April 2022

The lead photo is a perennial wild columbine. This year it is looking great. I don't have a lot of success with these plants.

This is the only one of three that has returned this year. I don't give up though. I purchased three again from a vendor at the Durham Farmer's Market, Flowering Earth Natives. These have a softer color than the plant above. The photo is a little blurry, but the color is true.

Our pink dogwood was outstanding this year. It has grown in width and height. Perhaps last year's super wet winter (2020) contributed to this. We actually had a dry 2021 winter which I think has delayed our 2022 Spring here. That's why I have posted April garden photos so late.

Dogwoods always make me think of Easter. We had a beautiful moon just before Easter.

The weather was just perfect for Easter weekend. My sister invited us over for brunch, so all I had to do was bring the chocolate Easter bunnies. They are a family tradition. Later in the day, we had a wonderful visit from longtime friends, Kathy and Lynn. Our neighborhood association hosted an egg hunt on Easter weekend. I digress, but it is so nice to see our little neighborhood continuing to revive. Even the church across the street from Northgate park has new ownership and apparently a very active congregation: Keystone Church.

Back to the garden.......

Our resident American bull frog is still with us. He made our small garden pond a home in summer of 2021. His main body is about six inches. The other frogs are still in the pond with him. They just keep their distance.

This Eastern Black swallowtail was working hard to find nectar on April, 26. He found nectar in the collard flowers after being disappointed in the irises.

We added a new sedum to our pot collection last year. The new growth lives up to its name, Harvest Moon. It acquires some purple red tones as the plant matures.

Jack Frost brunnera. The flowers are delicate, but vivid. Ralph Shugert vinca is also blooming. I think they are a great combination.

This corner is by our chimney. It is turning into a very pretty space particularly in Spring. The pink flowers are wood sorrell (oxalis). Christmas ferns have found this corner naturally. They are growing closest to the wet down spout area.

More April stalwarts of the Piedmont region in North Carolina, native willow amsonia and German irises.

Beverly Sills

The autumn sage bush (salvia greggii) is as full as it has ever been. Trimming the old woody growth before leaves emerge really enhances its shape and growth. It is just starting to bloom. It's been here for at least five years.

Here's the view coming down the drive with Ludie's heirloom irises in the foreground.

The climbing William Baffin rose was planted about a year ago. I'm hoping this variety of rose will be happy with our climate. I've had New Dawn and Brite Eyes roses over the years, but they don't seem to have a long life span here. Usually, drought and heat get them after about seven or so years. William Baffin is not as "bred up" as the aforementioned roses. I hope that it will cope better with our weather extremes.

We are starting to get some color in the pots. I've planted celosia which are still tiny, but pretty. The purple blossoms belong to Homestead Purple verbena, a classic. The taller blue flowers are love in a mist. It's my favorite self seeder. Be careful though. They are prolific.

The spiderwort cultivar is blooming profusely, but I'm not seeing many bees yet.

Weather permitting, I will be posting more photos soon. Early May should be beautiful in the meadow garden up front. Happy gardening!