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Although this could very well be a picture of me finding a new treasure at a favorite nursery, it's actually an illustration by David Catrow for a children's book called Plantzilla.

Monday, April 15, 2013

Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day April 2013

 
It's hard to believe that it's the middle of April already!  Spring is in full swing here,  the trees are showing their fresh green foliage and blooms are everywhere!  Today is the last day to file  taxes in the U.S. and was my mother's birthday.   Here are some of the plants currently blooming in my garden:
 
Stachyurus praecox blooms are beginning to fade as the new leaves come in.  Stachyurus  salicifolia (not pictured) are just beginning to open.
 Kerria japonica is full of cheery yellow flowers.  This is a wonderful shrub that suckers quite a bit but is also easy to pull up and can take quite a bit of pruning!
 
 Eccremocarpus scaber 'Cherry Red' planted at the feet of a Trachycarpus fortunei  has now taken over the poor palm.  The vine has remained green through our mild winter and is thrilling humming birds with spring flowers.

Never met a magnolia I didn't like but  these sweet deciduous ones are a welcome sight in spring!

Forget me nots are a little weedy for some but  they are Alaska's state flower and were used a lot in Victorian designs.  They seed about and always surprise me with where they pop up every year.    Then of course there's the sweet poem by Emily Bruce Roelofson.

"When to the flowers so beautiful,
The Father gave a name,
Back came a little blue-eyed one,
All timidly it came.
And standing at its Father's feet,
And gazing in his face,
It said in low and trembling tones,
And with a modest grace,
'Dear God, the name thou gavest me,
Alas, I have forgot.'
The Father kindly looked Him down,
And said, 'Forget-me-not.' "

Sanguinaria canadensis multiplex.  Sorry, I didn't get a very good picture.
 Camellia season is in full swing!
 
 
 Akebia quinata 'shirobana'  is a wonderful semi-evergreen vine that heavily bears these trusses of white and highly fragrant ( reminds me of fragrant stock) blooms.  I have it planted over an arbor which is a joy to walk near when the akebia fragrance is floating on the air.

Another camellia japonica.


Ribes sanguineum is still in bloom as the new green foliage  appears.  Humming birds are supposed to be drawn to this PNW native but I never see any in proximity to this plant.  They seem much more interested in my feeders.
 
 
 Don't remember the name of this pulmonaria variety but it's my favorite with it's spotted foliage and blooms that emerge pink and change to blue as they age.

Trillium kurabayashii  (I'm pretty sure.)
 
Primula kisoana


Fun alien looking blooms of Petasites japonicus var. giganteus.

Have I mentioned that I love these cute double primroses.  This is one plant that's spread a lot in it's three years in my garden.

Rhododendron 'Blue Baron'

Bergenia
 
 
Euphorbia wulfenii
 
 Grevillea victoriae 'Marshall Olbrich' has been blooming all fall and winter.  What a great plant!

Have I mentioned that the Camellia japonicas are blooming? 

Rhododendron 'President Roosevelt.' Dig the cool variegated foliage.  I  only grow rhodies whose foliage I like because the blossoms, while gorgeous, are only around for a month or so while the foliage is ever present.
 
Skunk cabbage blooms looking especially nice in the sea of camellia petals.  The foliage of this native plant is large and tropical looking in the summer. 


These tulips have been in my garden for over ten years and return each year.  They've even outlasted some of the daffodills I planted around the same time!  One of these days I'll get around to planting more spring bulbs again.
 
Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day is hosted each month by Carol at May Dreams Gardens.  Thanks, Carol, for bringing us all together for this fun monthly party!  Do click on the link above to see what's in bloom in gardens around the world.

28 comments:

  1. What a beautiful array of blooms you have going on. I'm a particular fan of Trillium kurabayashii and have only just planted this spring. I hope they bulk up nicely like yours.
    Happy Bloom Day!

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    1. This one has bulked up very nicely but the other two that I planted at the same time have stayed the same size. Maybe this is because the others have a lot of oxalis growing around them and competing for nutrients.

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  2. Wow that variegated Rhody foliage is HOT! I don't remember seeing it in your garden (although if I bothered to go back and look at that post I probably even took a photo of it).

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    1. The foliage sometimes gets covered up a little by a skimmia that's right next to the rhody so if I didn't get around to trimming it back before your visit, it might not have been very visable.

