Tuesday, April 19, 2011

A Walk in the Garden

The canopy is filling in, becoming greener each day.  I treasure this fleeting time of spring, when the days are warm and skies blue. The leaves are fresh green and new flowers open each day.  I'm spending as much time as possible outside, soaking up that too-short time between the last frost and the first mosquito. Here's some photos from the past week in my garden.

Entering the back garden

The pink azalea was spectacular this year.

Deer browse the azaleas in winter, creating a snow-capped effect

Woodland garden

Columbine (variety unknown),  one of several obtained
as  50-cent seedlings at the farmer's market last year

Phlox divaricata "Blue Moon"

Chrysogonum virginianum var. australe (Green and Gold) is my favorite groundcover,
spreading happily in poor soils and part shade.

Aquilegia canadensis (Eastern wild columbine)

Another of the surprise columbines from the farmer's market.

Iris tectorum (Japanese roof iris) spreads nicely in part shade.
I divided and transplanted them two weeks ago
and they bloomed without missing a beat. 

Tiarella cordifolia. One of my favorite Eastern woodland natives.

Iris cristata grows happily on slope shaded by oaks and hickories.

Ajuga reptans (bugleweed) and wild strawberry seeded itself under this hosta.


7 comments :

Nooma said...

I absolutely love your garden. Oh, if I had the space and yard, I would have selected the exact same plants... I love them all, especially your "farmer's market specials".
Such a lovely spring time. Your photos are terrific. Here in Michigan, spring is so delayed. 3 Inches of snow yesterday. The daffodils and forsythia are really struggling! Hello to Cookie.... Love Frances

Anonymous said...

Wow, a walk in you garden is quite nice. Lots of blooms and color. Thanks for your comment today. The comments added so much to the post.

Karin / Southern Meadows said...

You have a lovely woodland garden. We have many of the same plants in our gardens. I am looking forward to following your blog!

Sheila said...

Thanks to all of you for taking the time to comment. It means so much to me as a new blogger to know that people are visiting and like what they see! After years of private gardening, I'm enjoying having a blog to share the small daily miracles of the garden with others.

Hi Frances, It's hard to believe the snow in Michigan in late April!

Gardenwalkgardentalk.com, you had a great (although disturbing) post on the abuse of street trees.

Karin, so glad you visited! I'm looking forward to following your blog, too.

Donna said...

Your woodland garden is heaven on earth...

p3chandan said...

What a lovely woodland garden you have, just perfect for a nice morning walk! Beautiful spring flowers!

Sheila Read said...

Donna and p3chandran, so glad you like the garden. It's what nourishes my soul. It reflects my attempt to honor the conditions of the woodland site, reintroduce native plants, and enhance its beauty and attractiveness to wildlife.