Home of the Practically Perfect Pink Phlox and other native plants for pollinators

Friday, April 15, 2011

Give Us Pleasure In The Flowers Today~April Bloom Day

Phlox pilosa, Aquilegia canadensis, Iris germanica, Lunaria annua
OH, give us pleasure in the flowers today;
And give us not to think so far away
As the uncertain harvest; keep us here
All simply in the springing of the year.
(from A Prayer in Spring by Robert Frost)

Epimedium x youngianum 'Niveum' is gorgeous~
Even if you must lie on the ground to see it.



Phacelia bipinnatifida
Epimedium versicolor 'Sulfureum', columbine foliage and ajuga
Phlox divaricata


Iris germanica


Iris cristata

Red Tulips
Collinsea verna

Lunaria annua
Kale blooms attract bees, skippers and cabbage whites
Astranthium integrifolium -Entireleaf Western Daisy, a little native annual
Left of the Sitting Bench

Foam Flower
The Susan's Bed is greening and coloring up nicely

I wish you all a marvelous weekend and a delightful April 2011 Bloom Day. Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day is brought to you by Carol, of May Dreams Gardens. Stop by her blog for links to blogs and blooms all over the known blogasphere. You're in for a treat~it's Spring and gardens are dressed in their finest.

xxoogail

PS "Well," said Pooh, "what I like best -- " and then he had to stop and think. Because although Eating Honey was a very good thing to do, there was a moment just before you began to eat it which was better than when you were, but he didn't know what it was called”


This post was written by Gail Eichelberger for my blog Clay and Limestone Copyright 2011.This work protected under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act. Please contact me for permission to copy, reproduce, scrape, etc.

39 comments:

  1. Gail, Such nice pictures. I never see a iris that I don't think of Tennessee. Growing up in Nashville, it seems everyone had them. Her in AL that's not the case.. except in my garden... :)

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  2. Oh Gail, Spring is so lush and gorgeous and colorful in your beautiful corner of Tennessee! Last year at this time my epimediums were all blooming, and I too was on the ground taking their pictures - love esp versicolor 'Sulfureum' and your foam flower capture - lovely! Happy Springtime :)

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  3. Such luscious photos Gail. Your garden is in full spring fling.

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  4. They look great Gail! It looks like you're a little ahead of us. Your irises are already blooming and except for the reblooming ones ours are still in buds. Your phlox is earlier too! The ragwort you gave us looks great!

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  5. Gail, They are all so beautiful. I love all these colors as I have too much of orange. I love your blog. Saw those busy bees and hover flies in your previous post.

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  6. Sumptuous Gail. Your images made me sigh with pleasure - and also hardened my determination to get some epimediums for my next garden, they have to be worth the muddy knees.

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  7. Great photography Gail! I love the one of the epimedium against the tree trunk. It is spectacular. I don't think I've seen a white epimedium before. I've recently fallen in love with them so this will go on my list.

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  8. Love the Pooh quote. :-)
    Did I just read that Iris germanica is the TN state flower? Or was it KY? Anyway, it is amazingly gorgeous, as is all of your garden. I hope I get time tonight to do a GBBD post!

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  9. Oh yes, I'd love to stop time and just enjoy all these spring lovelies. Such a wonderful reminder, Gail, to enjoy the moment. Your garden is looking beautiful dressed in its spring finery.

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  10. 'Anticipation' of what is to come may be far better than the actuality. That Pooh was so smart. Gorgeous blooms. Happy Bloom Day.

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  11. Your photographs are absolutely beautiful and show exquisite detail and color. Love it!

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  12. OH, my! It's all looking so lush and gorgeous. I love that little bit of orange in the first photo from the Aquilegia. And yes, that white Epimedium does require you to get right down on the ground to really enjoy it, let alone get a pix — but they are one of my favorite plants.

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  13. That Red Tulip jumped off the page at me...I see orange in the back to the right of it too. Very much springtime in your gardens!!

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  14. Gail, these are so beautiful. I am jealous. Hardly a blooming bud here, and you have a magnificent spring unfurling. Love those iris.

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  15. The Central Basin is so pretty this time of year especially with your good eye to bring out its best. Happy Bloom Day dear friend.~~Dee

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  16. Such colors, such beauty! I didn't know you had Epimedium x youngianum 'Niveum' too. Mine has just sent forth its first leaves.

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  17. Yowza! What gorgeous bright bloomers. I laughed out loud when I read the bit about one needing to lie on the ground to appreciate a special flower. Like you, I've been known to lay down in the mud to capture a photo, or two. :)))

    Happy Bloom Day, Gail!

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  18. Gail, Loved visiting your garden, which looks like it is in the woods, my favorite kind. Carolyn

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  19. Your photos are breathtaking, dear Gail! The white epimedium is being added to the wish list, I had no idea it was so stunning a creature. The wildflowers are so happy there, under your loving care.
    xxxooo
    Frances

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  20. Nice? Oh no, this is Pooh Bear Bestest ;~)

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  21. Stunning photos! Your garden is coming along with lots of blooms. The iris has such a beautiful color.

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  22. Your photos are simply stunning. As if I could reach out and touch the tender petals! I have purple iris, too! I believe I am fortunate, for I'm told they may not survive here in south AL, too wet. I smile at your dear quotes. Thank you for sharing!

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  23. Fantastic pics. Your subjects are phenomenal.
    I have the Iris germanica. I believe it to be the Tn. flower. Am I wrong? It has just bloomed out. The first time. I was so thrilled. It was a gift from brother.

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  24. Oh Gail, that looks so lucious. That Kale is amazing, interestingly, our city has been using it as part of the town plaza planting and I'm struck by the color combination.

    Happy bloom day!

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  25. What a fabulous parade you are showing. Can there be a more welcome month than April?

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  26. What a gorgeous post Gail. I remember when you posted about adding Blue-Eyed Mary to your garden. It's beautiful. I love the russets tones of your yellow Epimedium.

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  27. oh Gail your post has brought such gladness to my heart to see your iris and phlox and all the other beautiful blooms..and to top it off the Frost poem...one of my favs...thx for making this April bloom day the best...

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  28. Gail, your pictures and flowers are just beautiful!

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  29. There's that pretty pink phlox I hear so much about! It really is lovely.

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  30. I'm glad I'm not the only one that leaves my kale to bolt. You're right, the bees go bonkers for brassica blooms, and they produce more than enough to keep them all busy, and buzzy, in the garden!

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  31. Is there a book of Winne-the-Pooh quotes? ;-) Taking advantage of this blustery day to catch up on some blog-reading and I keep finding things I need to buy. ;-) Flowers, and now books! ;-)

    I just saw red kale flowers over at Les, The Tidewater Gardener's blog too. Must add kale to the list for fall planting.....

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  32. That was a delightful GBBD, Gail. Your garden looks fantastic.

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  33. Gorgeous shots of your spring bloomers, Gail.

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  34. I need to get me some epimedium.

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  35. Oh, how I hope I can one day visit C&L in early spring and see all this for myself!

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  36. Lovely April blooms, Gail;-) I'm still waiting on Epimedium 'Niveum' to bloom (although 'Rubrum' is blooming in all her pink glory. Also waiting on Iris cristata. Today is a really warm day here in northern VA...looks like we could get up into the 80's!

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  37. Gail, when I see all those gorgeous pictures of your garden it makes me wanting to completely redesign my garden.
    Paula Jo

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  38. I'm glad I made it here, Gail. I see the answer to my question was here. I am so excited it's spring!

    Have a nice Easter. Thanks for your comments about my grand baby and such.

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"Insects are the little things that run the world." Dr. E O Wilson