Daffodils in conversation

There are so many things happening in the yard right now that it is difficult to keep track of them all.  I feel light the perennial puppy dog jumping from one delightful surprise to the other.  To begin with the daffodils are exploding in the yard, on the hillside, and in the forest.  It seems like a particularly bountiful year for these stellar performers that get ignored by browsing animals.

Narcissus ‘Tropical Sunset’

And the big Magnolia Stellata is fully in bloom

Magnolia stellata

The Hellebores are everywhere with their spectacular but mostly downward facing blooms

Double flowered White Hellebore

Helleborus Double-White

Hellebore double purple

But what really engages me in the spring are the smaller ephemerals that mostly have short but lovely blooming cycle.

Jeffersonia dubia ‘Dark Eyes’

Jeffersonia dubia ‘Dark Eyes’

Hepatica light pink

Hepatica nobilis white

Sanguinaria multiplex

Hacquetia epipactis

Fritillaria stenanthera ‘Cambridge’

Anemonella thalictroides ‘Green Hurricane’

Corydalis solida ‘Gunite’

One of my favorite Corydalis is ‘Beth Evans’

Corydalis solida ‘Beth Evans’

It was delightful to see that not only has this Corydalis seeded itself into the neighboring pathway but it’s also 15 feet away under the holly tree.

I was somewhat surprised that a couple of the Adonis are coming up much later than their brethren.

Adonis amurensis ‘Beni Nadeshiko’

Adonis amurensis ‘Pleniflora’

And my favorite, Adonis amurensis Sandanzaki, is only just now coming into bud.  

The alpine beds and troughs also have some early spring flowers in bloom.

Aubrieta ‘Royal Red’

Pulsatilla grandis

Aethionema saxatile

This little Burnt Candytuft was planted in tufa, but has jumped ship and is appearing in various places in the alpine bed.  

Nearby is a really nice little sea thrift obligingly staying put on the tufa.

Armeria maritima ‘Victor Reiter’

Nearby is a very early blooming Lewisia

Lewisia longipetala ‘Little Raspberry’

Two years ago I acquired a nice little Draba from Oliver nurseries that is forming a nice compact mound.

Draba rigida

A surprise to me this year was a little Saxifrage that came from Wrightman’s Alpines two years ago.

Saxifraga ‘Valerie Keevil’

It’s growing in a very protected location on the shady side of an eastern-facing trough and if it flowered last year I totally missed it.

I shouldn’t ignore the greenhouse which continues to produces some South African gem every week.  The latest is a 2 1/2 foot tall Ixia that came from the Pacific Bulb Society last fall.

Ixia hybrid

I would be remiss if I did not mention the Edgeworthia by the front road.

Edgeworthia chrysantha

It seems they are much hardier in Maryland than I expected.  

Finally I need to share an example of the Camellias which also prove to be much hardier than one should really anticipate.

Camellia japonica Pink with dozens of flower buds.

Now it’s time to go out into the yard and see what else is blooming.