Blooming! Week of April 20, 2015

Bloom Report Monday April 20: Raining now but the sun is coming out tomorrow….

The Narcissus plantings along the entrance drive are coming into full bloom and the cooler temps should help them last longer. Around the gardens you’ll find Hyacinths, Narcissus and blue Scilla siberica in bloom. The early perennials –Hellebores( Lenten Rose), Pulmonaria ( Lungwort), Vinca minor ( Periwinkle), Mertensia virginica ( Virginia Bluebells) and Dicentra eximia (Bleeding Hearts) are up and putting on a show. Check out the fragrant Abeliophyllum distichum ( White Forsythia) in flower over by the large yellow flowering Cornus mas (Cornelian Cherry Dogwood) in the bed to the left of the Conservatory (at Tubbs House). Various Viburnums, Daphne, Pieris japonica (Japanese Andromeda )and Lindera benzoin (Spicebush) are also in flower. Magnolia soulangiana and M. stellata (Saucer and Star Magnolias) are opening up nicely. You can find many Magnolias in the gardens, on the left and right sides of the driveway past the service road and up on the Pasture Hillside which can be reached by walking down the Moggy Hollow trail and crossing the bridge. The Cherry blossoms are just opening and the Crabapple buds are swelling. Don’t forget to check out the yellow and red colors on the Salix (Willow) branches and stems, they are quite stunning! Enjoy!