April Zing

Most perennial plants do not flower until June, so it's important to think ahead to include a few spring plants, including bulbs, which don't take up too much space and don't mind being crowded out later in the season.

Here are a few examples of emerging foliage, bulbs and low perennials in my own garden photographed today.  I generally plant my tulips in pots since since I have been disappointed over the years with their display in subsequent years. (A few are reliable but on the whole, they are not great in year 2 and 3).  I therefore treat them as annuals, and throw them away after they have flowered.

Deep Maroon coloured tulips which emerge through winter pansies. All will soon be discarded and
the pot refilled with summer annuals.

Magolia Susan. A wonderful shrub which slowly grows into a well behaved upright shape never
getting too big.

A brilliant little perennial for semi shade is Omphaloides Verna. A bit like forget me not, but a much more vibrant blue.
Self seeds around which is part of its appeal.

Pulsatilla Vulgaris.  (Pasque Flower) A beautiful addition below shrubs  or front of border for April.
The flowers then form really interesting seed heads, which look good  for several weeks.

Primula Wanda. Tiny, and a little beautiful for filling in corners. 

Emerging growth of Penstemon Huskers's Red. The foliage is dark, but the flowers in a few weeks time
are the palest of pink and very delicate. A good plant for contrasting foliage amongst lots of greens. 

Euphorbia Robbie. Top plant for dry shade. Here catching the sun, since the tree foliage is just emerging, but
it will be very happy in shade for the rest of the year. Spreads, so not ideal for a small mixed border, but brilliant
for areas where "nothing will grow".

A cheeky bluebell turned out pink and pops up through Geranium Foliage under the shade of the tree.

Box hedge. The early new growth adds vibrancy.

The scent from this Viburnum Burkwoodii is filling the garden!  This is it's special time
before it reverts to a green shrub the rest of the season, but well worth it for the 2-3 weeks that it flowers.

The flower heads of blue Camassia Leichtlinii, which will open any day now. Can't wait! Love them.

Tiny ground covering bulbs Anemone Blanda. They self seed too but are no trouble, and will be gone in around
3 weeks time, and forgotten about until next spring.

Buds of Allium Christophii, will soon be open with their firework like flower heads. All alliums have
poor foliage and leave a gap after they are gone so always plant them amongst later emerging perennils
to take over the space.

Not everyone likes grasses, but if they are placed correctly to catch backlit sun, they are
such a bonus in the garden. This is Carex Muskinumensis and they look gorgeous next to
the black paintwork of our bridge.

Carex Muskinumesis in the foreground, with the new shoots of box hedge in the distance.

Acer Palmatum flowers. They dont last long, but how interesting they are! The bees enjoy them too.

Orange Azalea buds about to  open..... any minute now!

Theses are the only tiulips I have ever planted that have done well after year one. They are now
approx 10 years old, and annoyingly I cant remember their name. They always look so colourful next to the
fresh growth of Euonymous Emerald and Gold.

Not all Allium bulbs are pink. These are Allium Cowanii just opening up. They hang upside down like umbrellas
once fully open.