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| Welcome to my Garden! |
It is official! Spring has finally arrived and it is time to take another stroll to see all that nature has to offer. After an extremely mild winter, the temperatures have accelerated into the 60 to 70 degree range, with unusual highs in the 80's for the past two days! With summer like temperatures and longer hours of daylight this gardener is in her glory! After a day of designing, I am still able to wander out into my own garden and get some chores done, and with mud under fingernails, it is therapy for the soul. Welcome to my Long Island, zone 7a garden. I hope you enjoy the stroll!
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| Magnolia 'Royal Star' |
First on our stroll are the beautiful white star-shaped blooms of Magnolia 'Royal Star', which is one of the earlier blooming flowering trees to bring in Spring.
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| Magnolia 'Royal Star' Blooms |
Get up close and you can smell their sweet fragrance!
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| Weeping Pussy Willow (Salix Pendula) |
Along the patio garden, Weeping Pussy Willow (Salix Pendula) is showing off its puffy catkins...
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| Peony Coming Up! |
while daylilies emerge along with the bright pinkish-red new foliage of Peony, with blooms on the way for next month!
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| New Foliage of Peony Emerging |
The color of the new growth is amazing this time of year!
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| Allium 'Globemaster' Getting Buds! |
In the pool garden, Allium 'Globemaster' is producing its pretty buds. Giant purple blooms will appear the end of May through June. Stay tuned!
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| Spirea 'Limemound', Allium and Daylily |
Along with Allium 'Globemaster' is Daylily 'Stella D Oro' and Spirea 'Limemound', each sprouting new growth. The foliage of Daylily along with the blooms of Allium make for a nice combination.
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| Anna's Magic Ball Arborvitae |
Anna's Magic Ball Arborvitae, a compact, slow-growing evergreen shrub known for its excellent foliage is especially vibrant during the changing seasons. Here in springtime, the foliage appears to be even more striking.
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| Pieris 'Cavatine' (Dwarf Andromeda) |
The month of April also brings the blooms of Japanese Andromeda. This variety is Pieris 'Cavatine', a compact evergreen that produces beautiful white bell-shaped blooms.
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| Sedum Rossettes |
Sedum is a late summer blooming perennial, but I also enjoy it for its perfectly shaped compact foliage, which adds interest all season long.
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| Pulmonaria (Lungwort) |
Moving along to the shade garden is Pulmonaria. I didn't have this beauty until just a few years ago and am enjoying its dainty purple blooms in early spring. The foliage is also very interesting with its deep green background highlighted by white spots throughout.
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| Prunus cerasifera 'Krauter Vesuvious' (Ornamental Plum) |
Here is Ornamental Plum 'Krauter Vesuvious' which is one of the more colorful ornamental trees, with pink blooms, followed by deep burgundy foliage. It grows upright to a height of 15-20 feet tall.
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| Ornamental Plum April Blooms |
The clusters of blooms are so delicate!
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| Forthysia |
I planted this Forthysia many years back on the front street median and get to enjoy its blooms from my front window each spring. It is putting on a nice display this season.
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| Hellebore 'Champion' |
One of my favorite all season plants is Hellebore, and this one has been showing its colorful bracts since February. I just got done removing winter scorched foliage and the entire plant is covered in magnificent blooms.
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| Hellebore 'Champion' Early Spring |
HELPFUL TIP: Removing winter scorched leaves allows for the formation of new spring foliage, and also showcases the blooms.
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| Sedum Groundcover Mix |
Along the pool border, this Sedum groundcover mix is starting to come to life with its spectacular assortment of color! Yellow blooms will rise above the plant on in summer, but to me its all about the succulent's foliage!
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| Nepeta 'Walker's Low' Foliage (Dwarf Catmint) |
Also along the pool border is the grayish-green foliage of Nepeta 'Walker's Low'. Bluish-purple flowers will follow and last throughout summer.
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| Hellebore 'Dark and Handsome' |
A later blooming Hellebore in the spring garden is 'Dark and Handsome'. The foliage is narrower and darker in color when compared to other varieties and the blooms are absolutely gorgeous, bordering deep burgundy to almost black in appearance. This one is a definitely a show stopper!
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| Hellebore 'Dark and Handsome' Blooms |
Here is a closer look!
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| Hyacinths for Springtime! |
Last, but not least, it wouldn't be Spring without some Hyacinth blooms! Here they are blooming in the perennial border along the back patio.
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| Thank you for Visiting! |
I hope you enjoyed your visit to my April garden and as always, I look forward to your comments and seeing what you have growing in your garden! 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 had hosted Foliage Follow-Up, a meme I will continue to honor. I am also linking with some other wonderful hosts and hostesses at Floral Friday Fotos, Friday Bliss at Floral Passions, 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. Wishing all a wonderful 2023 planting season with gardens that thrive!
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"As Always...Happy Gardening!"
Author: Lee @A Guide to Northeastern Gardening, © Copyright 2010-2023. All rights reserved.
