Eranthis hyemalis, Winter Aconite: First to bloom in early April
Aquilegia: Early spring blooming & long lasting, this blue columbine heralds another season in the moss garden and is an important early food source for native bees
Hellebores: emerging in April from woodland leaf litter.
Sensitive Fern emerges with trillium, mosses and solomon's seal in the early spring shade garden
Sanguinaria canadensis 'Multiplex': Double bloodroot in full bloom on April 24th. Bloodroot is native to eastern North America.
Sanguinaria canadensis 'Multiplex': Double bloodroot is prized for early bloom, followed by stunning, bold foliage. Shown here on May 7th, beginning to lose its bloom.
Dryopteris: Male wood fern unfurls its fiddleheads in early May in the shade garden.
Calypso tulips among emerging fiddleheads in moss garden
Caltha palustris (Marsh Marigold) first week of May
Jack-in-the-pulpits
Cat with Catmint: Harry guards his early patch of Nepeta. Catmint arrives quickly in April, blooms profusely all summer, and persists through November's killing frost.
Epimedium 'Orange Queen' first week of May
Pulsatilla vulgaris: European pasque flower is beyond charming in the early May boulder garden. Thrives in afternoon filtered sun underneath the pee gee hydrangea that has yet to leaf out.
Uvularia grandiflora: Yellow merrybells appear early and continue to spread throughout the season, resulting in gorgeous green mounds of pleated foliage.
Brunnera 'Jack Frost': Gorgeous variegated foliage is topped with clouds of dainty blue flowers. Long lasting bloom starting here in early May.
Uvularia and bleeding hearts in dappled sun
Empress Wu Hosta: New leaves emerging among lamium in dry woodland shade in May.
Tiarella cordifolia 'Elizabeth Oliver': Petite flower spikes shoot up before foliage develops. Fresh asarum foliage shines in the background with moss.
Epimedium grandiflorum: One of my favorite woodland perennials. So delicate in appearance, but tough as nails and once established, it will spread with ease.
Epimedium 'Queen Esta': "Eppies" are eagerly anticipated in early spring with heart-shaped foliage and spider-like blooms. Purple foliage continues to grow in upward layers after blooms fade.
Dicentra spectabilis: Nothing is more charming in the garden than Bleeding Hearts interplanted with ephemerals and ground cover. Here, the purple/blue flowers of Vinca Vine heighten the pink hearts.
Lathyrus vernus: Spring bush pea is slightly larger than my pink variety in a different garden. Shown here in full bloom while solomon's seal, heuchera and grasses are still waking up.
Lathyrus vernus: Spring bush pea dropping blooms and favor of pods. Early May.
Lamium 'yellow archangel' & purple leaved heuchera emerge in early May. Lamium is just beginning to flower in background.
Primula, ferns, thalictrum in the moss garden
Lamium yellow archangel: Early spring blooming lamium in dappled sunlight
Sweet Woodruff & Bishops Weed: Two very aggressive ground covers converge in mid May
Alchemilla mollis: Fresh lady's mantle leaves are so beautiful in the rain.
Polygonatum odoratum: Spring blooming solomon's seal takes center stage while heuchera, hosta, ferns and tulips have yet to reach full size for the season.
Solomon's Seal close-up: A reliable early Spring riser that quickly covers a large area in my shade garden. White bells dangle from arching variegated foliage that lasts until first frost.
Red Tulips: These stately May blooming tulips help to define and soften the boulder wall. The daylilies behind will soon grow to camouflage the dying tulip foliage.
Empress Wu hosta: Early spring emergence of this large blue hosta set against a canvas of blooming vinca vine.
Gillenia trifoliata: Bowman's root is an easy care, reliable bloomer. The white star shaped flowers sway with the softest breeze. Thriving here in late spring under our large white birch.
