Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day & Foliage Follow Up: Bring on Those April Blooms!

Welcome to My April Garden!

Welcome to Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day and Foliage Follow-Up for the month of April, a time to venture out into the garden and appreciate all the beauty that nature has to offer. The skies have been for the most part sunny with temperatures in the upper 50's and into the lower 60's on some days, signaling that spring is here, and creating the perfect working weather. While the world was in so much uncertainty a year ago, the daily routine seems to be slowly getting back to just a little more "normal". Being fully vaccinated, I can feel a bit more at ease when meeting with clients and getting to create beautiful gardens, a passion which I most enjoy! Ready for a tour? Come along and see that my Long Island garden has to offer!

Crocus

It just wouldn't be spring without the traditional crocus! I love how these purple beauties just pop up out of the ground and open to glorious blooms almost overnight. I cannot get enough of them, as they really do have a way of brightening the day.

Magnolia 'Royal Star'

Another April delight is this Magnolia 'Royal Star' in the back pool garden. It produces an abundance of outstanding fragrant white blooms every spring right on schedule. Magnolia 'Royal Star' is hardy in USDA zones 4-8.

Forsythia

Here is the Forsythia which I planted years ago on our front street median. It thrives in the harshest of conditions and continues to please every year with its cheerful yellow blooms.

Japanese Andromeda 'Cavatine'

On the front island bed is Dwarf Andromeda 'Cavatine'. It has become a favorite evergreen shrub for its delicate bell-shaped white blooms in spring, followed by decorative seeds head in fall. 

Grape Hyacinth & Miniature Tulip Collection

I couldn't resist purchasing this bulb mixture and planting them last fall, only to await the surprise in spring. I have been watching this spot everyday and almost overnight, the grape hyacinths appeared. The tulips had appeared when I arrived home from working all day...what a nice surprise!

Miniature Tulips

Here are those wonderful miniature tulips up close!

Purple Hyacinth

Here are the traditional Hyacinth. I have two varieties, purple and pink... 

Pink Hyacinth

and they are oh so fragrant!

Daffodils

To add to the color palette, here are some yellow miniature Daffodils to brighten the day!

 Helleborus orientalis 'Merlin'

I continue to enjoy an assortment of Helleborus (generally hardy in USDA zones 4-9, or 5-8, depending on the species). Here are three varieties, Helleborous 'Merlin' (rose pink), Helleborous' Dark & Handsome' (dark purple-black) and Helleborous 'Champion' (yellow-green). 'Shooting Star' (pale pinkish-white), which I highlighted during the winter months is still blooming in the northern shade garden.  

Helleborus orientalis 'Dark & Handsome'

Hellebore Tip: Remove any winter-damaged foliage in spring to promote more blooms and encourage new growth.

Helleborus orientalis 'Champion'

Helleborus 'Champion' is the later blooming variety, going right through the end of April.

Prunus 'Krater Vesuvius' (Purple Flowering Plum)

Flowering Plum blossoms are also signaling spring. Prunus 'Krater Vesuvius' produces delicate pink blooms in April. 'Krater Vesuvius' is very similar to 'Thundercloud' Plum, only the foliage is a deeper burgundy.

Flowering Plum Blooms!

Here are the dainty blooms up close!

Peony 'Bartzella' on the Way!

In the perennial border, Peony 'Bartzella' is displaying its new brilliant reddish-pink foliage, that will turn to green before those glorious blooms arrive in May!

'Stella D Oro' Daylily and Allium 'Globemaster' Combination

Allium 'Globemaster' is also preparing for its May display! 'The foliage of Daylily borders the Allium bulbs, creating a pleasing combination, while serving the function of covering the spent lower foliage of the Allium later on in the season.

Rosemary Blooming in Springtime

Here is one happy Rosemary plant in the herb garden. It has been producing random blooms during spring and fall over the past year.

Montauk Daisies (Foliage)

Montauk Daisy displays its foliage, which will be followed by blooms during late summer into fall. There is always something to look forward to in every season. By the way...I'm celebrating the three month anniversary of my fourth and latest book, Gardening By Month: A Monthly Guide to Planning the Northeastern & Mid-Atlantic Garden!😊After finally accomplishing my goal of creating 12-months of garden interest, my labor of love inspired me to write this book. I am hoping it will inspire readers to create their own 12-month garden!

Thanks for Visiting!😊

Thank you for visiting my April garden. As always, I enjoy hearing from you and seeing what's growing in your neck of the woods! Special thanks go out to our hostess 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. Also, special thanks to Pam Penick at Digging who has hosted Foliage Follow-Up for all these years, a meme I will still continue to honor. I am also linking with some other wonderful hosts and hostesses at Floral Friday Fotos, Macro Monday 2, Mosaic Monday at Letting Go of the Bay Leaf, Nature Notes at Rambling Woods, Image-in-ing weekly photo share every Tuesday with NC Sue and Gardens Galore Link Up Party every other Monday with Everyday Living. I am also happy to join the Weekly Photo Link-Up at My Corner of the World on Wednesdays and Garden Affair at Jaipur Garden. 

Visit My Author Page and Books

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

Landscape Design Combinations 

Dream, Garden, Grow!-Musings of a Lifetime Gardener...and 

Gardening by Month: A Monthly Guide to Planning the Northeastern & Mid-Atlantic Garden

As Always...Happy Gardening! 😊

Author: Lee @A Guide to Northeastern Gardening,© Copyright 2010-2021. All rights reserved.