Garden Blogger's Bloom Day for April 2018

Erisymum 'Bowle's Mauve' and 'Apricot Twist'

I begin April Bloom Day with the beautiful wallflowers that are in full bloom. The purple ones started blooming about a month ago and the orange just started. I never grew wallflowers until I moved here. I loved the combination of the orange and purple when I saw them side by side in the greenhouse where I work. They have been stellar performers, blooming non-stop all last season and off to a robust start this year. I hear that they are short-lived (how long, I don't know) but they have more than earned their keep so far.

I am almost giddy over the first rhododendron bloom. This is 'Taurus' that is planted underneath the dogwood tree. Rhododendrons were hard to grow in Alabama because of the heat and humidity. Here they thrive (the Coast Rhododendron is the state flower of Washington). So far, I have only planted a few but I do plan to add more. Making a decision from the hundreds (or thousands more likely) varieties is difficult.

Actually, this rhododendron 'Ramapo' may have started blooming first. It is a low-growing, small-flowered variety that is planted next to the front door steps. 

A spectacular native plant,  Flowering Currant (Ribes sanguineum) is an early-blooming jewel in spring and the hummingbirds go crazy over it. Our plant is very small at the moment and I have only seen two paltry blooms but I have high hopes that it will take off this year. They can get about 6 ft. tall.

Andromeda or Lily of the Valley shrub (Pieris) is another great shrub for this area. You see them all over the place and it seems like every house has one. I have planted several. This one is 'Mountain Fire'.

Anemone coronaria 'Marianne Blue' just gets better and better.

The first clematis to bloom is Clematis alpine 'Pamela Jackman'. It is loaded with blooms that are just opening.

Veronica 'Georgia Blue'. A bit of a shy bloomer last season but maybe it just needs time to get established.

Euphorbia characieas wulfenii (Spurge), a gift from Amy Campion at last year's Plant Swap.  

The blooms are just beginning to open on the Flowering Quince
(Chaenomeles 'Double Take Orange Storm')

Aurinia (Basket of Gold)

Corydalis flexuosa 'Purple Leaf'

Bleeding Hearts (Dicentra 'Valentine')

Camellia 'Nuccio Bella Rossa' has been blooming heavily.

And finally, an early tulip. There were tulips already planted here when we arrived and I have received some from a co-worker and a neighbor as well as bringing some from work. I haven't kept good notes for them so I don't know which one this is.

Garden Bloggers Bloom Day is hosted by May Dreams Gardens. Check out what is blooming in other blogger's gardens around the world. 


Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy