Covered in Blooms: the April Garden

Guided by the lengthening daylight hours, the April garden is suddenly covered in blooms.

And in the South, that means azaleas have opened a thousand buds.

Rhododendron spp 'Coral Bells'

Varieties in pinks and whites are my favorites, and dominate my garden.

R. spp 'Snow'

 

Rhododendron spp.

Native azaleas are looser in structure, with open flowers.

R. periclymenoides

Petite Narcissus 'Thalia' are the final act for my daffodils.

Solomon's seal is beginning to carpet the shaded areas beneath the trees in front.

Polygonatum odoratum var. pluriflorum 'Variegatum'

Crouching on my knees to get a good view of their delicate blossoms beneath gracefully arching stems.

Japanese maples have opened deep wine-colored leaves, which will turn green in May.

Acer palmatum behind azaleas

Tucked in a corner is a bench where I've spent many a pleasant hour. Not many this spring, though – it's still covered in pollen.

The view from the bench. 

Rhododendron spp 'George Taber'

On Monday the dogwoods unfurled their showy, petal-like bracts which open flat, giving the appearance of a single, large, 4-petaled, white flower.

Cornus florida

Their true flowers are the small yellow-green things in the center, compacted into tight clusters.

Part of gardening is serendipity – like these tiny violets that appeared this year.

Thank you for taking a walk with me through the front garden.