Wednesday, April 15, 2015

April Bloomday, 2015

Tax day? No, Bloomday. That is if you're a garden blogger and your priorities are in order. Our freakishly early spring here in the PNW has slowed down considerably. Or at least mine has. We've returned our our cool and wet weather, although if the weather guys have it right next week is going to be uncharacteristically warm, maybe even into the 80's!

When it comes to the garden sometimes it's the little things that make me happy, like the color echo between the new growth on the Cotinus ‘Royal Purple' and the blooming Pulsatilla vulgaris.

Only the really observant notice the tiny yellow star-shaped flowers on the Corokia Cotoneaster.

Oh this silly, wandering, Clematis montana var. rubens!

It grows in my garden (inherited) but is thrilled with the trellis my neighbor planted for her hops vine, it's kind of taken over their garage...

Most of the blooms are no longer in my garden.

I've previously mourned the blooming of the Lupinus albifrons, I didn't want to see flowers at the expense of foliage.

But at least the flowers are pretty sweet.

Grevillea ‘Poorinda Leane’ - it's been blooming for months.

Geranium phaeum 'Samobor'

Euphorbia x martinii 'Ascot Rainbow'

Saxifraga x urbium

Magnolia laevifolia, it's a fav.

Epimedium 'Amber Queen'

Podophyllum pleianthum, they're going crazy this year.

The leaves are bigger...

And the flowers more numerous.

The Banksia ericifolia bloom seemed to take a break for the winter months. It's been bulking up slowly as the temperatures have warmed.

Grevillea x gaudichaudii started to form the bottom bloom last summer. It's really getting with it now...

Ceanothus 'Dark Star'

Ajuga 'Black Scallop'

I thought the flowers would annoy me and detract from the foliage but that's not the case.

The Stachyurus salicifolius is having a very good year.

Such a cool plant.

And once I'd counted the Sonchus canariensis out for the season it looks like it's going to bloom after all.

To wrap things up we're heading inside...Ludisia discolor, there are several blooms on this dark leaf beauty. They're not all that spectacular and I've been threatening to cut them off.

There are a couple of aloe surprises this month too, Aloe 'Blue Elf'...

Blooming away in the basement.

Along with Aloe 'Carmine'

A pass-along from Ricki during the last blogger's plant swap.

I'll put a wrap on things with a small Begonia luxurians bloom. Another gift from a blogging friend (Peter) I am thrilled that I've managed to keep this one alive over the winter months. It's about time to start working things back outdoors. In fact I'm starting today, yay! For more bloomday fun visit May Dream's Gardens.

All material © 2009-2015 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.

35 comments:

  1. Wow, that Podophyllum is really going to town with the flowers! I'm surprised you haven't cut that orchid flower off already. Looks like the Black Scallop I gave you is spreading nicely, hopefully not too much. Happy GBBD!

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    1. I love that Black Scallop, thank you so much! (and I cut the orchid flowers off tonight - they're in a vase now).

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  2. As usual, nothing ordinary in your Bloom Day post. Any thing that borders on the ordinary quickly escapes to a neighbor's yard.

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  3. Oh, I second Rickii..that's too funny..your scampering clematis...teehee! The blooms on the podophyllum are so interesting! Finger's x'd that we don't end up with a wicked cold snap after the predicted gorgeous weekend that soon awaits us :)

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    1. No more cold! There will be rain, but NO COLD!

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  4. Your garden is just perfection right now, some super plants and I must show my envy towards your neighbour. Why can't my neighbour grow something so gorgeous and share it with me. Just my luck!

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  5. Wonder if that Magnolia would grow here in hot and humid? I know Ceanothus faints and falls over. Ajuga is a fine groundcover. Happy Bloom Day.

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    1. You should probably try the magnolia, you never know...

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  6. Everything is looking grand in your garden this bloom day! My Sonchus canariensis bloomed in the winter and was quickly attacked by aphids or some other evil bug. That plant frequently seems to have something wrong with it but keeps growing anyway. It's become very tall and I'd like to cut it way back but am afraid of killing it. Your Stachyurus salicifolius is impressive! Happy GBBD!

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    1. Thanks Outlaw! My Sonchus canariensis had it bad too. I resorted to NEEM oil in an attempt to cure it without infecting others in the SP Greenhouse. I think you should cut yours back. I did with the original I got from Heidi and it responded very favorably.

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  7. So much better than Tax Day!

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    1. Yes! Especially when you had to file and extension and your tax day is yet to come...

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  8. It's quite funny how climbers can scramble away to another territory and show their best display there rather than where their roots are. And still amazed how advanced spring is there despite the current slow down. Beautiful selection of blooms!

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    1. If it were something I planted (rather than just inherited) I'd probably feel slighted. As it is I still get to enjoy it and think "at least it's happy!"

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  9. Everything looks so beautiful. I love all your flowers. It is already getting pretty hot here in Roseville, CA. Not much rain in sight.

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  10. Love the clematis over the garage. I'd kidnap it back from the neighbor!

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    1. Nah, it's pretty happy there and I still get to enjoy it.

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  11. beautiful blooms :) so Grevillea x gaudichaudii is ok outside in the winter? I must look for it if it does.

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    1. It's only okay outside through mild winters. Everyone I know who's grown it long term has lost it.

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  12. Nice pictures! Far more enjoyable than paying the IRS!

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    1. Thanks And what isn't Flowers will always win that battle.

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  13. Loree, please tell me that Banksia was outside all winter ?

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    1. Sort of, it was in the SP Greenhouse, why?

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  14. Your garden is a wondrous place. I love that Stachyurus more every time I see it - if only it didn't need regular water. I must resist - I'm turning away now.

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    1. Oh Kris, how wonderful it would be in your garden! You're going to come visit someday, yes?

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  15. I don't know where to start! It all looks so great! I love the lupine blooms against the silver foliage. Better than all those silver things I fall for that end up having pink or yellow flowers. Stachyurus, magnolia, ceanothus, all fantastic. I can't wait to see that Grevillea x gaudichaudii bloom!

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    1. You and me both. I am kind of bummed at how much damage the leaves got over such a mild winter (on the Grevillea). It does seem to be putting out new foliage up and down the stem so I guess I'll just cut off the ugly ones.

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  16. Your yard looks fantastic! Thanks so much for sharing with us. This winter really was unbelievably mild. Seemed to turn cold soon after it turned to spring. Hears to a warm weekend.... and Hortlandia!

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    1. Thanks Paul! Mild but with a couple cold events significant to do damage, I'd love a lot more echiums right now if it had just stayed above 25F. Oh well...

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  17. The epimedium flowers look like lots of little drones in flight. Glad to see your Banksia ericifolia is going well. And the leaves on the podophyllum are cool - I know nothing about them (but remember them sprouting out of the ground like mushrooms), do they like a lot of moisture? I always just assume all the nice dark green glossy things that grow in your garden would not go so well here without lots of attention, but I could be wrong (and I'd be happy to be).

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    1. Yes they do! Great description of the epimediums. And yes, podophyllum do like moisture, maybe in a container in a shady spot they would do okay for you?

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  18. It made me happy to read, "I thought the flowers would annoy me and detract from the foliage but that's not the case." My non-plant loving friends (Who are those people? And why do I have such friends?) would never understand that!

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