Day By Day: brunnera macrophylla

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An Early Spring

3/5/17

Although we have had some cold spells in January and February, for the most part those months have had above normal temperatures. In fact, weather reports say we have had the warmest February on record in our area. And although we have had an inch or two of snow a couple of times, we have escaped any big snow storms like we had in 2014 and 2015. The antumnalis cherry tree in our front yard, pictured above, has bloomed in November as it usually does, but also had some blooms around January 5, and is now in full spring bloom as this photo of February 24 shows. This is a month earlier than it usually blooms.

I started noticing the trees budding the first week of February. I thought I was seeing things that weren't really there. But each day, as I walked the dog, I looked again, and the trees were definitely budding. Also in February while walking the dog, I noticed many other plants blooming: daffodils, blue periwinkle, violets, forsythia. The following photos show what's happening in my yard this early spring.

I saw the first hellebore blooms around February 2 at the side of the house by the wooded floodplain.

The full spread of hellebore plants in that area were in full bloom three weeks later on February 24.

The jonquils in the side garden were emerging on February 2.

Three weeks later on February 24 they were blooming.

I was surprised to see that the clematis vine showed showed some budding on February 2 also.

This is a photo of the clematis buds three weeks later on February 24.

The hyacinths in the front of the house garden were emerging February 2.

Here's what they looked like three weeks later on February 24.

In the back yard garden, the daffodils were just starting to show buds on February 24.

One week later I noticed the first daffodil blooms on March 3.

Other bits of green I saw emerging in the back yard garden were several brunnera plants on February 24.

All the plants seem to be emerging and blooming at least a month earlier than normal. which I don't mind. I live for spring and summer each year, but this does portend significant changes that affect the whole ecosystem.

Back Garden Plants

6/18/16

Autumn fern

There are several other shade plants growing in the back garden besides the hostas and heucheras I posted about last week. The Autumn fern (Dyopteris erythrosora) pictured at right is one of three planted in the garden. This is the first time I have planted this fern. I am hoping it will be at least semi-evergreen in the winter here as I've been told. I decided to give it a try since I wanted something in this fairly bare spot in the garden all winter. I like the orange or copper color of the new fronds.

Black cohosh

Along the fence I planted five black cohosh (actea racemosa, formerly cimicifuga racemosa). This is another new plant for me. I wanted something against the eight-foot fence that runs along most of the back yard. I have read that the whispy plumes of tiny, star-like flowers can grow up to eight feet tall, and that the seed pods can be attractive as winter interest in the garden. I am anxious to find out if the flowers can be as unpleasantly scented as I have read.

Brunnera macrophylla

There are six Brunnera macrophylla, or Siberian bugloss, in the garden. Brunneras are one of my favorite shade plants, not only for their tiny, lacy blue flowers in the spring, but also their large, heart-shaped leaves that last till frost.

Hellebores

There are a few hellebores on the side of the back garden that is near the forested flood plain. There is a whole field of hellebores there outside the fence that I planted years ago. I was surprised to see when we bought this house again, that some of the seeds from that area had made it over the fence.

Hardy begonia

I received two hardy begonias (Begonia grandis), a winter hardy begonia to zone 7, at my garden club plant exchange this May. I planted them on the somewhat empty edges of each side of the back garden. I love the plants large mounds of often red-veined, heart-shaped leaves and delicate pink flowers that bloom in August-September.

There are a few more plants and several bushes in the back garden that I will post photos of next time. Happy Father's Day to all the dads and father figures.

Hooray! Blooming Is In Full Swing

4/16/15

Cherry trees lining my street

What a difference a few warm days make. So many plants suddenly appeared this past weekend. The cherry trees finally bloomed this past Sunday. This is a photo of the trees lining my street. My house is out of view on the right. Here is what is happening in the yard.

The side yard garden daffodils are in full bloom awaiting the appearance of the perennials there.

The back yard garden daffodils and hyacinths bloomed. The tips of the perennials are just peeking through the soil.

The perennials on the other side of the back garden are filling in faster.

Here's a close up of one of the brunnera plants whose tiny blue flowers appeared three days ago.

The astilbe seemed to push through and leaf out quickly in the back garden.

All the hosta plants have started comng through the soil.

Finally, the grape hyacinths showed up two days ago.

The buds on the pink and the white dogwood trees in the back yard look like they will open in the next day or so. Still waiting on the azalea bushes and the tulips. Although it is possible, it's rare to have a frost here after April 20. I can't wait to buy annuals next week and start setting them out, and planting my zinnia, gomphrena and sunflower seeds.

Been Waiting For This

5/4/14

tulip garden

The warm weather finally arrived with May. It has been on the cool side, with one day at the end of April where the high temperature was 49 degrees! That is the day the flooding rains (five inches!) arrived. We had no flooding in our neighborhood, but many streets in the area were flooded for several hours. But the first of May, the air changed it seemed to me. And the bitterness of the cold spring disappeared. The sun suddenly seemed like a summer sun instead of a weak, lukewarm spring sun. I had to get out the sunglasses and sun lotion and take the winter blankets off the beds. Hooray! I long for and live for this time of the year. The trees are just coming into leaf. But my tulip garden is in full bloom. Here are photos of what else is blooming.

The beautiful Brunnera macrophylla plants have all bloomed. I love their color and lacy look.

The hostas and asiatic lilies broke through the soil about a week ago and now look how big they are.

Sweet woodruff just flowered. I have three patches of it at the edge of the backyard garden.

The azalea bush at the front of the house burst into bloom a day ago.

I planted pink whopper begonias and alyssum snow crystals along the front of the house. The whopper begonias are very showy. Their blossoms are two inches across when they reach their final height.

I put in some petunias and marigolds in the center of the side yard garden. The perennials are coming up around them.

I also planted annuals in my deck railing pots and my large tub pots on the deck. I will show some photos of these and all the perennials that are coming up in the back and side yard gardens in another post.

Ready or Not, Spring is Coming

3/29/14

tulip garden in the snow

We did get the forecasted three inches of snow on Tuesday. And the bitter cold. On Wednesday morning, my husband asked what was wrong after hearing me shout, "Are you kidding me?" Our thermometer read 19 degrees! I almost felt like crying.

But spring isn't waiting any longer. I finally noticed that some tree buds are swelling. My tulips, hyacinths, and other perennials keep growing through the snow and bitter cold. After three days the snow was gone. Here are a few photos from my gardens.