Garden Photo of the Day

Carla’s Spring Garden, Part 1

First signs of a new gardening season

Today we’re off to Malvern, Pennsylvania, to visit with frequent GPOD contributor Carla Z. Mudry. We last visited her garden during the winter when it was covered with snow (End of the Year at Carla’s), and today she’s sharing some early spring beauties.

Happy spring! It was a very long winter, and I had some plant casualties, but I thought I would share with you things that are coming up. From one of my favorite early spring flowers, bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis, Zones 3–8), to the early daffodils, to the ferns unfurling and peonies emerging, it is a beautiful season for sure! I love the early spring garden with the cacophony of songbirds all building their nests and happy that the weather is turning a bit nicer. We have two families of bluebirds, several Carolina wren families, a bunch of chickadees, and more like several species of woodpecker, including pileated!

I have many things I am planting, and this includes moving things around. For the first time, I am using pine straw mulch (which I really like) on some of the woodland beds. Happy gardening!

Bloodroot bloomsBloodroot is a native woodland wildflower that is a sure sign of spring. Its flowers are as beautiful as they are short-lived.

pileated woodpeckerThe beautiful pileated woodpecker is the second-largest woodpecker species in the United States and has a wingspan up to 2½ feet.

white daffodil in bloomAn elegant white daffodil in bloom is a sure and dependable sign of spring in the garden.

hosta leaves just starting to emerge from the groundNarrow spears of green thrusting up through the ground will soon unfold into the broad green leaves of a hosta.

Brunnera macrophylla in the springA Brunnera macrophylla (Zones 3–7) shows off its bold, silver-patterned leaves, which will soon be joined by clouds of small blue flowers.

Shoots of peonies in the springShoots of peonies emerge bright red before the leaves unfold and fade to green. The red pigment in the new growth of many plants acts as anti-freeze, helping to protect the tender new growth against late frosts.

Japanese maple leaves emerging in springJapanese maples (Acer palmatum, Zones 5–9) are famous for their brilliant fall color, but they may be at their absolute prettiest in early spring when their leaves first flush out. On this variety, the leaves come out a pale golden green, flushed with the red pigment as protection against the vagaries of spring weather.

Camellia BalustradeCamellias are generally hardy to about Zone 7, but Camellia japonica ‘Balustrade’ (Zones 6–10) is an exceptionally cold-hardy selection, originally grown from seed collected in northern South Korea.

Siberian squill blooming in springBlue Siberian squill (Scilla siberica, Zones 2–8) is a little bulb that is easy to please in the garden and is very tough. Oddly, despite its name, this plant isn’t native to Siberia but rather comes from Russia and the Caucasus.

This is just the start of the photos Carla sent in. Come back tomorrow to see more of spring in her garden!

 

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Comments

  1. Rebeccazone7 04/20/2021

    Looks like you're ahead of me with mulching. I don't mulch often, but when I do...lol I'm trying red mulch this year just to see. Oh you have 2 bluebirds. I'm jealous I have one that is having trouble making up his mind...Love the early yellow leaves on the Japanese Maple. Ah the wonderful joys of gardening in the spring.

  2. User avater
    cynthia2020 04/20/2021

    Hi, Carla. I like the colors in your Photo of the Day and I adore your bloodroot!

  3. User avater
    treasuresmom 04/20/2021

    Just so very lovely!

  4. User avater
    simplesue 04/20/2021

    Oh I love your Bloodroot! I even love the foliage!
    Love seeing your garden come back in spring- so beautiful!

  5. btucker9675 04/20/2021

    Everything is so pretty and if, one sad morning, your lovely little fox statue is missing.... it wasn't me! : ). Thank you for sharing your Spring garden with us.

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