Looking back at April
Photo © 2016 by Christa Watters
April is the month of growth in our garden. Not so much is in flower right now. The joys of the spring bulbs are mostly past, and May’s glorious burst of bloom is yet to come. Still, look at some of what’s already been on show:
Thermopsis chinensis – Pea Bush- bloomed in the sunny border next to the path on the Eastern side.
Photo © 2016 by Christa Watters
A few small clusters of dark-leaved violets (perhaps Viola labradorica — Alpine purple-leaved violet) were discovered as we cleared debris in a bed near the Tufa Garden, where such alpine plants are meant to be.
Photo © 2016 by Christa Watters
Nearby were some other violets with regular green leaves but more reddish-purple flowers.
2016 © by Christa Watters
Viburnum closeup: This is from a tall shrub growing along the western path edge; flowers with blush pink blooms. Slightly earlier, in the Scented Garden we had the very fragrant Viburnum carlesii, also known as dwarf Korean spice bush.
2016 © by Christa Watters
Iris cristata (dwarf crested iris): A dwarf native blue-violet flower that will naturalize to form a ground cover on the sunnier edge of our renovated shade bed.
2016 © by Christa Watters
Dwarf Bearded Iris: A deep purple short variety that is doing very well in that same shade bed, right next to the crested iris.
2016 © by Christa Watters
Mini Creeping phlox: A pink alpine variety blooming in the Tufa Garden.
Enjoy a visit to Simpson and the pleasures of your own gardens.
– By Christa Watters, for the Simpson Gang
