Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day and Foliage Follow-Up April 2015 Garden: Early Spring Blooms!

April Garden 2015

March went out like a lion with snow on the 29th, resulting in a layer of white blanketing the first buds and foliage for the start of April.  It was the snowiest March on record for Long Island with 19.7 inches of snowfall and the transition from winter to spring has been slow moving. As temperatures gradually climb from being mainly in the 40's to some 50 degree days here and there, the past winter feels more and more distant. Spring is a wonderful time of the year as I wait anxiously for the first signs of life to emerge in the garden.  It is time for another Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day and Foliage Follow-Up to take notice of what is blooming.  Come along for a walk in my garden!

Hellebore 'Shooting Star'

I have always admired Hellebores in other's winter garden posts so when I saw these on opening day at the local nursery I did not hesitate to purchase them and plant them on the north side of the house. These beauties are shade loving plants that bloom from late winter into early spring (January through March) here on Long Island.  I am very excited about this purchase and look forward to how the foliage will look throughout the summer and will then anticipate their late winter blooms next year.  It will be interesting to follow these in the garden.

Crocus

The first established blooms to arrive this year were my white crocus.  They popped up almost overnight in a sunny spot in the garden and are showing their pure white blooms.  They are such a refreshing sight after the long cold winter.

White Crocus and Purple Hyacinth Backdrop

Being very anxious to get out into the garden I planted these new purple hyacinths in order to supply a backdrop of color to the already blooming crocus.  There are more pink and purple hyacinth buds popping up in the garden and they should bloom within the next week or so.

Purple Hyacinth

Here is how far along the already established bulbs are as this time of year.

Hyacinths Spring 2015

Coming up is the foliage from one of my newest additions, Allium 'Globemaster'. I planted the bulbs last fall and cannot wait to see the giant purple blooms that will 4-5 inches in diameter!  I also planted Allium 'Mont Blanc' in the perennial garden as a backdrop.  Having seen these magnificent flowers in many a botanical garden, I had to add some to my own space.

Allium 'Globemaster' (Giant Allium)

As you can see there are many new additions this spring. Having been retired from my 32 year teaching career for the past two years and with the particularly long winter we just endured, I have taken notice that my perennial border just outside the back door needed some more late winter/early spring blooms.  Just before my design season started up I went on a gardening frenzy adding hyacinths and daffodils along with the added crocus and allium bulbs from last fall, which can be seen throughout the property.

Miniature Daffodils

These miniature daffodils were perfect and now I can enjoy their blooms every spring.

Sedum 'Brilliant'

For some foliage, the perfectly shaped rosettes of sedum are just showing their presence as they emerge from a winter's sleep.  The succulent-like compact form of this plant is a welcomed asset to the garden all season long and is complemented by large pink blooms in late summer.

Weeping Pussy Willow

The graceful Weeping Pussy Willow has been showing more and more catkins with each passing day that can be viewed right outside my kitchen window.  There have been frequent mockingbird visits, so it looks like they will be nesting in it for another year.

Weeping Pussy Willow Catkins April

Here are the catkins close up...so soft!

Yellow Crocus

In the front garden the yellow crocus planted just last fall are about to open...

First Robin 2015

and the first robins have arrived which signals the arrival of spring in my Long Island Garden. 

Spring Love!

Thank you to Carol at May Dreams Gardens who makes it possible for us to have blooms on the 15th of every month with her meme Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day and Pam at Digging for hosting Foliage Follow-Up.  I am also linking with some other wonderful hosts and hostesses at Creative Country Mom's Tuesday Garden Party, Today's Flowers, Floral Fridays, Mosaic Monday at Lavender Cottage, I Heart Macro, Macro Monday 2, and Nature Notes at Rambling Woods.  I hope you enjoyed the visit to my garden.  If you leave a note I will know you dropped by, and will be sure to visit you as well.

Happy spring!

 And As Always...Happy Gardening!

Author: Lee@A Guide to Northeastern Gardening, © Copyright 2015. All rights reserved