Here they are with the just-starting blooms of the strawberry begonia, which is looking great this spring. It's starting to fill in the area in the front of the large loropetalum very nicely. I might try to take a piece or two and get it started on the other sides of the loropetalum, next. I'm not sure it'll get enough sun to thrive, but it doesn't hurt to try.
Other spring bulbs have put in an appearance-- a few daffodils, the spring starflowers, and the Italian gladiolus (sold as Byzantine glads-- not that I'm bitter or anything). The gladiolus are nice, once they get going. When I took these photos, a day or two ago, there were only a couple open, but more are joining in, day by day.
The viburnum is starting to flower, too. The cutting I planted in the front yard is nicely leafed out, but I don't think it's blooming. It should catch up in a couple years, unless the clay soil slows it down a little.
'Sunshine' ligustrum continues to be a delight. I've been very happy with this plant. The golden foliage provides much-needed contrast to all that green.
The golden alexander(s?) on the other hand, I've found disappointing, as it never seemed to do much. This year, it's looking somewhat better, so maybe there's hope for further improvement.
I failed to prune the roses this winter... I'll have to do it next winter, instead.
Some of the clematis are beginning to bloom. This is 'Fireflame', which is supposed to be a double. It's only been a single for us, so far, but it's beautiful in either form.
This is a no-ID from Mom's garden. It's survived my neglect, transplanting, and repeated failures to prune (despite good intentions). I'm amazed at how hardy clematis are, considering how frail they look.
I can't seem to stop photographing the purple oxalis. It always attracts my attention... This is another plant that takes a beating and keeps coming back.
This yellow flag iris bloom caught me by surprise. The clump growing by the covered patio is a little raggedy, flopping down instead of standing tall. Maybe more sun would help. Or fertilizer. (Everything needs fertilizer. I tend to forget to do it until inopportune times...)
I've been pleasantly surprised by the sweet william (should that be capitalized?) that Aunt Cathy and Tucker started from seed a couple years ago. I never realized it would return multiple years, but it has, and it's a pretty flower. I'm also reading that it has a pleasant scent, so I'll have to check that out next time I'm near it!
They're supposed to be easy to start from cuttings, so maybe I'll give that a try, too. (You know how I love taking cuttings... It's a form of magic that creates free plants! Amazing!)
I think it was last year that I planted these azaleas along the front of our house... They're reblooming 'Autumn Sunburst'.
The ivy in the pot by the front door is starting to fill in a bit more around the bottom. Still plenty of vertical space to conquer on its own personal trellis.
More flowers on the darker Japanese magnolia...
And the mountain laurel is in bloom!
More azaleas! These are the ones in the wilderness area (i.e. unkempt, overgrown source of enduring shame) outside our front fence. Mom and I planted these many years back...
The weigela is very pretty this time of year! (Passed along from Aunt Debbie.)
Salvia madrensis (forsythia sage) coming along nicely. Still short, but before you know it, it'll be towering... and leaning... and swaying all over the place. This plant gets a little tipsy. You can cut it back, but I don't think I usually remember to do it until it's too late. Fortunately, I don't mind plants that try to hug you as you walk past-- though the yellow pollen of this one has a reputation for staining clothes.
And last, a peek under the covered patio, where sun-shy plants in pots like to hide out. The beauty in front is Japanese shrub mint (not remotely minty) 'Golden Angel' (a.k.a. 'Gold Angel'). In back, Japanese sedge 'Everillo' vies for attention. This is the prettiest time of year for both plants. Later on, that gorgeous glowing foliage darkens somewhat (in my experience, at least). They're still pretty, but not quite so eye-catching.
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Last weekend (I think...), Donald planted six 'Early Girl' tomatoes, and I set out some yellow squash seeds. I've also planted some questionable-looking canna 'Pretoria' tubers, planted a 'Henryi' clematis along the northern fence, moved a bunch of orange daylilies (common type) to a new spot near the pineapple guava, planted daylilies (some of last year's seedlings and some I ordered online), planted a vitex (chaste tree) near the garage, and enlarged an existing flowerbed to include the vitex (and a fair bit of space where I can squeeze in some more flowers, because I like flowers and want to grow more of them, thank you very much).
There's also been mulching and weeding and sniffing banana shrub and sweet olive and gloating over the burgeoning spring and hand-wringing over that blasted, infernal torpedo grass. You know, gardening.
I have some planting to do in the next couple days and seeds to start, too. More about all that next time, maybe!
