.

From April 11, 2010 Garden

I like that they are close to the street, so they can be enjoyed by walkers in the neighborhood.

From April 11, 2010 Garden

The Hyacinth, Grape Hyacinth and Creeping Phlox in the background are all very blue.

From April 11, 2010 Garden

and are ready for their close-up.

From April 11, 2010 Garden

I don't think it's possible to have too much phlox in a spring garden.

From April 11, 2010 Garden

Most of the Single Early "Beauty Queen" near the Purple-leaf Sandcherry are not open yet, but this one was early and makes me think I did well on the color match. Hopefully I'll have a good picture for bloom day from this group.

From April 11, 2010 Garden

Moving away from bulbs, the conifers are looking positively perky.
Cryptomeria japonica 'Black Dragon' with lots of new growth.

From April 11, 2010 Garden

And a happy Pinus parviflora 'Hagoromo '

From April 11, 2010 Garden

Where in the heck did I plant that...

One of the problems that comes from being a gardener that relies on serendipity is that in general, there is no plan. And when there is no plan, sometimes important pieces of information get lost. I stumbled across an instance of this tonight.

The story actually does start out with a plan. It is spring, my bulbs are up, and this actually is the best time to start planning for next years spring display, because I can take notes on what worked (I love the hyacinth and blue chionodoxa together, more please!) and what didn't (none of my daffodils are early enough and the bulbs near the fothergilla need to be replaced). While researching the names of last year's bulbs, I notice some plants that I purchased at the same time, probably trying to fill up the order to get to a discount. Apparently I bought a Filipendula 'Kahome' and a Campanula portenschlagiana "Resholt Variety". Well, darned if I know where I planted them. For all I know, they have vanished, forever out of sight and mind. Or perhaps one of those small green things nubbing out of the ground is my mystery plant, biding its time, waiting for enough sun and rain to flourish in the perfect place I happened to pick for it last fall. If that is the case, then it will definitely belong in my serendipitous garden.

Lovely Spring

The weather just could not be better. Warm, sunny, dry. It is just a joy to be outside, and the flowers seem to feel that way too. Just a few shots to show off some early color. First up, my precocious tulips which, oddly, were up and out before my daffodils. I thought it was supposed to be the other way around.Anyway, these are Kaufmanniana Hybrid Tulips "The First," and they certainly lived up to their name. From the Scheeper's website "Also known as Water Lily Tulips, Kaufmannianas are colorful, low-growing tulips perfect for rock gardens and border plantings."

Chionodoxa Forbesii have small pink, blue, or white blooms the come in early spring. Having been planted just last year, they seem a bit sparse, but they do look vigorous. I'm hoping they are happy and spread to cover this area.










Here is a closeup of one planted a bit to close to an emerging hyacinth.





















Ever wonder what a Shai'Hulud kindergarden looked like?

Don't tell me I'm the only one who looks at the emerging shoots of Baptisia and thinks sandworms from Dune.
















Another Chionodoxa forbesii, this time "Pink Giant."




























These daffodils were a gift in a spring basket years ago. After the blooms faded, I planted them, and they have spread and bloomed very nicely ever since.















I also have been really enjoying my Abies concolor with a forsythia background. I think the colors are very complimentary.























And a close-up.