Sunday, April 1, 2012

April 1st Sunshine

 

Here it is April already but you would think it was May or June.
There are just so many plants growing at the same time this year since we had that week of summer in March.

HuskersRed_Penstemon
Husker’s Red Penstemon is growing fast along with

Phlox_March31
all of the tall phlox.

IMG_0023 
All of the hyacinth blooms are gone too soon from the heat we had.

 Daffodils_Peaches
Along with almost all of the Daffodil blooms.

Tulip_Apledoorn_March29
But there are plenty of red tulips to brighten the beds.

Tulip_RedHunter3_Species
The new Hot Pants tulips are blooming now in the front bed.

Tulip_HotPants
‘Hot Pants’

The tulips were suppose to be white with purple edges. I am watching them to see if the pink will darken or maybe it is my soil that is making them pink.

Tulip2_Hotpants
They look pretty with the pink Bleeding Hearts growing along with them here. I also have several Purple Columbines growing here from seeds that Margy from “My Vintage Garden & Distressed Life”.
I am hoping they will bloom for me this year in their second year of growing.DicentraPink2_March29 I need to take a picture of the whole beds and I should do it more often than singling out just the blooms.

Ligularia_March29
The Ligularia is looking pretty with its darker foliage which sets off those yellow flowers when it is in bloom. The seeds and plants were given to me by Jim and Pat from “Pat & Jim’s Gardening Adventure”. I have them growing now in the Shade bed and along the Woodland bed.

Pansy_Rust
With mixed seeds you do not know what you are getting and I love all of the different colors of the pansies that grew (Thanks again Becca for the seeds) but not all of the colors compliment each other. So I went out to separate the pansies growing in the window boxes and took out the rusts and yellow ones to put in different window boxes than those that were planted with the purple and burgundy colored boxes.


Lilacs_March31

As I stepped around to the side of the house the breeze brought in the beautiful scent of the lilacs that were blooming on the bank.

Lilacs_March31

  I had to take in a deep breath to appreciate the aroma coming from off them. They smelled so wonderful.


Primrose2_March29

Primroses are still blooming away along the walk. My daughters Primroses are so lovely in her new garden bed and I am bummed out that hers are so much bigger than mine. LOL!

Pulmonaria_BubmleBee2 This is a Bumblebee sampling the Pulmonaria blooms but I have noticed more Honeybees this spring than last year. A local inn has set up seven hives so maybe their bees are visiting my garden. They are more than welcome.

Polebed_March29
I did some more tweaking on the new redone bed and added some more birds and a birdhouse so it should look cute when it grows in.

PasqueFlower
The first day of April started out very cool after a cold day yesterday but it is now up to 70 degrees and the sun is shining bright so March went out like a Lion and April is coming in looking good so far.
 OMC_Dogwood2
The Dogwood and the Redbud trees are blooming here in the Hocking Hills two weeks earlier than last year.

Everyone have a wonderful week ahead and…
Happy Gardening,
Lona

23 comments:

Anonymous said...

I have to admit being a bit put off by a name like "Hot Pants" (such a prude!), but the flower is utterly elegant.

Gardening in a Sandbox said...

You have lots of pretty plants up in your garden. You are way ahead of us. V

A Garden of Threads said...

Hi Lona, Wow you garden is looking fabulous. We have slowed down with the temperatures on 5C (42F), but some of spring natives are starting to bloom in the woodland garden. Have a wonderful week:) Jen.

Dirt Princess said...

A wee bit envious of the lilacs and tulips. They are gorgeous. The new bed looks great, and i hope you are benefitting from the bees

HolleyGarden said...

I think summer is getting here fast - a little too fast perhaps. I laughed at your dismay about your daughter's primroses being bigger than yours - I bet it secretly thrills her! :) Love that bee picture!!! And your lilacs look so beautiful. I would love to smell them.

Indie said...

Mmmm, lilacs smell so heavenly! I wish they would grow well down here. I love your adorable new flower bed with the birdhouse and wire flower - so cute!!

Stephanie said...

