Peony japonica Seedling
Well there are many things to celebrate for this Garden Blogger’s Bloom Day. Not the least of which is celebrating the beautiful Peony blossom posted above. Last year I was traveling when this peony bloomed. I am particularly fond of this one because I’ve never seen it elsewhere. In addition to the pink tinging of the blossoms the filaments of the stamens are also pink — quite unusual.
Of course there are other peonies in bloom because we seem to be well ahead of the normal progress for this time of year.
Tree Peony light pink
Paonia mairei
The daffodils are still continuing though they are reaching the latter part of their season.
Daffodils still coming in
one of many white daffodils
Narcissus ‘A Million Kisses’
‘A Million Kisses’ came from QDaffs several years ago but seems to have vanished from their catalog.
Of course it’s not surprising to see Azaleas flowering their hearts out in April but our version of ‘Coral Bells’ that we brought up from Alexandria many years ago seems to be particularly happy this Spring.
Azalea ‘Coral Bells’
Azalea ‘Coral Bells’ flowers
And beside the greenhouse is a particularly striking Gentiana that I got from Edelweiss in 2024.
Gentiana acaulis hybrid ‘Renate’
Gentiana acaulis hybrid ‘Renate’
And nearby in another trough is a little Delosperma that I got from Wrightman’s nursery in Canada four years ago.
Delosperma basuticum
Also in the yard are a couple of Ariseama that are popping up.
Arisaema ringens
Arisaema sikokianum
And I should not neglect the Ipheion that are sprinkled around the backyard.
Ipheion uniflorum ‘Alberto Castillo’
But I also wanted to share what is happening the forest where I take my daily walk. The first of the Arisaema are popping up there as well.
Arisaema urashima ‘ShiroKasuri’
And also the completely wild native Arisaema.
Jack-in-the-Pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum)
Nearby is a little Azalea that I moved to woods several years ago.
A Spider Azalea in the woods
And there are several patches of Trillium that I’ve moved to the woods as well.
Trillium grandiflorum
The Primula that I moved to the bottom of the hill last year seems to be quite happy.
Primula kisoana
A marvelous discovery that I made several years ago is that we have a native Viburnum growing in the woods and even more recently I’ve begun to appreciate that the flowers are absolutely wonderful if you look up at them…
Viburnum prunifolium (Black Haw) blossoms
Viburnum prunifolium (Black Haw) blossom
An addition that I made to the pasture last month is a Metasequoia that has a lovely gold coloring. Picture it 30 ft high…
Metasequoia ‘Soul Fire’
I also had a question from longtime correspondent Chavli as to whether we kept bees given that we have so many flowers on our fruit trees. And the answer is that we have several approaches to bee hives. The easy way is the Mason bee houses that we have in several locations.
Mason Bee house
They are very easy to take care of and get lots of use (see the filled holes already this year).
We had started with Bee hives 50 years ago (picture my wife getting a bee hive to construct for Christmas). But neither of us were particularly good at caring for the honey bees. More recently we made arrangements with John Gardner and he has established five hives on the property.
Bee Hives at work
You might enjoy reading John’s description of Peaceful Beekeeping.
April Discoveries
Kwanzan coming into bloom
Well it is April now and I thought it would be good to catch up with some of flowering progress that has been happening on our hillside. In addition the Kwanzan Cherry that is just days away from full bloom there are flowers everywhere on the hillside.
There are many flowers now on the actual fruit trees — cherries, pears, apricots, apples (a few), and peaches (many).
Fruit trees in bloom
I was really struck by the beauty of the individual Kiefer Pear blossoms.
Kiefer Pear
I had never noticed those pink centers before.
I also wanted to note that the trout lilies are in full display.
Erythronium americanum in the raised bed
When they are captured in the raised bed they all want to flower. For the thousands that I’ve started in our woods they are much more reluctant to flower. They would rather run wild, but this year they are starting to really flower in the woods.
Erythronium in the woods
I think I counted 22 flowering in the woods this year.
Of course there are all the other Erythroniums that just flower every year come what may.
Erythronium ‘White Beauty’
I also wanted to note that the wildflowers are happening right along with all the wonderful daffodils and tulips.
Bluebells in the woods (Mertensia virginica)
Including our first Spring Beauty of the year.
First Spring Beauty (Claytonia virginica)
Let me close with our last Adonis of the year.
Adonis amurensis ‘Vernalis’
This one always flowers last but it’s a reminder of how much we enjoy Adonis.
