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The Garden Awakens

Anise 'Woodland Red' ( Illicium floridanum ) A few weeks ago, I thought spring would never arrive, but now the change is astonishing. The nights are still cold (40s and sometimes even 30s) so planting tender annuals and vegetables is unwise although I have already succumbed, but covering and uncovering things gets old quickly. Someone made a wise comment last week and I must agree with them - "Don't plant anything tender until after May 1". Several plants are blooming like never before. One is the Anise shrub (above and below). I don't know if the recent tree pruning, which is allowing more sun into the woodland path, is affecting it or perhaps it is just age, but I've never seen so many blooms. Michael refers to this as "the stinky fish shrub" and I have to admit to smell of the flowers is quite unpleasant. It is so beautiful that I can overlook that. The old pink dogwood tree, which was already here, shades our woodland path and it too is prett
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Ready for the April Showers

The front beds still awaiting mulch.

A great day in the garden and we got so much accomplished. It was Michael's first day in the garden (the slacker!). We spread a load of mulch, more pruning and clearing up debris and getting some containers potted up. Rain is on the way and we hope to get a good soaking overnight. Things are popping up all over and I swear I noticed new growth and flower formations by the end of the day that I didn't see this morning. The rain is sure to bring a flush of activity.

Flowering Quince (Chaenomeles 'Double Take Orange Storm') and Veronica 'Georgia Blue has been blooming for several weeks now. 


Rhododendron 'Taurus', an early blooming variety, provides a much-needed shot
of vibrant color to kick-start the season. Watch my video to see the bloom progression.

Lavender 'Platinum Blonde' is certainly the most attractive lavender in the garden this time of year. I've still not mastered how to prune or care for them. Most of the others in the garden look terrible right now although they usually rebound as the temperatures rise. Pruning is a must to keep them looking good.


Serviceberry (Amelanchier 'Autumn Brilliance') - this was taken last week and since then, it has increased the blooms. I love it and have wanted one for a long time. My hope is to attract cedar wax wings. Hopefully the rain won't ruin the blooms and I can get a better photo later.

Pieris 'Mountain Fire' - I transplanted it last year from the front garden to the back. 

Red flowering currant (Ribes sanguineum), unbelievably beautiful but mostly obscured by the enormous 'Buff Beauty' rose in front of it. I had wanted to move it over the winter to the front garden but there isn't room for it anywhere. 

Another shrub in the back of the border that is obscured (in this case by hydrangea 'Alice'), is the Mountain Pepper (Drimys lanceolata). Very slow growing, it is a beautiful evergreen shrub and has improved with each year. More blooms this year than ever before!)

Creeping Mahonia (Mahonia repens) is a favorite of mine. It has never bloomed profusely, only a scattering of blooms, but a satisfying groundcover.

Hebe 'Pretty in Pink' is a lovely hebe with rich purple-tipped foliage.

Persicaria 'Red Dragon' - emerging foliage

Rhododendron 'PJM'

Camellia 'Donation'

Camellia 'Nuccio's Bella Rosa'

The street-side bed is freshly mulched. It will take several more loads to finish everything.


Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy
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