Tuesday, April 14, 2009

Garden Bloggers Bloom Day April 2009

Today Carol at May Dreams Gardens invites everyone to post about what is blooming in their particular part of the world. Visit her to see a list of posts that allows you to tour the world and see what is in bloom in April 2009!


The very first Berries and Cream of the year has bloomed just in time for Bloom Day. This rose becomes less 'Berry' and more 'Cream' as the weather heats up.

The white Banksia roses are in full bloom on the back garden arch and also on the back fence.
The Comet Pink chrysanthemums I cut back severely have bounced back this year.

Climbing Rose Cecile Brunner is very sweet and is, after a couple of years, beginning to fill in this area of the fence nicely.

Yellow columbine was a big step for me...I used to keep yellow as a winter flower color but avoided it during the rest of the year. I liked the way it brightened up our dreary winters but thought it was too bright for me otherwise. This soft yellow columbine has changed my opinion and I am slowly mixing in some other soft yellows.

The borage in the garden has begun to bloom and we enjoyed a bit of it in our Easter salad.

The Meyer lemon is blooming and I'm hoping for another crop of lemons next winter. My tree is in a pot so has stayed fairly small but we usually get a nice amount of fruit.

Several scented geraniums have begun blooming, including this sweet one under the plum tree.
Cranesbill Biokova is one of my favorite filler plants. It spreads easily and makes great passalong gifts. It fills in quickly and stays nice looking in all areas except those that get hot afternoon summer sun.

The more or less complete list of bloomers for April is:
Wisteria
Solanum jasminoides
Solanum rantonnetii
Wax begonias
Climbing Rosa Berries and Cream
Climbing Rosa Cecile Brunner
Rosa Flower Girl
Dutch Iris
Bearded Iris
Iberis
Pansies
Allysum
Spanish Lavender Wings of Night
Cranesbill Biokova
Abutilon Pink Parasol
Polygala dalmaisiana
Banksia rose
Meyer lemon
Lavandula pinnata buchii
Bush mallow
Pelargoniums
Scented geranium Citrosa
Scented geranium Rosa
Salvia May Night
Salvia Dancing Dolls
Forget-me-nots
Comet Pink marguerite
Anisodontea Elegant Lady
A. Hibiscus Bits
A. Very Cranberry
Strawberries
Parsley
Culinary thyme
Rosemary Tuscan Blue
Collards
Garden Peas
Nepeta Walker's Low
Dwarf Carnation Evermore
Felicia amelloides~2 varieties
Yellow Columbine
Scabiosa
Cyclamen
Nemesia
Salvia greggii
Dianthus
White carnation
Heuchera Lillian's Pink
Freesias
Photinia
Chrysanthemum paludosum

15 comments:

Cindy, MCOK said...

Leslie, things are looking mighty fine in Davis! I'm heading out to one of my favorite nurseries in a bit and you've encouraged me to look for borage. Gawjus, all of it!

Blossom said...

Oh I so envy you. You have so many blooms in your garden right now. Beautiful blooms.

Annie in Austin said...

Hi Leslie - lovely bloom day and dangerous to come here, as always. Now I want a white Lady Banks, too!

The Yellow columbine plays well with your pastels - nice spring addition!

Happy Blooming Day,

Annie at the Transplantable Rose

Mr. McGregor's Daughter said...

It strikes me as so odd to see a Chrysanthumum in bloom in April, but I love the color. Oh, to be in Davis in the spring when the Roses are in their glory!
I agree with you about the color yellow. I find pale primrose yellow much easier to work with.

Dee/reddirtramblings said...

Leslie, you have a lot blooming, and I'm amazed at how many things we both grow. I love that cranesbill. The scent is wonderful, not what I expected. I ate my first Meyer lemon the other day. They had them at Wal Mart of all places. Wonderfully sweet. I also grow 'Cecile Bruner.' She is a stalwart plant. Happy Bloom Day.~~Dee

Gail said...

Leslie...wow! I am totally wanting Lady Banks roses! She would hate the soil in this garden, but a gardener can dream! Happy GBBD. gail

sweetbay said...

I love your flowers. They're just beautiful!

donna said...

Such beautiful flowers blooming in your yard. I'm in love with the Comet Pink chrysanthemums. Your soft yellow columbine looks happy to be there. I used to be more particular about the color of blooms but now I don't care so much. Still not a big fan of red, but my husband likes red so you'll see it here and there in the yard.

Dr.Rutledge said...

Hi Leslie,

I'm a physician and former faculty member at Harvard and Stanford Medical Schools. I discovered your blog while looking for the best health writers on the web. I reviewed your posts, and think your writing would be a great addition to the Gardening Community on Wellsphere, a top 5 health website that has nearly 5 million visitors monthly. If you would like to learn more about how you can join our Health Blogger Network, republish your blog posts and be featured on the Wellsphere platform, just drop me an email at dr.rutledge@wellsphere.com.

Cheers,
Geoff

red studio said...

Beautiful photos and congratulations on the Wellsphere opportunity. It sounds like fun.

growingagardenindavis said...

Cindy...I like the borage but you do need to make sure it doesn't spread too much.
Blossom...hopefully you'll be seeing lots of blooms nearby soon!
Hi Annie...I do like my white Lady Banks. Wonder if I would have planted yellow if I were to do it today?
MMD...the chrysanthemum is one that blooms a good part of the year and is an annual many places...not what you might be thinking of as the typical C.
Dee, I think we both have a lot of things that can take some heat. I do love the biokova...I can use it anywhere except in full summer sun and it stays happy.
Gail...what type of soil do you have? I think Lady Banks is less than picky!
Thank you Sweet Bay! This time of year is often the prettiest here...before the summer heat hits.
Donna...red and bright orange are two colors I still am not fond of although I like some winter red. Luckily my husband doesn't seem to care what I plant as long as he isn't expected to take care of it!

Layanee said...

Isn't borage just the prettiest blue? So many blooms! Thank you for sharing them with those of us currently less fortunate. I will reciprocate when the time comes.

Unknown said...

Lovely list! Like you, I have always pretty much avoided yellow in the garden... but I've been captivated by the photos of 'Carolina Moonlight' baptisia, and was allowed to take a few free pots home at the end of the season last year, so it will be interesting to see whether I like it or hate it. Like your columbines, it's a softer yellow...

Happy spring! :)

Connie said...

Great blooms! My favorites are the Berries and Cream rose and the lovely yellow columbine. I have one in my garden I started from seed. This will be it's third year, so I hopefully it will bloom nicely.

EAL said...

What a gigantic list of blooms. I always find the Sunset zones the most exotic--to me.

Mums in April!