Garden Bloggers Bloom Day February 2026
Backyard on return home
Well we arrived home from California vacation on February 13th and found the remains of three weeks of icy weather in Maryland. So this Garden Blogger’s Bloom Day has only limited flowers to share. I suppose I should be grateful that the snow provided insulation for the plants during some of the coldest weather Maryland has had in years. The snowdrops were visible in the grass.
Galanthus nivalis in the grass
There were just a few bare patches of soil showing up. And in one of them the Adonis were demonstrating why you should plant Adonis.
Adonis in the early morning
And then when the sun came fully out
Adonis amurensis ‘Fukujukai’
The Adonis have long been one of my favorite flowers and over the next few weeks some of the other varieties will showing up after the snow melts.
I can also see some color on the Witch Hazels but they are behind their normal performance at this time of year.
Witch Hazel ‘Diane’
Witch hazel (Hamamelis mollis)
Otherwise we need to go into the greenhouse to enjoy the flowers. The greenhouse survived the cold temperatures quite well and several of the flowers will come into the house.
Geum ‘Pink Frills’
Lewisia ‘Little Raspberry’
Nerine ‘Masonorium’
Cyrtanthus breviflorus
Cyrthanus hybrid
Veltheimia
Veltheimia flower
I think a lot of flowering will be evident in the next few weeks as the snow melts. In particular the daffodils should be ready to go from the buds showing now to full open flowers…
I should mention in closing that we had a great time with flowers on the west coast with visits to Huntington and the UCR Botanical Garden. In particular I will share a short video of our visit to the Ventura Botanical Garden
Short walk in Ventura Botanical Garden
Garden Bloggers Bloom Day January 2026
Camellia japonica
Well, for this GBBD it’s going down to 18 degrees tonight but this Camellia japonica doesn’t seem to mind. We have a fair number of Camellias but this particular Camellia has two parts, one which blooms early and the other half comes in the normal Spring blooming for Camellia japonicas. Here’s another view of the same plant.
Camellia japonica blooming early
Most of the other japonicas have lots of buds but no blooms as in this example.
Camellia japonica
It’s hard not to want to plant more Camellias since they have such an extensive blooming season and look good even when they are not in bloom. Here’s the last flower on the fall blooming Camellia sansanqua.
Camellia sasanqua
And then there is the very lovely little hybrid Camellia ‘Yume’ which manages to flower extensively across the late Fall to early Spring.
Camellia ‘Yume’
Other than the Camellias, flowering is still pretty limited. We are seeing the first snowdrops appearing in multiple places including the lawn.
Galanthus elwesii in the lawn
And I can now see the first flower buds on the Cyclamen Coum.
Cyclamen coum first bud
Otherwise my morning garden walk is more focused on the various ways that green contributes to the garden. Here’s the Cyclamen hederifolium for example.
Cyclamen hederifolium
I find the winter is much more tolerable when there is lots interesting greenery. Here are some other green points.
Japanese Holly Fern (Cyrtomium falcatum)
Mahonia ‘Soft Caress’
Mahonia japonica
One of many Hellebores in the woods
One of many Epimediums in the woods
I also have been tracking the Pussy Willow on the hillside as this is the first year we’ve had buds.
Pussy Willow
Of course for every winter’s day my real focus is on the Adonis and wondering when they will first show up. Here is their status.
Adonis ‘Chichibu Beni’
Adonis ‘Fukujukai’
Lastly let me note that the greenhouse has been a constant joy. Here is one of the current flowerings.
Freesia fucata
Garden Blogger’s Bloom Day April 2025
Paeonia dahurica
Well this is the magic time of year for a Garden Blogger Bloom Day Post. It seems everything is in flower or in bud. The peony shown above is actually the second to bloom. The first for us is always Paeonia caucasica.
Paeonia caucasica
In addition to sharing some of the abundant flowering happening right now I wanted to share the Open Garden Day which we held last weekend. We had a lot of visitors who asked many questions and made me focus on what I do and don’t remember about some of the plants we have put in.
The Viburnum which is providing amazing scent to the backyard (for those who still have the ability to smell which is not me) is either Viburnum carlesii or a relative bred from V. carlesii called Viburnum carcephalum and as near I can tell I’ve used both names to describe this wonderful plant.
Viburnum calesii or carcephalum?
In the backyard is a wonderful little spreader called Hacquetia epipactis.
Haquetia epipactis
And I was incorrectly describing it as Hylomecon which is another part of the yard and just coming into flower.
