A short three weeks ago, all was well in the garden. Spring had sprung, or so it seemed! And then, ole’ man winter was back with an attitude, as if to say, “tricked you, didn’t I!” Spring came, and spring went, and the beautiful blossoms that had opened prematurely were history and on the way to making  compost. Thankfully, not before me and my camera made the rounds. Here are some photos I took before hard frost took the view away, my Ode to Spring ’17.

Magnolia x soulangiana, commonly called tulip magnolia or saucer magnolia, is on of my all-time favorite small trees. It blooms early and because of that, the blossoms are sometimes damaged by frost. When it has a chance to finish bloomimg it is quite over-the-top! Although in our area the erratic cold weather and frost damage can be disappointing, it is so magnificent I don’t care if I have to wait another year! It is truly breath taking!

The nodding blossom heads of Edgeworthia, commonly called paper bush, are so fragrant the scent can be enjoyed from twenty feet away. Of course it’s even more heavily the closer you get! This shrub blooms dramatically blooms on bare stems. In summer the foliage is quite tropical, making it a great plant for a dramatic focal point. Size can reach 8′ high or more, so it does need some room. It’s someone of a rarity, so plant one and you’ll be the talk of your garden club!

Helleborus, or Lenten rose, is a beautiful evergreen perennial for shade. Yes, for shade! Blooming in late winter, and colonizing if it’s happy in it’s home, it’s an unbeatable choice. The blooms are showing some damage now, but for the most part it continues it’s display through the snow and rough weather for quite a long time! Many new cultivars are on the market, some with quite a price tag. I hear that with cross pollination they often revert back to the species, so maybe spend the big bucks on some other irresistible specimen.

Redbud blossoms, Cercis chinensis. This particular cultivar, ‘Don Egolf’, is a minature variety growing only nine feet high. It is also sterile, meaning it does not produce seed pods and of course eliminates messy seedlings.

Helleborus, or Lenten rose, is a beautiful evergreen perennial for shade. Yes, for shade! Blooming in late winter, and colonizing if it’s happy in it’s home, it’s an unbeatable choice. The blooms are showing some damage now, but for the most part it continues it’s display through the snow and rough weather for quite a long time! Many new cultivars are on the market, some with quite a price tag. I hear that with cross pollination they often revert back to the species, so maybe spend the big bucks on some other irresistible specimen.

Cherry blossoms just can’t be beat! I’m in love!

Daffodils usually stand up to cold and snow, and a future post is in the works just about bulbs, but I couldn’t resist including a photo here. Can you almost smell their sweet, old fashioned scent?

And as I conclude this Ode to spring ’17, last but not least − the bare stems in waiting of Japanese maple Sango Kaku, also know as coral bark bark maple. Beautiful, even without the foliage.