Carol Mumford shared these images from her garden. She writes,
I live in Farmington, CT just west of Hartford. I am so looking forward to Spring and was reviewing past year’s photos of my garden. We’re expecting snow again this week, will it ever end??! I have enjoyed the “garden of the day” for 2 years and thought I would submit some of my own. We have lived here over 40 years and now in retirement I’m overjoyed at having so much time in the garden.
Witch hazel (Hamamelis sp. Zone 5 – 7) in friend’s garden. Witch hazel is one of the earliest blooming plants, and the yellow spider blossoms can take fierce cold and snow and still look great, as they do here, backed by blue skies, fluffy clouds, and a bit of lingering snow!
The spring garden is packed with color! Many of these early bloomers will go dormant after putting on their spring show, but in this image you can see Carol has planned for that, as there are plenty of other perennials just coming into growth, ready to fill in and continue the display into the summer.
Epimedium x versicolor ‘Sulphereum’ (yellow epimedium, Zone 5 – 9) has delicate yellow flowers and bright green leaves in the spring, but don’t let that fragile look fool you, as this is a tough, reliable plant that tolerates dry shade, is generally deer resistant, and will thrive nearly anywhere.
Hellebores (Helleborus x hybridus, Zone 5 – 9) and daffodils provide a great, deer-resistant early display. Hellebores tend to hold onto their old foliage from last year, which can look messy and distract from the flowering. Carol has pruned those old leaves away, which shows off the flowers much better, and sets the stage for the flush of new, fresh leaves that swill be shortly unfolding.
Native Virginia bluebells (Mertensia virginiana, Zone 3 – 7) has flower buds that start pink and turn blue as they open. That pink hue of the new buds is echoed in the bright pink flowers of bleeding heart (Dicentra spectabilis Zone 3 – 9) behind it.
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Comments
Beautiful spring garden. I love especially love the Mertensia. When I moved from NY to Colorado a few years ago I brought some with me and lucky for me it doesn't mind living in the Rockies.
Lovely photos! Your garden areas must be beautiful year around!
Love that witch hazel loaded with flowers! I have one here in zone 8b that might get 3 or 4 on it every year. Yeah, I know, I shouldn't expect it to do anything here this deep in the south. I wanted to cut it down this winter but my husband said no, look at it. I think it will have more blooms this year than ever before. Of course, it didn't.
Carol
Beautiful photos of your garden! They remind me of my garden not far from you in the Hudson Valley of NY. I am looking forward to spring also.
Marge
Hi, Carol, your spring flowers are delightful and I hope you get to see them soon. I'm thoroughly enchanted with the chartreusy leaf color of the Epimedium x versicolor ‘Sulphereum’ and its topping of adorably dainty yellow flowers. Is it a quick spreader? And does the chartreuse color last throughout the growing season or do the leaves take on more a green tone during summer into fall?
Wow, Carol. Your garden is jam-packed with early spring color. Looks great. Love the peachy-toned primrose and that rustic outbuilding.
What a delightful garden. The east coast has gotten more than it's share of snow this year. We are usually far behind you here in Wisconsin. But the scilla next to our foundation have started blooming and the Cooper's hawks have returned to their nesting tree so I know spring is really coming. Thanks for sharing.
Carol - your spring garden photos are beautiful and make me long for spring. I love the weathered, rustic shed.
Carol, your spring garden is such a teaser for those not at that point yet. You must be so anxious to see this emerge from the snow. It would be nice to see your summer garden, too.
Got to go out and see if there is any sign of bleeding heart in my garden yet! The mertensia looks wonderful- I'm zone 8a/8b, so don't think I can grow it...dang...Thanks for sharing
Carol, I love your witch hazel, and your epimedium makes me want to start growing it again. I've looked at some of the more unusual cultivars, but the sulphereum was so hardy for me, I'm afraid I'll be disappointed. We also have bleeding heart and columbine up and looking quite vigorous - Spring is surely coming!
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