More Azalea Close Encounters

From My Gardens, of course!

New Wild Flowers from Sligo Creek Park

Ground Ivy, Glechoma hederedea

Spring Beauty, Claytonia virginica

Henbit, Lamium purpurea

Creeping Buttercup, Ranunculus repens

Eastern Daisy Fleabane, Erigeron annuus

Takako's Redbud

My neighbor across the street has one of the most spectacular Redbud trees in the world.

Images From My Emerging Gardens

 On my deck the containers of Pansies and violas are full of blooms and delightful!

Off the deck, the rest of the yard's gardens are also filling with delightful flowers.  It's spring for sure!

Bloodroot and Celandine Poppies in the lower woodlands gardens.

Ragwort in its firework like popping blossoms!

 Wild Violets in any crack or crevice.

And my beloved Virginia Bluebells!  Slowing they are showing up everywhere.  How pleasant they are to me!

Virginia Bluebells

My next discovery was an ever spreading and robust compliment of Virginia Bluebells, Mertensis virginica. My first attempt at growing this plant goes back nearly 20 years. The initial plantings survived into the next season and then disappeared. I was very disappointed. If you've ever seem this plant in thick glorious patches in the wild, you'll understand. Then about 12 years ago, I decided after increasing success with some other perennials, and years of building up the soil with both organic compost and "clay busting" soil/compost, to try again. I introduced three plants on the outer edge of the circle garden near to the bird bath. To my delight they came back the next year. The following year again, but much weaker... I was certain they were on their last round. But, no. They arrived again in years 4 and 5 rather lack-lusterly--but there! And then in the sixth year, something happened and suddenly there were more of them and they looked really good. The following year one suddenly joined them in the lower woodland fern gardens far away from this colony. The year after I completely transformed the circle garden into the circles garden, a couple of plants also showed up there! Now, I have three separate colonies and the plants all look robust. The pics here show on in the woodland fern garden, and then two there and finally the three that have presented this year. There an image from one of the clusters in the Circles Garden, and finally a couple of pics of the first of the original second planting. They've just begun to emerge, I'm certain to share more pics as they mature into their primacy.

Garden is the sport of patience and persistence. And then comes joy!

March: Lions and Lambs!

March promised to arrive like a Lion this afternoon, but all the fireworks fizzled out and we got more of the Lamb this year!  And a bouquet of Daffodils, Narcissus, Quince and Forsythia from my gardens to grace my table and send well wishes of Spring to all of my French friends.

Bon printemps, mes amis!

They Are Celebrating Spring Early!

Kawazuzakura!

My friend, Peggy, challenged me to name the cherry trees that are already blooming in my neighborhood--I love a challenge.  They are Kawazazukura Cherries from Japan.  There were hybridized in Kawaza, Japan and they hold an annual festival there.  In Tokyo, they bloom on average in mid-March.

Quince Blooms Early, Too (Along With Some Japanese Cherries!)

With global warming, February is the New April!

From The Gardens: Crocuses

Fern Bank Hike

Took Romeo for a longer hike at the National Arboretum--one of our favorite places to go.  We did the Fern Bank trails again--a moniker well placed after today's adventure.

 Spiderwort

 Wild Geranium

 Romeo discovers ferns!  "Here they are," my guy!  He's a total Sherlock.

 Catesby's Trillium

 Wild Flag

 Phlox

 Some paths are straight....

 Ostrich Ferns GALORE!!

 Some paths aren't.....

 Christmas Fern

 Wild Lily-of-the-Valley

My forever buddy!  Always ready for an adventure at the National Arboretum.