Well it’s been a crazy year for weather so far.  We began the month thoroughly in winter and we are in the midst of Spring happening now.  In between there has been extreme thunderstorms, threats of tornados, and 80 plus degree days.  So I will share our blooms but bear in mind that nothing normal is going on in Maryland for this GBBD.

Though I could easily begin with the daffodils and other outside bulbs what is particularly striking is the Clivia which is having an all mass of blooms.

Clivia in full bloom

Many other good flowers are in the house at the moment.

Hellebores in the house

Daffodil ‘Jack Snipe’ on the dining room table.

Two other imports from the greenhouse are particularly striking.

Freesia

Sparaxis

In the greenhouse I have one of the exotics that you could never grow outside here.

Ferraria divaricata

In the greenhouse there is also a very nice Scilla peruviana coming into bloom. 

Scilla peruviana

I  have a couple of these Scilla planted in the ground but they only rarely flower in our climate.  Other outdoor plants include the Edgeworthia at the front of the yard.

Edgeworthia at the edge of our property

Another item up front is the flowering Apricot, first of our fruit trees to bloom.

Prunus mume ‘Matsubara Red’

One of the flowers I like most at this time of year are Hepatica.

Hepatica nobilis Pink

They are hardy enough that I have some planted in the woods as well.

Hepatica nobilis in the woods

Nearby to the Hepatica in the yard is a particular Jeffersonia dubia just coming into bloom.

Jeffersonia dubia ‘Dark Centers’

One of my discoveries this year is that I had misnamed this plant when I put it in years ago and called it ‘Dark Eyes’.  What I realized is that if you search for Jeffersonia dubia ‘Dark Eyes’ you will only find references to my citings on MacGardens and not to the original plant from Garden Vision Epimediums where I bought it.

Another plant with a little story to it is the planting of Scilla siberica ‘Alba’ in the forest.  I planted a number of these bulbs next to the forest path years ago and the bulbs slowly moved themselves from the forest into the pathway where they were apparently much happier.

Scilla siberica ‘Alba’

Also in the woods for years now are a couple of patches of small Daffodils that are apparently quite happy being just visible from the path.

Daffodil ‘Jack Snipe’ in the woods

One of the things I relish about planting in the woods is that there is little upkeep.  Either the plants succeed and enjoy their space or they don’t.  A new planting for the woods are three large bulbous plants that I imported this year from Japan

Cardiocrinum cordatum var. glehnii

The large green leaves are already quite striking.

Not only in the woods but everywhere on our property we have Glory of the Snow.  It grows abundantly and is absolutely lovely in flower.

Glory of the Snow (Chionodoxa forbesii)

Another vigorous grower for us is the same Primula that is a wildflower in England. 

Primula vulgaris

I am often surprised that these are not more commonly grown in the U.S.

Of course Hellebores are abundant for us right now.  They are happy in the woods and the yard.  This is one of my favorites.

Helleborus x hybridus ‘Cotton Candy’

One item to share is a very unusual Fritillaria.  Most Fritillaria do not share this flat open blossom.

Fritillaria stenanthera

And let me close with a final look at the Adonis which are reaching the end of their blooming cycle.  What a joy they are!

Adonis amurensis ‘Fukujukai’