April Dreams Gardens-GBBD 2009

The fifteenth of each month is bloom day, when garden bloggers from around the globe post photos of what is blooming in their gardens then. This was a dream of friend Carol of May Dreams Gardens, whose blog is named for her dreams of the month of May when her flowering is at peak. The peak here in southeast Tennessee would have to be April and I dream of that month’s blossoms the rest of the year, hence the title of this post.Tulipa ‘Little Beauty’The *Little* species tulips, Tulipa ‘Little Beauty’ and T. ‘Little Princess’ are planted on either side of the copper bowl birdbath opposite the ramp to the garage deck. The red tree peony, Paeonia suffruticosa ‘Hatsugarasu’ is blooming nearby. A post was written about this beauty last year. Click here to read it. Over the Easter weekend, Mrs. Brokenbeat exclaimed that the small tulips looked like a sunset with the brilliant colors backlit by the afternoon sun. That is an excellent analogy, Mrs. B.The species Tulipa vvedenskyi ‘Tangerine Beauty’ returns faithfully each year along the garage side bed. Candytuft, Iberis sempervirens is a good groundcover for the bright orange colors. Juniperus squamata ‘Blue Star’ cools things down a bit. Sedum kamtschaticum is very happy in the gravel and will give yellow flowers later in the season.All is not faire in this bed however. We wrote a post about it last year. Click here to read its story. The Arborvitae, Thuja occidentalis ‘Emerald Green’ look dead along the wall, due to drought and too much shade from the ever larger pink dogwood. Their end is near. They will be cut to the ground and over planted with rosemary for evergreen foundation cover.From a mixed bag purchase from the biggest of the big box stores, a very lovely tulip grows among the Vinca major that is taking over under the tall pine trees.Out front, the only tulips that returned were good old T. ‘Shirley’.In the blue pot collection between the garage and house, yellow big box store tulips are looking elegant with Heuchera villosa ‘Caramel’ and H. ‘Citronelle’ in the stone faced raised planter behind.In the knot garden, Tulipa viridiflora is peaking, with a light colored spider sunning itself on the petals edge.Tulipa ‘Ballerina’ and T. ‘Queen of The Night’ hold court in the black garden as the sun rises.We normally buy violas rather than pansies, but these Antique Shades colorways melted our heart. They are planted in a rotting log from the large tree Ferngully. Soon the log and its contents will become compost, but for now it makes an interesting planter.The old metal tool box with holes drilled in the bottom makes a fine planter for these blue and yellow shades of pansies. The Spiraea bumaldi ‘Magic Carpet’ is positively glowing behind the tool box and wherever it is growing all over the gardens. Enough good things cannot be said about this small shrub.There are no unwanted violas, all colors are welcome here.Fern leaf bleeding heart, Dicentra eximia self sows nicely in the gravel paths and can be transplanted easily to desired locations.The bearded iris season begins with the tiny dark purple passalong from neighbors Mae and Mickey. The pink in the background is creeping phlox, Phlox subulata.The blue tinted beard against the aubergine petals is striking. Red foliage in the background courtesy of Penstemon digitalis ‘Husker Red’.Cooler than normal spring temperatures have allowed the lilacs, Syringa vulgaris to hold their blooms for several weeks scenting the knot garden area with sweetness.Cooler has meant longer blooming for the pink and white dogwoods also, Cornus florida. There is no complaining about the coolness here, for it will be hot soon enough.Ajuga repens was growing here when we bought this house. Its blue flowers and dark evergreen foliage makes a good companion for the creeping jenny, Lysimachia nummularia ‘Aurea’….…Not to mention the Belles of The Ball that are just descending the stairs with their skirts unfurling for the big dance….The Dianthus of mixed parentage. The post from last year, click here to read all about it, has set the stage for what promises to be an even bigger and better event this year.
Frances