Paeonia dahurica
Well this is the magic time of year for a Garden Blogger Bloom Day Post. It seems everything is in flower or in bud. The peony shown above is actually the second to bloom. The first for us is always Paeonia caucasica.
Paeonia caucasica
In addition to sharing some of the abundant flowering happening right now I wanted to share the Open Garden Day which we held last weekend. We had a lot of visitors who asked many questions and made me focus on what I do and don’t remember about some of the plants we have put in.
The Viburnum which is providing amazing scent to the backyard (for those who still have the ability to smell which is not me) is either Viburnum carlesii or a relative bred from V. carlesii called Viburnum carcephalum and as near I can tell I’ve used both names to describe this wonderful plant.
Viburnum calesii or carcephalum?
In the backyard is a wonderful little spreader called Hacquetia epipactis.
Haquetia epipactis
And I was incorrectly describing it as Hylomecon which is another part of the yard and just coming into flower.
Hylomecon japonica
A number of people were asking about the Epimediums and I inevitably focus on the fifteen year-old plants which came to us as Mother’s day gifts from our kids.
Epimedium grandiflorum ‘Lilac Seedling’
Epimedium x rubrum ‘Sweetheart’
But there are a great many other Epimediums around the property that we got from Garden Vision Epimediums until Karen Perkins closed up shop three years ago.
Epimedium grandiflorum ‘Bicolor Giant’
Epimedium wushanense ‘Sandy Claws’
Notice the new leaves are red and the old ones green. There are many Epimediums in the woods as well because it turns out that many are four season plants with little need for regular care.
Also in the woods is a bamboo (Fargesia rufa) that survives with little care or tending.
Bamboo (Fargesia rufa)
Of course the obvious thing in the woods at this time of year is Virginia Bluebells.
Virginia Bluebells (Mertensia virginiana)
And we have a great many daffodil varieties that can be enjoyed.
Narcisus ‘Badgeworth’
Narcissus ‘A Million Kisses’
Narcissus ‘Arguros’
Also in the woods are a few special flowers that have managed to take hold.
Erythronium ‘Pacific Sunset’
Sanguinaria multiplex
Back in the yard we have a small phlox that is always an early charmer.
Phlox sileniflora
And I added a very nice little Anemonella to a trough last year.
Anemonella thalictroides ‘Kikuzaki White’ (from Japan Engei Nursery)
In the same trough is a lovely Pulsatilla from Edelweiss that has been blooming for about a month now.
Pulsatilla ambigua
One item that received attention was the Golden Pea and I realized I should look at moving more of these into the forest where it should spread easily.
Golden Pea (Lathryrus aureus)
Let me close with this Geranium maderense which I’m hoping will yield flowers this year to match the spectacular foliage. It takes two years to get the point of flowering and I’m considering putting it into the ground now that it’s made it over the winter in the greenhouse.
Geranium maderense
And So We Begin (April 2025)
Adonis amurensis ‘Pleniflora’
“The world is changed. I feel it in the water. I feel it in the earth. I smell it in the air. ” — The Lord of the Rings
The world is full of flowers right now and I am compelled to share what I see. The Adonis shown above is very tiny and it is one of many exquisite little flowers worthy of our attention right now.
I used to grow the Chilean Blue Crocus many years ago and have been trying regrow it for sometime. Finally it has returned to Ball Rd. courtesy of Telos Rare Bulbs.
Tecophilaea cyanocrocus var. leichtlinii
Nearby we have another unusual visitor, this time from Illahe Rare Plants. I have been trying to grow a yellow Fritillaria for years.
Fritillaria pudica
Nearby are the Jeffersonia which are expanding their clumps every year.
Jeffersonia dubia
Bloodroots are also coming into bloom right now and they are happy in the yard and woods.
Sanguinaria canadensis ‘Tennessee Form’
Nearby is a very rare Podophyllum just starting up.
Podophyllum x inexpectatum
Also in the yard we have an exceptionally nice Erythronium which reminds me of hiking in the Cascades.
Erythronium grandiflorum
Of course for us the really plentiful flowers at the beginning of April are the Erythronium americanum.
Erythronium americanum
They are so thick in the raised bed around our back porch that I couldn’t resist putting them in the woods as well. That was probably 20 years ago and while they have prospered in the woods, spreading like mad, they didn’t flower like they do in the raised bed. One thesis I’ve read about this said that they are happy to spread by runners if there are no constraints so they don’t bother with this flowering nonsense. Nonetheless we did get a flower two years ago and this year we are actually up to 6 flowers in the woods so there may be many more in the future.
Erythronium americanum in the woods
Also in the woods we have a great many Corydalis in flower at the moment, mostly ‘Beth Evans’ and ‘Purple Rain’.
Corydalis ‘Purple Rain’
We also have a large number of Ranunculus ficaria spreading in the woods.
Ranunculus ficaria ‘Randall’s White’
Of course the woods are full of Virginia Bluebells right now.
Mertensia virginica
And yesterday I saw the first Spring Beauty at the bottom of the woods.
Spring Beauty (Claytonia Virginica)
We would be remiss if I didn’t note that Daffodils are everywhere. This is their time of the year.