Hylomecon japonica
A number of people were asking about the Epimediums and I inevitably focus on the fifteen year-old plants which came to us as Mother’s day gifts from our kids.
Epimedium grandiflorum ‘Lilac Seedling’
Epimedium x rubrum ‘Sweetheart’
But there are a great many other Epimediums around the property that we got from Garden Vision Epimediums until Karen Perkins closed up shop three years ago.
Epimedium grandiflorum ‘Bicolor Giant’
Epimedium wushanense ‘Sandy Claws’
Notice the new leaves are red and the old ones green. There are many Epimediums in the woods as well because it turns out that many are four season plants with little need for regular care.
Also in the woods is a bamboo (Fargesia rufa) that survives with little care or tending.
Bamboo (Fargesia rufa)
Of course the obvious thing in the woods at this time of year is Virginia Bluebells.
Virginia Bluebells (Mertensia virginiana)
And we have a great many daffodil varieties that can be enjoyed.
Narcisus ‘Badgeworth’
Narcissus ‘A Million Kisses’
Narcissus ‘Arguros’
Also in the woods are a few special flowers that have managed to take hold.
Erythronium ‘Pacific Sunset’
Sanguinaria multiplex
Back in the yard we have a small phlox that is always an early charmer.
Phlox sileniflora
And I added a very nice little Anemonella to a trough last year.
Anemonella thalictroides ‘Kikuzaki White’ (from Japan Engei Nursery)
In the same trough is a lovely Pulsatilla from Edelweiss that has been blooming for about a month now.
Pulsatilla ambigua
One item that received attention was the Golden Pea and I realized I should look at moving more of these into the forest where it should spread easily.
Golden Pea (Lathryrus aureus)
Let me close with this Geranium maderense which I’m hoping will yield flowers this year to match the spectacular foliage. It takes two years to get the point of flowering and I’m considering putting it into the ground now that it’s made it over the winter in the greenhouse.
Geranium maderense
And So We Begin (April 2025)
Adonis amurensis ‘Pleniflora’
“The world is changed. I feel it in the water. I feel it in the earth. I smell it in the air. ” — The Lord of the Rings
The world is full of flowers right now and I am compelled to share what I see. The Adonis shown above is very tiny and it is one of many exquisite little flowers worthy of our attention right now.
I used to grow the Chilean Blue Crocus many years ago and have been trying regrow it for sometime. Finally it has returned to Ball Rd. courtesy of Telos Rare Bulbs.
Tecophilaea cyanocrocus var. leichtlinii
Nearby we have another unusual visitor, this time from Illahe Rare Plants. I have been trying to grow a yellow Fritillaria for years.
Fritillaria pudica
Nearby are the Jeffersonia which are expanding their clumps every year.
Jeffersonia dubia
Bloodroots are also coming into bloom right now and they are happy in the yard and woods.
Sanguinaria canadensis ‘Tennessee Form’
Nearby is a very rare Podophyllum just starting up.
Podophyllum x inexpectatum
Also in the yard we have an exceptionally nice Erythronium which reminds me of hiking in the Cascades.
Erythronium grandiflorum
Of course for us the really plentiful flowers at the beginning of April are the Erythronium americanum.
Erythronium americanum
They are so thick in the raised bed around our back porch that I couldn’t resist putting them in the woods as well. That was probably 20 years ago and while they have prospered in the woods, spreading like mad, they didn’t flower like they do in the raised bed. One thesis I’ve read about this said that they are happy to spread by runners if there are no constraints so they don’t bother with this flowering nonsense. Nonetheless we did get a flower two years ago and this year we are actually up to 6 flowers in the woods so there may be many more in the future.
Erythronium americanum in the woods
Also in the woods we have a great many Corydalis in flower at the moment, mostly ‘Beth Evans’ and ‘Purple Rain’.
Corydalis ‘Purple Rain’
We also have a large number of Ranunculus ficaria spreading in the woods.
Ranunculus ficaria ‘Randall’s White’
Of course the woods are full of Virginia Bluebells right now.
Mertensia virginica
And yesterday I saw the first Spring Beauty at the bottom of the woods.
Spring Beauty (Claytonia Virginica)
We would be remiss if I didn’t note that Daffodils are everywhere. This is their time of the year.
Daffodils on the hillside
Daffodils on the pasture trail
Narcissus ‘Chromacolor’ (this is one of my favorites)
Narcissus ‘Bridal Crown’
I should mention that the first of the Rhododendrons is now in bloom.
