Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day & Foliage Follow-Up April 2017: Welcome Spring!

April 2017 Garden

April showers bring May flowers and at last the garden is alive with colorful blooms! After one of the coldest arrivals of spring, early April has brought in some rainy days, followed by sunny blue skies and 70 degree temperatures, just in time to bring the garden out of its dormancy. It is time for another Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day and Foliage Follow-up, so come along with me on a tour of my Long Island garden!

Perennial Border April

The perennial border by the back patio comes a little more to life with every passing day with the arrival of new foliage and blooms. While Crocus, Hyacinth and Daffodils are in bloom, Allium, Astilbe, Lilies, Coneflowers, Hosta and Peony start to show their new spring foliage.

Purple Crocus

Crocus is one of my favorite introductions to spring with their beautiful purple, white or yellow blooms that close by night and open by day.

Purple Crocus

The morning sunshine warms and opens the blooms, bringing cheer to start the day.

White Crocus

These white crocus are so pure and beautiful and are a welcomed sight in the spring garden. The pollen lined anthers emerge from the centers of each bloom.

Pink Hyacinth

Hyacinth blooms in shades of pink and purple become fuller with each passing day and last for weeks. As you can see, these two are right next to each other in the perennial border.

Purple Hyacinth

The hyacinths had a slow start this spring with colder than usual March temperatures, but the sudden warmer temperatures we have been experiencing have put them right back on schedule.

Miniature Daffodils

The miniature daffodils are now fully opened as they display their bright yellow, cheery blooms! The pollinators love them too!

Itoh Peony Foliage

Itoh Peony 'Bartella' is right on schedule with its sturdy new foliage which glows a pinkish-red. Voluminous yellow blooms will appear in May as foliage turns to green.

Hellebore 'Shooting Star' April

These Hellebores have been blooming non-stop in the northern garden since February. The blooms of 'Shooting Star' turn from shades of greenish white to pink.

Hellebore 'Shooting Star' April

I just planted a new member of the Hellebore family...Helleborus 'Dark and Handsome' in my garden for more winter interest. I am looking forward to it maturing and producing the unusual purplish-black blooms it is known for. Hellebores are a new favorite in the garden, for they provide interest in the wintertime as well as in early spring.

Salix caprea Pendula (Weeping Pussy Willow) April

Springtime is a delight with Salix caprea 'Pendula' (Weeping Pussy Willow). I look forward to its lovely silvery catkins that burst open, exposing yellow pollen covered anthers.

Weeping Pussy Willow April

Here is a long view of the tree and gardens behind it. The upright Western Arborvitae in the backdrop have really matured and are now approximately twenty five feet tall.

Magnolia Tree

As we move along to the northwestern section of the backyard, we approach the pool area and the Star Magnolia tree, which was planted in 1996. It has matured into quite a beauty and is filled with blooms in April.

Magnolia 'Royal Star' Bloom

The creamy white delicate blooms are magnificent against the blue sky and the sweet fragrance is evident while close up.

Magnolia 'Royal Star' Bloom

Magnolia 'Royal Star' is a hardy, cold tolerant form of Magnolia which thrives in zones 4-8 and requires full sun to partial shade. The tree stays compact when compared to others, reaching a height and width of about 10-15 feet tall by 10-12 feet wide.

Front Driveway Garden (Skylands' Golden Oriental Spruce, Coral Bark Maple, Golden Hinoki Cypress and Weeping Blue Atlas Cedar)

As we approach the front driveway garden, Golden Oriental Spruce 'Skylands' and Coral Bark Maple take front stage. The bark on the Maple can still be seen glowing red, and light green foliage will be appearing soon as the temperatures warm.

Spirea 'Magic Carpet'  Spring Foliage

Spirea 'Magic Carpet' has its foliage starting to appear! Magic Carpet Spirea is hardy in zones 4-9 and displays colorful foliage that starts off as a burnished red in spring and fades to a bright golden hue  in summer. In fall, the foliage turns to russet red and finally bronze. Bright pink blooms adorn the shrub throughout the summer months.

Forthysia

As we move along the front yard, across on the median is the Forthysia I planted years ago. It has now matured and I enjoy looking out the front window at its vibrant yellow blooms each spring.

Violas for April

Violas are a sign that spring has arrived and of course every year I visit the local nursery on opening day to purchase these lovely little blooms. They will even re-seed themselves in my garden occasionally when the conditions are right.

Welcome to Our Garden!

Every garden needs a little whimsy. This little welcome sign resides in the herb garden...and this garden helper tends to the back pool area, bringing joy to all who encounter him.

Garden Whimsy

Spring Planter

Spring is bountiful with all its colorful blooms. Author Barbara Winkler quotes, "Every gardener knows under the cloak of winter lies a miracle...a seed waiting to sprout, a bulb opening to light, a bud straining to unfurl. And the anticipation nurtures our dreams." Part of the beauty of winter is the anticipation of spring and the excitement of awaiting its first blooms!

First Spring Robin!

April 2017 Garden

I hope you enjoyed your stroll through my April garden. Special thanks go out to our hostesses Carol at May Dreams Gardens, who makes it possible to see 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 Today's Flowers, Floral Fridays, Macro Monday 2, and Nature Notes at Rambling Woods. Also check out Garden Bloggers' Foliage Day at Creating my own garden of the Hesperides.

Gardening season is here! Have you had a chance to check out my books? If not, you can see my author page with links to previews of both books here. The first, A Guide to Northeastern Gardening focuses on specific types of gardens with plant recommendations and maintenance tips to keep your garden looking its best. The second book, Landscape Design Combinations goes into greater detail, teaching the concepts of design, while offering a multitude of garden plans with numbering and detailed descriptions of each plant suggested. If you have read either A Guide to Northeastern Gardening or Landscape Design Combinations and found them to be useful, please consider leaving a brief review. Reviews help a book get noticed and I would really appreciate your help! Best wishes for a wonderful and successful gardening season, and I hope to inspire you!

MY BOOKS ON AMAZON:

A Guide to Northeastern Gardening: Journeys of a Garden Designer Zones 3-9

Landscape Design Combinations

As Always...Happy Gardening!

Author: Lee@A Guide to Northeastern Gardening, © Copyright 2017. All rights reserved