A Glorious Early Spring

March has been visually spectacular as we await later blooming perennials.

The wild cherry tree in the far back of the yard.

The view from the driveway.

We had a trinity of Spring bushes and trees celebrating the arrival of Spring this year: the cherry colored camellia,

Royal Star magnolia and the Spring Glory forsythias were blooming simultaneously. That has not been a regular event in recent years.

A side view to next door from our garden room.

The garden room looks straight to the backyard providing a great view of this camellia. It's a great way to start your day. Coffee and a camellia. The truce with the squirrels held. :)

A spring classic, creeping phlox. The stone wall that runs along part of the driveway is one of my favorite garden back drops. The wall is actually just a few years old. I believe the large rounded stones give it a timeless feel.

Another Spring classic, hyacinths. This group is sharing a pot with a wild violet that made itself a home here.

The azaleas are also blooming profusely. This is a group of three small azaleas. You can make out one rogue pink blossom in the center. I love these white azaleas with their pink freckles. I still haven't found the name of the two original bushes. There is a re-blooming azalea that is similar, Encore Autumn Lily.

At least ten years ago, we planted a Butterflies magnolia sapling at my mother's home. (This is just a few blocks away.) It was sited in a part shade area which slowed it's development, but this year it had over twenty blossoms. I think this will go from strength to strength going forward. The Keep Durham Beautiful organization had a tree give away a number of years ago. As a result, we have the yellow beauties throughout the neighborhood including our park.

The camera did not do this justice. The yellow is much deeper in real life.

Here's another bush that was worth the wait. We planted this viburnum, Korean Spice, next door about seven years ago. This is the best it's ever been. I will probably shape up the bottom of the bush after it blooms. This has a lovely fragrance. The wind sometimes carries the scent into our backyard.

The Solomon Seals and creeping veronicas by the garden pond are approaching their peak at the end of March.

The charming white flowers of the Solomon's Seal plants.

Lots of pollen goes hand in hand with such a floriferous Spring. The tree pollen has been profuse in the last two weeks of March. The lily pads are covered in it.

The shoes of a gardener.

We are under a Level 3 storm advisory today, March 31st. We are anticipating rain late in the day to clear away the pollen and to nourish the plants. Hopefully, we won't have any rough weather tonight.

Happy Spring Gardening!