April 2008 Bloom Day

Carol at May Dreams invites garden bloggers to show photos of what is blooming in their gardens on the 15th of each month. We were under a freeze warning last night which brought back memories of last year's awful freeze. I covered a few plants but fortunately the temperatures stayed above freezing. I took these photos after I got home from work today.

The most spectacular blooms right now are on the Chinese Snowball (Viburnum macrocephalum). This shrub is 12 years old and is about 15 feet tall. The blooms are huge. I should have been pruning it to control the size but I did not so it probably needs to be hard pruned. I'm not sure if I can bring myself to do it but I think it needs it. 




The next photo is a viburnum called 'Shasta' (Viburnum plicatum toentosum).  The blooms are flatter and appear in tiers. It is a beautiful elegant shrub which can reach significant size (8 feet tall or more with an equal girth). It doesn't have enough room in our garden.

The only tulips in the garden at the moment are 'Maureen' which come back year after year.

The Lady Banks rose is stunning this year.

Scilla or Spanish Bluebells. These have been here forever. They will spread, especially in rich soil.

I bought this variegated Jacob's Ladder last year. It is called 'Stairway to Heaven.'

Variegated Solomon's Seal

Euphorbia 'Despina'

The candytuft has been blooming for about a month now. It has never looked this good.

Clematis 'Josephine'

Clematis 'Nelly Moser'

Honeysuckle (Lonicera) 'Alabama Crimson'

A pretty red columbine

Burning Bush (Euonymus)

And last but not least, this azalea that I don't know the name of. My aunt gave this to me when my father died seven years ago. It was a florist's plant and I planted it, not expecting much but it has really surprised me.