I made my first trip to a real local nursery yesterday and, in addition to checking out the various trees and shrubs that they have in stock, came home with two Pieris japonica that simply jumped in my cart.  I had never seen any with such a startling pink color to the flowers.  Now to pick a place for them (this is how garden design happens at our place :))

Pieris japonica 'Valley Rose'

Spring is happening in all it’s gorgeous profusion at the moment.  It’s giving me a chance to see what I planted last year and have already forgotten.  I note that when planting Crocus the individual flowers are always beautiful.

Crocus vernus 'Twilight'

However (in a note to self) when putting swath of crocus in the lawns it looks a lot better when you stick to one variety for the swath rather than the easter egg effect that I have succeed in planting before when I put in a mixture.

Crocus vernus 'Jeanne d'Arc'

Also despite my thoughts that the Winter Aconite that I planted last Fall had totally failed, they just have been slower in appearing than the bunch that have been naturalizing here for quite some time.  They also have a more reddish tinge to the leaf and stalk.  Is this just a 30 year evolution in the Winter Aconite that are sold nowadays?

Eranthis hyemalis (Winter Aconite) growing in the woods

Also the Anemone blanda are making their appearance.

Anemone blanda

And I see that even the crabapples are beginning to bud out.

Crabapple in bud