I like that little pink Bleeding Hearts bush! Yes I could imagine it be really pretty growing next to that gorgeous tulip. Cool!

Paula said...

Love your blooms! So bright and cheery - the daffodils and tulips are amazing along with everything else! Thanks for sharing...Paula from Idaho http://bucketideasforgardening.blogspot.com/

Serenity Cove said...

I love the "Hot Pants" tulips too!!
Can't wait for my lilacs to bloom.
Mine will probably be another week. It's crazy how fast things are growing this year!

CanadianGardenJoy said...

Lona girl Happy April !
Your blooms are far ahead of mine here .. we are being put through the cold temps over night into the morning but the trend is for warmer weather and it is very sunny so that is NICE !
Hot Pants .. makes me remember the original ones I just couldn't quite wear to school .. too shy?LOL
Love the plants though .. too funny !
Joy : )

Patsy said...

It is going to be a long hot summer I think. Things here are mixing blooms of spring and summer , I have roses blooming.

As always your flower photo's are lovely.

Debbie said...

Your gardens are looking great, april has been a little cold here, yuk!

Alistair said...

Wow, Lona, so many fabulous plants so early in the season.I wonder who did name the tulip hotpants? Lady Ga Ga, perhaps.

Debra Howard said...

It looks like Spring has jumped up and sprung! Wow, I have always wanted to grow primroses. They just wilt too quick here in the warm days. My penstemon died last year so I have to buy some more soon. Yours looks really great. Can't wait to see it bloom.
Debbie

Janet, The Queen of Seaford said...

I keep thinking about Husker Red, but so far, haven't bought any. Oh well, there is still a lot of growing time. Love love love that bee and Pulmonaria photo!
My poor Phlox is up and almost gone because of bugs eating the foliage... may have to do something about it soon. I seem to remember the same thing happened last year.

Southern Lady said...

Hi, Lona ... Thank you for visiting me at Southern Lagniappe, and for taking the time to leave a comment. I'm so glad it led me to your lovely garden and amazing pictures. I especially love the close up of the lilacs.

I am going to add you to my blog list, and will look forward to visiting you again soon.

The Redneck Rosarian said...

Lona, I love the new bed. Will be so pretty in blooms. I can almost smell those lilacs from here!

Sunray Gardens said...

Very pretty Lona. I like your new redone bed. Love the birdhouse. Your Lilac looks lovely. I do have quite a number of blooms on my small Bloomerang. Wish it'd grow more. Maybe next year.

Cher Sunray Gardens

Unknown said...

My gosh you must be having warm weather, such beautiful flowers and plants growing so quickly.
We are having rain today, I was feeling sad till I stopped here - your photos made me feel better.

CanadianGardenJoy said...

Lona girl I know I was already here (and I am still amazed with that picture of the bumble bee flying !!) .. I survived the first day of digging up plants and moving them .. the boys have been helping me out .. so we actually got a lot done .. I am so hoping that the plans I have in my head will actually work in reality in the garden ? I am trying very hard not to drive myself into the ground but you know what it is like when you are excited and want things to get going ? LOL
Thanks for stopping by and making me smile girl !
Joy

Jennifer said...

Hi Lona, I was out in the garden today and I noticed that my bleeding hearts have all have been damaged by the sudden drop in temperature that we had about a week ago. I will be happy if they bloom and look half as pretty as yours. My lilacs seem to be in a holding pattern; refusing to open until there are warmer days. Can't wait for that heavenly fragrance!
P.S. Your redone bed looks great . I like the birdhouse with the driftwood.

RobinL said...

Oh Lona, you always have problems with flowers turning out to be different colors! Doesn't matter, the white tulips with pink edges are still pretty! Loving the early blooms, but just too busy to enjoy my garden. That's just not right!

Cat said...

Wow, Lona, your garden looks great! Your husker red and phlox are as far along as mine! I'm admittedly a little jealous of your dogwood bloom...I miss them from childhood. I've planted a rough leaf dogwood that I believe is a Texas native but it's just not the same. Pretty leaves and a bit of fall color but completely different flowers. Enjoy your spring beauty!