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  3. I really enjoyed this look at the flowers blooming in your garden. You post so often about your visits to nurseries and walks around Tacoma, a post about your own garden is a rare treat! I have a tiny little patch of double bloodroot too, and it is so hard to get good pictures of it. I hope my new Rhodie eventually looks as good as yours.

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    1. Your rhodie will be amazing when all those buds begin to open up! If you want more double bloodroot, The Rhododendron Garden Nursery http://www.rhodygarden.creelweb.com/ has them at a rediculously low price.

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  4. The variety blooms in your garden are so amazing and the foliage just as impressive.

    Happy GBBD!

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    1. Happy GBBD to you Shirley! While foliage is most important to me, I love things that bloom through the winter and those that give a big shot of color in the spring when we appreciate it more than any other time of the year.

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  5. We choose our Rhodies for the foliage, too...but this time of year is a special bonus, isn't it. I haven't seen that variegated one, but it's a stunner.

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    1. Even though I've been here for 25 years, Rhododendrons still look so exotic to me. Fortunately, they're planted everywhere and when they start blooming, town and country are ablaze with color!

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  6. Beautiful photos! Naturally I had to google that variegated Rhodie. Not hardy for me...RATS! Happy GBBD!

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    1. Thanks Sue! Sorry that rhodie isn't hardy for you - just one more reason to move out west:) Happy GBBD to you too!

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  7. I had to Google that vine you're growing. I see that Annie's Annuals sells it. I might have to have it. :) I'm not much of a Rhodie fan either but Pres. Roosevelt really is a stunner. Thanks for sharing such gorgeous photos.

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    1. My pleasure! Eccremocarpus scaber is a wonderful plant and has really cool seed pods. It doesn't always make it through the winter and is usually available at local nurseries in the late spring. I got mine at nearby Jungle Fever Exotics nursery. Happy GBBD!

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  8. Oh lala! Divine blooms, even the skunk cabbage! And love the intense colour of the Eccremocarpus scaber that you grow. We cut ours back to the ground last winter, it'll be awhile yet before we know if it will come back again or not.

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    1. Fingers crossed that yours comes back! It's such a fun vine.

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  9. Has it been a particularly good year for Camellias or what?

    I hear you on the leaves. There are a number of species rhodies with glaucus leaves. I love them. R. 'Fragrant Star' has blue leaves and spectacular fall color. I grow the hybrid R. 'Ebony Pearl' for the deep red leaves. I have also planted R. 'Starbright Champagne' which is supposed to have burgundy new growth that holds it's color most of the summer.

    Deirdre in Seattle

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    1. Yes, the camellias seem a little later than usual but extremely floriferous this year!

      I love 'Ebony Pearl' but it never looks really good when I try to grow it. We're lucky that we can visit the Rhododendron Species Garden in Federal Way and see a lot of great rhodies in and out of bloom! Happy GBBD!

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  10. Happy GBBD! You've got quite a bit blooming! I love the camellias and I planted some primrose last year. Hope they look a good as yours!

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    1. Yours will look even better because you're a much nicer person!

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  11. Never heard of Eccremocarpus, but it is beautiful! You've got so much going on in your garden for April. I really don't care if forget-me-not is weedy, how can anyone say no to those sky blue flowers? The Ribes sanguineum is outstanding, and I had no idea Akebia vine has such lovely flowers.

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    1. It grows and blooms very quickly and I think it would like your summer heat so would make a nice annual vine if you're looking for such a thing. Glad to find another forget-me-not lover!

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  12. Hands down, the red, Rhododendron 'President Roosevelt has the prettiest foliage I've ever seen ! You have so many pretty spring blooms :) Happy GBBD! Cheers, Jenni

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    1. It's gorgeous foliage! Nurseries have trouble keeping it in stock as it tends to walk out the door as soon as it arrives. Hope you are getting a little sunshine between the rain!

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  13. Peter, you have large amount of blooming trees and bushes and flowers!
    The spring is on its top, 'full swing'.
    I love your rhododendrons, nice color and especially leaves. have never seen these varieties.
    Happy gardening!

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    1. Happy gardening to you, Nadezda. I'm very lucky to live in such a mild climate that allows so many things to grow and bloom at this time of the year!

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  14. You have so many blooming plants! Lovely! I especially like Magnolia. I'm dreaming of to have one in our garden..

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    1. Can magnolia live through your winters? If so, it would look beautiful in your garden! Mickey would like it too!

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Thanks so much for taking the time to comment! I love to hear your thoughts.