New surprises - Fertilizer Friday.

I've been looking longingly out the window most of this week, just dying to get outside and garden. I've been reading the forecast everyday, hoping there was some sort of miraculous change in the weather coming, but it never happened. In fact we set a record for our lowest high in May a couple of days ago, it only made it to 48 degrees (our average is the low 60's for this time of year). While yesterday was still cool, the sun actually came out and stayed there for most of the day. I could feel my mood lifting as the day went on, especially seeing that the weather should be gradually improving over the weekend.
I did my usual garden walk through and found some nice new surprises as well as getting a chance to enjoy some flowers that I haven't been able to take pictures of yet.

The big purple Rhododendron in the backyard has just started blooming. The Littlest Gardener calls this the plant with the "twisty branches" because of the unusual way it grows. When it's in full bloom I'll share a picture of the whole shrub.

Sweet Woodruff (Galium odoratum) is a real favorite of mine in the path garden. The green foliage and bright white flowers really lighten it up. It does spread rather quickly, especially is the soil is moist. Luckily for me it's mostly in dry shade areas so hasn't been a problem.

One of the many surprise Columbines (Aquilegia). This is a new one to bloom this year, I haven't had any ruffled solid purples ones before. I love the surprises that come after years of Columbines mixing with each other.

This Columbine I remember planting at one time, but don't have the tag anymore. It's probably one of the few I've bought in a very long time, I usually have so many that have reseeded I don't need to.

This Columbine is the prettiest lavender color.

Very exciting is this Allium which is getting close to opening. It's quite a bit further along than the others which were planted right by it.

One of my favorites that I can always count on to bloom all summer is Red Valerian (Centranthus ruber).

This small Dogwood (Cornus florida) is having it's best bloom year yet which is surprising since I transplanted it in the Fall. I've promised the tree that this third spot will be it's final place. I've seen birds sitting in it's small branches. I always get excited when I see birds sitting in shrubs or trees we've planted, not sure exactly why, but I do.

This tiny Heuchera 'Petite Pearl Fairy' is doing great now and just starting to bloom. I was afraid it hadn't survived the winter. 'Marmalade' is right behind it. So far I've resisted any more Heuchera purchases this year, but it is only May...

Fertilizer Friday is hosted each Friday at Tootsie Time. Tootsie has an amazing greenhouse loaded with plants she's started. Visit her to see who else is "flaunting their flowers".

April 2010 Garden Blogger's Bloom Day.

It feels like Spring has now come to stay here. The weather has been beautiful with highs in the low 60's, perfect for gardening. With the longer days I've found myself out gardening until almost 7 p.m. a few days already. Each time I'm out it seems I'm discovering more good things; buds on the Alliums, lots of Hydrangea buds on all of the bushes, Clematises seem to grow overnight.
While we were driving home from my daughter's Lacrosse practice we started noticing that most of the trees either have leaves or are just leafing out. Every Spring that's one of my favorite parts, the trees almost seem to glow from the fresh new leaves. Right now the Crabapples seem to be the trees grabbing the attention for their blooms.
Here is some of what's blooming in my garden for this Bloom Day:

Forget-me-nots (Myosotis). When I was double checking the spelling of Myosotis I found that it means mouse's ear in Greek. I don't think I planted one of these, they've been reseeding in our garden probably since before we lived here.

Knautia (K. macedonia) has it's first flower open with lots more ready to bloom as well. This will bloom all summer and into the fall. It does self seed some too, but just enough for a few new plants to move around the garden.

Columbines (Aquilegia) I think are my very favorite Spring flower. They pop up everywhere and I let them grow pretty much anywhere they show up.

The Pink Ruffled ones are starting to bloom. They're all just a little different from each other, some have more ruffles, some bigger than others and all are a different shade of pink.

Meadow Rue (Thalictrum) was moved to a little more of a sunny spot last year and already seems to be doing much better. It's much taller than it ever was before.

Solomon's Seal (Polygonatum) is having it's best year ever. It's never had so many flowers or bloomed for so long.

One of my new favorites are the Epimediums I planted late fall/early winter. I had read they would tolerate dry shade, and they sure seem to. The new growth is very bright, the flowers on this are like mini suns. This one is supposed to be Epimeduim sulphureum. It doesn't really look like the pictures I've found on the internet, but I still love it.

Epimedium 'Rubrum' has the tiniest flowers. I don't know much else about Epimediums, but would love to try them in another place of my garden. I'd love to know how much they spread or if they are aggressive spreaders. Where they are now I hope they do spread lots.

Garden Blogger's Bloom Day is hosted by Carol of May Dreams Gardens on the 15th of each month. Visit her to join in or to see what other gardeners around the world have in bloom.