Spring 2025 highlights (March to May 1st)

This gorgeous creature showed up a couple of years ago under a random viburnum in a nowhere place in the yard, where no one would ever see it, and I told myself firmly that I would move it and of course I didn’t for two years. But this is the year! After it finished blooming I moved it to a small bed under a bird feeder where it can be appreciated. I’d like to find out what it is so I could get some more because they are really spectacular and rival snowdrops – pure white but bigger. Could be this maybe? I made a note to order some more because they are a ‘stop and stare’ plant. 

White crocus on leaves
Pretty white crocus. Just appeared.

Yellow epimediums, I think ‘Sulphureum’, ‘Fronleiten’, and ‘Amber Queen’ are synonyms. They are sold under different names but I think those may be trademarks and not patents. I believe it is a straight species. 

Yellow epimedium
Epimedium ‘Sulphureum’

White trilliums, native to the property. These are actually really easy to lift, divide, move around and is one of those plants you have to divide to get more — they won’t just seed around easily. Chinese ginger, the ground cover, is like that. You could stare it for years thinking it’s an under performer but really you just divide it relentlessly and then you have tons. Took me *years* to figure that out that some plants beg to be divided. 

White trillium
White trillium (Trillium grandiflorum)

Another favorite epimedium. I like all epimediums, they are weird little creatures and very elegant, but they are not all prolific. ‘Rubrum’ and the yellow one above spread nicely. 

Epimedium 'Rubrum'
Epimedium ‘Rubrum’

Poet’s daffodil, I think. It could be pheasant’s eye but I think pheasant’s eye’s petals flare back more and come to a point. Both are top-tier daffodils, fragrant and piercingly white. 

Daffodil
Poet’s Daffodil

Epimedium ‘Yubae’ joined us last year. Beautiful color, and elegant and messy. 

Pinkish Epimedium
Epimedium ‘Yubae’

As amazing as black flowers are, they can disappear in a wooded setting and need to be planted next to something contrasting to be noticed. Here ‘New York Night’ hellebore lives next to Pulmonaria ‘Shrimps on the barbie’ which I like so much more than I thought I would and which has performed well above expectations. My mother commented that Pulmonaria look like they have a fungus and I’ve always been reticent to try them out because, well, what if they look like they have a skin condition? But I like this a lot. 

Pink pulmonaria and Black hellebore
Pulmonaria ‘Shrimps on the barbie’ and Hellebore ‘New York Night’

Woodland anenome. Cute. Probably would be happier in a less dry spot. I can’t believe this is the same genus as the meadow rue that grows eight feet tall. 

Rue anenome
Rue anenome/woodland anenome (Thalictrum thalictroides)

Another epimedium ‘Pretty in Pink’. Can someone please do something about that crack in the foundation and also paint the foundation so my plants look nicer? Thanks so much. 

Pink epimedium
Epimedium ‘Pretty in Pink’

Hellebore ‘Potters’ wheel’. I have got to start planting hellebores on slopes. To photograph some of these droopy flowers I lie on the ground like a snake. 

White hellebores
Hellebore ‘Potters’ Wheel’

Bluets or mayflower or Quaker Ladies. We are good about not mowing these down in the spring so the lawn stays covered with them in the mossy back yard. 

Bluets
Bluets/Quaker Ladies/Mayflower (Houstonia caerulea)

It’s just as well Virginia Bluebells go dormant because no other flower could compete with this. Spectacular. 

Virginia bluebells
Virginia bluebells (Mertensia virginica)

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