Daffodils on the hillside
Daffodils on the pasture trail
Narcissus ‘Chromacolor’ (this is one of my favorites)
Narcissus ‘Bridal Crown’
I should mention that the first of the Rhododendrons is now in bloom.
Rhododendron carolinianum
And just to prepare for the future we have the first leaves of a spectacular red-leaved maple coming out…
Acer palmatum ‘Shin Deshojo’
Garden Blogger’s Bloom Day March 2025
Prunus mume ‘Matsubara Red’
Well I’m very late in posting this month. Let me note for GBBD that it is definitely spring here, both on the calendar and outside where it’s been weeks since our last frost. A particular highlight for me is the first blooms on our flowering Apricot as shown above.
Prunus mume ‘Matsubara Red’
This little tree has been in the ground since 2022 and was initially bothered by deer in the front yard. But now it is getting big enough to actually bloom and it will be a special bell-ringer for spring from now on.
All the normal first highlights of Spring are showing up now, but most especially the daffodils.
Daffodils planted here over 50 years ago
Narcissus ‘Little Gem’ in the woods
Narcissus ‘Sunnyside Up’
Daffodils in the house
There are of course hundreds of daffodils to come in the next 6 weeks, but at the same time the Hellebores are providing their expected showy blooms.
Helleborus hybridus ‘Kingston Cardinal’
Helleborus x ‘Berry Swirl’
Hellebores in the kitchen
Among the many other species providing springtime delights right now I am absolutely delighted by the Hepaticas. I think they are really looking outstanding this year.
Hepatica nobilis
Hepatica nobilis blue
Even in the woods in a much more difficult environment the Hepaticas are spreading.
Hepatica in the woods
Some other special contributors at the moment are the Fritillaria stenathera
Fritillaria stenethera ‘Cambridge’
This is a rarity that you rarely see anywhere in the U.S.
And a particularly nice Pulsatilla is in bloom at the moment.
Pulsatilla ambigua
This one came from Edelweiss last year.
And while the focus is outside right now it would be a shame to pass by the greenhouse which has a number of beautiful flowers to share.
Ixia maculata
This last was from the Pacific Bulb Society last year.
And then the Clivia are putting out many flowers right now, both orange and yellow.
Clivia miniata v. citrina
And I can see big buds and first flowers on the Peruvian Scilla.
Scilla peruviana
Scilla peruviana flowers
Note that this wonderful flowering plant is neither Peruvian nor a Scilla but that is a history lesson all in itself.
Garden Blogger’s Bloom Day February 2025
Adonis Fukujukai
Well, it’s Garden Blogger’s Bloom Day again and while there are many more blooms than we had last month it’s clear that winter is still with us. We spent most of the last month enjoying the warmth of California and returned home to find many of the bulbs trying their best to get started despite the distinctly unusual cold weather this year.
As always at this time of year, it is the Adonis that offer a sparkling bright yellow invitation to Spring. I’ve noticed that although we have several varieties of Adonis it is always the Adonis Fukujukai that leads the way.
Adonis Fukujukai Clump
Unfortunately all sources of this plant have dried up or disappeared so I’m thinking about splitting off a piece of this clump to make sure it spreads further. It’s a sterile hybrid so I suspect that’s why it’s hard to come by. There is a very good writeup on BotanyCa that explains why it’s so hard to obtain Adonis.
Another early starter is Crocus Korolkowii
Crocus korolkowii ‘Lemon Tiger’
This one is way ahead of our other Crocus with a bright yellow that catches the eye.
Another yellow for this time of year is Winter Aconite.
Winter Aconite (Eranthis hyemalis)
We have a number of these scattered in the woods. Not only are they super hardy, but they increase in number every year. I assume that insects contribute to the spreading of the flowers because I’ve found them in places where I know I did not plant them.
Of course another early yellow is the Witch Hazel.
Witch Hazel coming into bloom
Witch Hazel (Hamamelis mollis) first straps showing
We have several Witch Hazels but this is always the first one to greet the Spring.
And when we are talking about yellow we have to share the first Daffodil of Spring.
Rinjveld’s Early Sensation
For early flowers there are also the snowdrops.
Volunteer Galanthus elwesii in the grass
The remarkable thing I’ve noted the last couple of years is that this particular snowdrop is happily spreading into the grass.
Along the front fence I see the Edgeworthia plumping up.
Edgeworthia
I almost think they are prettier before they actually flower.
On the side of the hill I see the first evidence of Colchicum getting ready for a burst of green leaves.
Colchicum
In the greenhouse I spied a single flower from a high alpine buttercup that was planted last year.
Ranunculus caliandrinoides
And I’ve moved into the house a pot of hybrid Cyrtanthus that is particularly showy.
Hybrid Cyrtanthus
Garden Blogger’s Bloom Day January 2025
Greenhouse in January
This is one of the very few postings where there are no GBBD photos of flowers on the outside. The reason being extreme cold and snow blanketing the hillside.
Snowy hillside in January
The best I can offer are flowers in the greenhouse that are actually quite nice and well worth bringing in the house.
