Remembering how spring hurried in and rushed past so quickly last year has made the this year’s leisurely drift into spring all the more enjoyable. The garden’s gentle pace toward April flowering has been a gift, allowing time to watch and anticipate.
Standing in the garden yesterday, I had that feeling for the first time this year that the individual plants were coalescing, uniting to form a whole, unifying to create a balance to the garden that escapes it other times of the year. This early part of the gardening season, with its fresh growth of foliage, tender young shoots and the promise of imminent flowering is my favorite time in the garden.
Foliage
Lavandula x intermedia ‘Dutch’ (Dutch Lavender) shows a fresh flush of leaves after being cut back severely in late winter.
Lavandula x intermedia ‘Dutch’ (Dutch Lavender)
New leaves of Artemisia ‘Powis Castle’ (Wormwood) are fresh and healthy after a hard pruning. This sits in front of white-blooming Lychnis coronaria (Rose Campion).
Artemisia ‘Powis Castle’ (Wormwood)
The early spring foliage of this Chrysanthemum complements the silvery, fuzzy leaves of Stachys byzantina (Lamb’s Ear). Both of these are some old-fashioned pass-along plants.
Chrysanthemum
Yellows
The first Coreopsis blooms are open and colored a deep sunny yellow.
Coreopsis
Chrysogonum virginianum (Green and Gold) is a native that I have tried several times to establish as a groundcover in this garden. This one was added last spring and looks promising. Today I noticed it being used in a garden along with Coreopsis and it worked well.
Chrysogonum virginianum (Green and Gold)
Melampodium ‘Showstar’ is a reliable summer-blooming annual that tolerates the heat and drought.
Showstar Melampodium
The first tall irises to open each year are making a strong show this year, filling up the Southern side path.
Iris germanica (Bearded iris)
Blues
A long-time favorite pass-along, this year Tradescantia (Spiderwort) is on probation in the garden. Last fall and late winter I dug out untold numbers of strays and yet many more are showing up in odd places. At this time of year it is lovely though. Here it mingles angelically with an Iris without a name, also passed along by a friend.
Iris and Tradescantia (Spiderwort)
Linum Perenne ‘Sapphire’ (Flax) does not perform very well in this garden but the perfect blue color of its dainty flower keeps me trying.
Linum Perenne ‘Sapphire’ (Flax)
Baptisia ‘Purple Smoke’ was blooming by this time last year. There are two other Baptisias in the garden.
Baptisia ‘Purple Smoke’
Clematis ‘Jackmanii’ opened it first flowers this week as did a striking Batik Iris, Iris ger. ‘Batik.’
Clematis ‘Jackmanii’
Iris ger. ‘Batik’
Other Notables
Ants have found the Paeonia ‘Pink Parfait’ and presumably are enjoying the nectar. Looking back I see this Peony is at the same stage as it was this time last year.
Peony Paeonia ‘Pink Parfait’
Overall the garden has filled in quite a lot in just a few weeks and the Meditation Circle plantings are growing well.
Meditation Circle
Garden View With Meditation Circle
Aquilegia canadensis (Eastern red columbine) is everywhere.
Aquilegia canadensis (Eastern red columbine)
Iris ger. ‘Raspberry Blush’ is getting lovelier every day.
Iris ger. ‘Raspberry Blush’
pbmGarden 
The circle is looking wonderful and I love your irises! I just looked up Chrysogonum virginianum and think it might suit my garden too… must look out for one. Thanks for sharing Susie – and I am so impressed that you know the names of all your plants! 😉
Thanks so much Cathy! Irises are my favorite flower (at least this time of year). Glad you like the Green and Gold. Enjoy your gardening this weekend.
Your irises are stunning, especially “Batik”. You are quite a way ahead of us but all the new growth is saying that spring has arrived at last!
Thanks Pauline! That ‘Batik’ is unusual isn’t it? Never spreads much like the others though. Yes, spring is finally here, but even now is slow. We’re anticipating cooler than usual temperatures all week.
Fabulous growth and such beautiful blooms…I love that pinky colored iris.
Thanks Donna! The garden is finally showing signs of spring. The color of that ‘Raspberry Blush’ is paler than I had expected given the name, but I agree it is nice.
Your Iris are lovely, mine are about to open, one miniature dark claret colour is open and the others are fat buds. Spring and early summer. Are certainly here now. Christina
Christina, your dark claret colored iris sounds especially lovely. Hope you are enjoying Spring. Susie
There’s quite a bit of color going on there. Love the iris!
The garden is becoming colorful indeed with other irises soon to open. Nice time of year.
Everything looks so fresh and healthy. Like others, I love those beautiful Iris too x
Thank you PJ. This time of year is nice–things don’t need deadheading and the like, although there is a lot to do. I spent the day in the garden doing a variety of chores and really could appreciate the irises.
Looking good!!
Thanks you Malc. It’s always exciting to see things jump back to life.