An unapologetic plant geek shares advice and opinions on gardening, the contrived and the natural landscape, as well as occasional topics from the other side of the gate.

April 15, 2011

Bloom Day - The Neglected Groaning Board

Recently I have only been able to catch brief glimpses of my garden, usually as I get in the car to head to work in the morning, or by the glow of porch light when I return home. This past Tuesday I had to cede defeat to the spring cold I fought all weekend and call in sick - too sick to garden, but not too sick to photograph the garden.  It was good to see my garden in more than a passing glance, and good to see that it seemed to be thriving and full of blooms, despite the neglectful gardener. 

Most of my Camellias are ready for a well-deserved rest and to build up some reserves for next year.  However, Camellia japonica 'Cherries Jubilee' is now coming into full bloom.

Camellia japonica 'Cherries Jubilee'

Just when I think Narcissus season is about over, here pop up two varieties that never fail to surprise me.  Forgive me for never bothering to record which cultivars they are.

Narcissus (2)

Narcissus

Another bulb I don't know the full name of is this Leucojum.  It came from the house where three generations my wife's family lived.  It was sold to the local Lutheran church who told her they were going to house assistant pastors in it, but promptly knocked it down within days of closing.  I am personally renaming the bulb Leucojum 'Maury Avenue'.

Leucojum

The Viola x 'Radiance Red' are partying like it's 1999, and considering what will happen to them in another month or so, I don't blame them for going out big.

Viola 'Radiance Red'

Local gardeners and especially local landscapers have fallen in love Loropetalum, and it would be hard to miss all the color they add to local gardens, including my own.  This one is Loropetalum chinensis var. rubrum 'Pizazz'.

Loropetalum chinensis var. rubrum 'Pizazz' (Pizazz Loropetalum)

Loropetalum chinensis var. rubrum 'Pizazz' (Pizazz Loropetalum) (3)

I also have a couple of Viburnums blooming.  The first picture is of a Chinese Snowball Viburnum (Viburnum macrocephalum) growing in a pot by the back gate, and the second is Viburnum lantana 'Variegata' growing a pot by the front steps.

Viburnum macrocephalum

Viburnum lantana 'Variegata'

There are many other things blooming in the garden, but we are going to end this post with a few of the yellows.

Stachyurus praecox ''Mitsuzaki'

Stachyurus praecox ''Mitsuzaki'

Brassica oleracea 'Redbor' (Redbor Kale)

Brassica oleracea 'Redbor'

Gelsemium sempervirens (Carolina Jessamine)

Gelsemium sempervirens (Carolina Jessamine)

Corydalis heterocarpa

Corydalis heterocarpa

Euphorbia polychroma

Euphorbia polychroma

If you would like to catch a glimpse of other people's gardens, then please visit Carol of May Dreams Garden as she is the hostess of Garden Bloggers Bloom Day - a world-wide phenomenon held on the 15th of each month.

30 comments:

  1. Hi Les, Sorry you've not been feeling well, but it certainly hasn't affected the photos - just beautiful. I can see why gardeners in your area love the loropetalum - that's an interesting corydalis variety I haven't seen, though I grow and love lutea and solida.

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  2. Les, I just love your macro shots. Stunning as usual. Can not wait for your winning photo on GGW.

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  3. Les, Your photos of viola have given me an even better appreciation of their loveliness. What a stunning post~I hope you feel better and soon. gail

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  4. "Pizazz' doesn't begin to describe that plant! It might also be the best word for your entire bloom day garden of offerings. Hope you are feeling better but glad you had a chance to snap a few pix for us.

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  5. Wow, the camellia photo is so exquisite. They are all great. I hope you are feeling better.

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  6. Beautiful images Les, sorry about your cold but glad it meant you could indulge yourself with your camera in your own garden. I had to look up Loropetalum , too tender for here but lovely flowers and colour. Hope you are fighting fit again soon. Happy GBBD!

    PS I am afraid for the lovely violas though...

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  7. Hopefully a little time spent documenting your garden reaped big benefits health-wise. Gorgeous as always!

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  8. Nice photos, I notice you work in the "trade". I bet you are busy. I've been sidelined for 3 months now, its hard to work in the garden with one arm.

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  9. Les, Everything is so beautiful in your garden, its hard to pick a favorite shot. I hope you won't hate me for choosing the most common flower- the pansy picture is just so pretty! Hope you are feeling better.

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  10. Very nice photos again ! Congratulations !

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  11. Sorry about the cold (I've got one too) but thrilled you stayed home to get these magnificent photos.

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  12. Your blooms are spectacular...as are your photos. That red camellia is stunning!

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  13. Not bad for a guy who's under the weather. ;-7

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  14. Les, Spectacular. Isn't the Leucojum L. aestivum? Hard to say without seeing the whole plant. I love Lorepetalum but it is only borderline hardy here. It is amazing how far ahead you are. What zone are you? Carolyn

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  15. Hey Les, great photos as usual. Lots of great looking blooms! I stopped by the gardens today & they told me you had the day off; nevertheless, it didn't stop me from purchasing too much as I tend to do...ha! I'll catch up with you later. Hope your feeling better.

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  16. I'm awful jealous of your Stachyurus. When I lived in a warmer zone I saw these beautiful plants in a botanical garden and fell in love. Now that I live in a colder zone I can only admire them from afar.

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  17. Glad you got to make the most of a sick day--and hope time outside helped. I love that white narcissus, but the image that steals the show for me is the jessamine buds on the porch floor. Thanks for making time to share you wonderful eye.

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  18. I was in the Tidewater area last weekend and surprised to see all the Caroline Jessamine growing wild on the roadside. I tried it here in central Virginia, but lost it last winter. Love your photo of the fallen flowers!
    And the contrast between the kale flowers and stems is stunning.

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  19. MAN Les!!.......just love your photography style!! If your gorgeous photos don't make you appreciate a passion for plants, I don't know what will!! thanks for your great eye!

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  20. I looked through a dozen or more of your last posts and just want to say that your photographs are outstanding!

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  21. I missed GBBD this month....oops. Love the blooms of the Carolina Jessamine on the ground.
    I am a new fan of the EverRed Loropetalum. It is about done blooming for now, but really red blooms and great foliage colors.

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  22. I hope you feel better soon. Love the Violas and Viburnums.

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  23. I am sure you are fit by now. It takes a while to wander all the gardens of Bloom Day but it is a delightful walk. The Brassica is lovely and blooms I normally do not see.

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  24. Gorgeous photos and composition, Les. Love the color of those pansies. And the blooms scattered on the floor is spectacular.

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  25. Your garden is full of gorgeous blooms this month Les. I think it's wonderful that you have a plant from your wife's family property. It's a history you can pass down to your own son. :)

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  26. Les, it is all so lovely. So many of your flowers are very different from mine, and I love visiting. Your photos are sublime especially those closeups. I think I have that viola. It is a great one. As for the lorepetalums, mine probably won't bloom this spring. They were so hard hit by winter's temps, they are barely leafing out. I hope they will recover. The crapemyrtles are coming up from the ground, so they will live. Only one is stubbornly not moving.~~Dee

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  27. Beautiful blooms you have there Les! I hope you are feeling better by now and enjoying your garden...

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  28. Thanks for all of you for taking the time to comment. I am sorry that I have not had the time to respond individually, but I do hope to catch all of your own GBBD posts.

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  29. I hope you recovered and feel better now. These flowers look like real on my screen, so sharp, so colorful and bright!

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