Cyclamen graecum
There are actually some orchids that I am keeping in the greenhouse at the moment. And some lovely Cyrtanthus on the way.
Orchid and Cyrthanthus in the greenhouse
Meanwhile outside all you can see are some early daffodils patiently awaiting their turn.
Rinjveld’s Early Sensation showing tips.
Garden Blogger’s Bloom Day December 2024
Princess Flower (Tibouchina urvilleana)
Well there is not much outside for this Garden Blogger Bloom Day. I see some burnt-off Camellia Flowers and there are just a couple of early snowdrops in the woods, but mostly we are finally seeing some evidence of winter with temperatures down to the mid-20’s. The most colorful flowers I can share at this point are in the greenhouse like the Princess Flower up above. I expect that it will continue to flower all winter long.
There is an absolutely lovely Greek Cyclamen from Edgewood Gardens which just continues to get bigger every year.
Cyclamen graecum
This year we bought a very nice Cyclamen persicum from Abernethy & Spencer in Virginia
Cyclamen persicum
This will definitely never be an outside plant but they are easy to care for and flower for a very long time. I had one that lasted for over 20 years in a windowsill in my government office at one point.
One of the bulbs I’ve gotten from the Pacific Bulb Society many times is Freesia. Very easy to grow and always nice to look at.
Freesia
One of my favorites in the greenhouse are the Nerines from South Africa. This particular one came via Far Reaches. It has particularly large and long-lasting flowers.
Nerine ‘Pink Triumph’
And then finally I would note that I do see the Adonis on their way with nice fat buds.
Adonis buds
I expect to see early flowers next month.
Garden Bloggers Bloom Day November 2024
Camellia x ‘Yume’
Well I have to say that camellias dominate the local flower landscape for this GBBD. We had a dry and very warm Fall. All of the Camellia sansanquas and hybrids are in bloom as shown above and below.
Camellia sasanqua red
Camellia sasanqua red
Camellia sasanqua ‘Double Rainbow’
Camellia sasanqua ‘October Magic’
But in addition several of the Spring blooming camellias are showing flowers.
Camellia japonica red
Camellia japonica double pink
As I said it’s been unusually warm. One of the surprising things I’ve noticed is that the Loropetalum, which is only marginally hardy in this area has grown substantially this year. It is literally creeping up the house.
Loropetalum almost ten feet tall
And even more amazing it has flowers showing already.
Loropetalum chinese var. rubrum ‘Zhuzhou fuschia’ in flower
Elsewhere in the yard there are seasonal signs
Beautyberry (Callicarpa americana)
Corydalis lutea flowers until frost
Daphne × transatlantica ‘Eternal Fragrance’
This Daphne flowers almost all the time.
We were threatened with frost this week but it didn’t really happen. We ended up moving most of the fragile items into the greenhouse, but to make room we had to take a very large Elephant Ear out.
Alocasia ‘Sumo’
And then we ended up putting it in the entryway to the house where it makes a definite statement.
Alocasia ‘Sumo’ in the entryway
Also in the greenhouse is a nicely flowering Nerine
Nerine undulata
and a very early Freesia
Freesia fucata
Thinking of Winter
Late Afternoon Light
A very good friend, Marianne Willburn, wrote an article in the latest American Gardener (Nov/Dec 2024) entitled ‘Rethinking the Winter Garden’. Reading her lovely article made me revisit what I have experienced in the winters on Ball Rd. Fortunately I have 15 years of this Posting which lets me go back and remind myself what I enjoy about winter. The snow that I pictured above is from 2010 and it rarely happens anymore. I can’t even remember when I’ve had to plow the driveway. Nonetheless winter is a different season when many of the flowers and fruits have gone away to rest or reseed.
“No matter how unprepared I am, I always imagine preparing for a winter you can’t muddle through. It’s a deep, wooded season. Time pauses and then pauses again. The sun winks over the horizon, glinting on a snow-swept lake — just enough light to wake the chickadees.” — Verlyn Klinkenborg
In going back over just the past year I saw plenty that makes me look forward to the coming months.
Camellia sasanqua red (Dec 2023)
Krarmer’s Rote Heather (Erica x darleyensis) (Dec 2023)
Japanese Quince (Dec 2023)
Daffodil ‘Rinjveldt’s Early Sensation’ (Jan 2024)
Galanthus elwesii (Jan 2024)
Camellia Sasanqua October Magic Orchid (Jan 2024)
Adonis amurensis ‘Fukujukai’ (Jan 2024)
Winter Aconite (Feb 2024)
Camellia japonica red (Feb 2024)
Helleborus x hybridus ‘Cotton Candy’ (Feb 2024)
But to be fair, Marianne’s article was not just about finding delights in the garden over the winter months but also about creating structures that give you pleasure as you watch it evolve. Among the many evergreens we’ve planted on our hillside are the Christmas trees that mark the season every year.
Backyard Christmas Trees
And without a doubt the single most enjoyable viewpoint for us has always been the hillside leading down to the pasture.
February Snow (Feb 2024)
That line of White Pines was planted in 1976 with baby trees donated by the state of Maryland and the hillside is adorned with wildflowers in other seasons. It has been a delight to watch the White Pines grown year by year…