Rhododendron carolinianum
And just to prepare for the future we have the first leaves of a spectacular red-leaved maple coming out…
Acer palmatum ‘Shin Deshojo’
Garden Blogger’s Bloom Day March 2025
Prunus mume ‘Matsubara Red’
Well I’m very late in posting this month. Let me note for GBBD that it is definitely spring here, both on the calendar and outside where it’s been weeks since our last frost. A particular highlight for me is the first blooms on our flowering Apricot as shown above.
Prunus mume ‘Matsubara Red’
This little tree has been in the ground since 2022 and was initially bothered by deer in the front yard. But now it is getting big enough to actually bloom and it will be a special bell-ringer for spring from now on.
All the normal first highlights of Spring are showing up now, but most especially the daffodils.
Daffodils planted here over 50 years ago
Narcissus ‘Little Gem’ in the woods
Narcissus ‘Sunnyside Up’
Daffodils in the house
There are of course hundreds of daffodils to come in the next 6 weeks, but at the same time the Hellebores are providing their expected showy blooms.
Helleborus hybridus ‘Kingston Cardinal’
Helleborus x ‘Berry Swirl’
Hellebores in the kitchen
Among the many other species providing springtime delights right now I am absolutely delighted by the Hepaticas. I think they are really looking outstanding this year.
Hepatica nobilis
Hepatica nobilis blue
Even in the woods in a much more difficult environment the Hepaticas are spreading.
Hepatica in the woods
Some other special contributors at the moment are the Fritillaria stenathera
Fritillaria stenethera ‘Cambridge’
This is a rarity that you rarely see anywhere in the U.S.
And a particularly nice Pulsatilla is in bloom at the moment.
Pulsatilla ambigua
This one came from Edelweiss last year.
And while the focus is outside right now it would be a shame to pass by the greenhouse which has a number of beautiful flowers to share.
Ixia maculata
This last was from the Pacific Bulb Society last year.
And then the Clivia are putting out many flowers right now, both orange and yellow.
Clivia miniata v. citrina
And I can see big buds and first flowers on the Peruvian Scilla.
Scilla peruviana
Scilla peruviana flowers
Note that this wonderful flowering plant is neither Peruvian nor a Scilla but that is a history lesson all in itself.
Garden Blogger’s Bloom Day February 2025
Adonis Fukujukai
Well, it’s Garden Blogger’s Bloom Day again and while there are many more blooms than we had last month it’s clear that winter is still with us. We spent most of the last month enjoying the warmth of California and returned home to find many of the bulbs trying their best to get started despite the distinctly unusual cold weather this year.
As always at this time of year, it is the Adonis that offer a sparkling bright yellow invitation to Spring. I’ve noticed that although we have several varieties of Adonis it is always the Adonis Fukujukai that leads the way.
Adonis Fukujukai Clump
Unfortunately all sources of this plant have dried up or disappeared so I’m thinking about splitting off a piece of this clump to make sure it spreads further. It’s a sterile hybrid so I suspect that’s why it’s hard to come by. There is a very good writeup on BotanyCa that explains why it’s so hard to obtain Adonis.
Another early starter is Crocus Korolkowii
Crocus korolkowii ‘Lemon Tiger’
This one is way ahead of our other Crocus with a bright yellow that catches the eye.
Another yellow for this time of year is Winter Aconite.
Winter Aconite (Eranthis hyemalis)
We have a number of these scattered in the woods. Not only are they super hardy, but they increase in number every year. I assume that insects contribute to the spreading of the flowers because I’ve found them in places where I know I did not plant them.
Of course another early yellow is the Witch Hazel.
Witch Hazel coming into bloom
Witch Hazel (Hamamelis mollis) first straps showing
We have several Witch Hazels but this is always the first one to greet the Spring.
And when we are talking about yellow we have to share the first Daffodil of Spring.
Rinjveld’s Early Sensation
For early flowers there are also the snowdrops.
Volunteer Galanthus elwesii in the grass
The remarkable thing I’ve noted the last couple of years is that this particular snowdrop is happily spreading into the grass.
Along the front fence I see the Edgeworthia plumping up.
Edgeworthia
I almost think they are prettier before they actually flower.
On the side of the hill I see the first evidence of Colchicum getting ready for a burst of green leaves.
Colchicum
In the greenhouse I spied a single flower from a high alpine buttercup that was planted last year.
Ranunculus caliandrinoides
And I’ve moved into the house a pot of hybrid Cyrtanthus that is particularly showy.
Hybrid Cyrtanthus