Early Spring Blooms

 

It's begun!   

Forsythia and Daffodils are

hallmarks of the early spring show, but they're not alone.

Early spring blooms come

wrapped in many shapes and sizes. 
Here's a sampling of what's blooming in my area. 

Heath (Erica carnea), makes a colorful spring carpet, nicely set off by Boxwood.  This

low-growing evergreen shrub 

needs excellent drainage.

 Iris reticulata

(Dwarf Iris)

provides a

diminutive

punch of blue

in that

lovely, 

Iris form.

Primrose comes in many bright shades from white to shocking pink.

Pretty white blossoms cover Wall Rock Cress (Arabis caucasica) in early spring. 

The evergreen perennial spreads to form mats of gray-green foliage 

that cover the ground.

Siberian Squill (Scilla siberica) is one of my favorite spring bulbs.

Although quite small,

the clear blue flowers 

flaunt their beauty. 

I believe these pretty blue rays are Glory of the Snow (Chionodoxa luciliae) - 

a visit to Carolyn's Shade Gardens helped identify them.

 Daffodil trumpets signal that spring is here.  Do you see the daylilies peeking out of the ground below the Daffodils?  Read why they're a great pair here.

 The fragrance of Hyacinth belongs to Easter, for me.  I like Hyacinth best indoors, but can never bring myself to throw them away.  I usually plant the bulbs outside after the holiday to enjoy in years to come. 

Japanese Pieris (Pieris japonica), is a nice evergreen shrub with dainty drooping flower clusters.

Some cultivars, such as 'Valley Rose', have pink flowers.  A fronting plant would make a nice addition to conceal these exposed "legs." 

Forsythia is recognized by all...when it's in bloom. 

Afterwards, it fades unremarkably into the background. 

I think it's best sited where the branches can stretch out in 

all the glory of their unrestrained sprawl...

 

  

...rather than being clipped into a

forced civility. 

If you do prune Forsythia, 

do so in the spring

soon after bloom

to ensure flowering the next year.

Dwarf cultivars, such as Forsythia 'Arnold Dwarf', are more suited to smaller spaces.  

Did you know that

Red Maples (Acer rubrum) have flowers? 

Although vibrant fall foliage color is their

claim to fame, 

the modest spring show is a nice bonus. 

Don't forget to take the pest ALB into consideration when choosing trees (read about it here)  

Star Magnolia (Magnolia stellata) is a wonderful small tree with lacy white flowers.



Star magnolia blossoms



"The day the Lord

created hope

was probably the same day

He created Spring." 

~Bern Williams

To see what's blooming in other areas, visit May Dreams Gardens for
Garden Blogger Bloom Day

See, also Spring Blooms II for more spring blooms.