Garden Blogger's Bloom Day for April

Arctostaphylos (Manzanita)

I have been dealing with a nasty head cold for the past few weeks but I am feeling much better and managed to get back out in the garden this weekend. We are having a rainy April which is fine with me but it does hamper the ability to get some much needed chores done. 

The April showers are bringing blooms out everywhere. My first time growing Arctostaphylos (Manzanita) (pictured above) and both plants have blooms! This is a shrub (or sometimes tree) that is well-suited for Mediterranean climates and they do well here. 

Also very popular here is Rhododendron 'PJM' (below). I fell in love with it after we moved here. It seems a bit old hat now but I still think that color is fabulous!

Rhododendron 'PJM'

I am disappointed that Rhododendron 'Vulcan' only has one bloom but that one bloom is pretty spectacular -

Rhododendron 'Vulcan'

Rhododendron 'Blue Baron' is very puny but the color of these blooms make me swoon -

Rhododendron 'Blue Baron'

Who knew that Skimmia was such a great shrub? It is covered with blooms and in complete shade. This was already here when we moved in. It is on the north side of the house.

Skimmia japonica

Close-up of the blooms and a berry -

Skimmia blooms and berry

Viburnum 'Spring Bouquet' continues to dazzle - 

Viburnum 'Spring Bouquet'

I talked about the Red Flowering Currant in my last post. In case you missed it, it is worth looking at again -

Ribes sanguineum (Red Flowering Currant)

The Florida Anise (Illicium floridadum 'Woodland Red') is doing very well along the back fence in shade - 

Illicium floridadum 'Woodland Red' (Florida Anise)

Spirea 'Ogon' in the background with New Zealand Flax (Phormium 'Rainbow Queen') -

Spirea 'Ogon' and Phormium 'Rainbow Queen' 

Camellia 'Nuccio Bella Rosa' has grown so much since last year - 

Camellia 'Nuccio Bella Rosa'

Camellia 'Nuccio Bella Rosa'

Daphne genkwa has been blooming for weeks now -

Daphne genkwa

Daphne genkwa

And finally, some perennials. I just purchased this native iris from my workplace last week. My goal this year is to add more natives.

Iris tanex

I am always amazed at how stunning Dicentra 'Gold Heart' is - 

Dicentra 'Gold Heart' (Bleeding Heart)

Just a few weeks ago, this Euphorbia looked horrendous. Now, it seems to get better and better every day. I don't know whether to prune it or not but I need to check -

Euphorbia myrsinites

Flowering Quince -

 Chaenomeles 'Double Take Orange Storm' (Quince)

Corydalis 'Purple Leaf' -

Corydalis flexuosa 'Purple Leaf'

Euphorbia wulfenii -

Euphorbia wulfenii

Epimedium versicolor 'Sulfureum'

Epimedium versicolor 'Sulfureum'

Lamium 'Herman's Pride' is a bit of a thug and I have already removed quite a chunk of it. I'm not sure if I will allow it to stay but it is certainly attractive -

Lamium 'Herman's Pride'

Veronica 'Georgia Blue' -

Veronica 'Georgia Blue'

In my quest to find cascading plants for the retaining wall, this is one that fits the bill - Vinca 'Illumination' -

Vinca minor 'Illumination'

And last, but certainly not least, are the tulips -

Be sure to check out other blooms from bloggers around the world at May Dreams Gardens.


Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy