This morning I read Jason's post over at Garden In A City. He wrote about his 4 favorite spring native flowers. He then asked what was our favorite spring flowers. I bet that the four native flowers he wrote about aren't his very favorite. I certainly can't claim that any four are my favorites it is just the timing that is so right for these.
In answer to his question I popped out into the garden to see what is blooming right now. Sure enough one of my favorite spring flowers was blooming up a storm. This Appendaged Waterleaf Plant is such a good foil for the dark yellow Irises and the native honeysuckle.
While the blooms look delicate they are quite a hardy plant. The more rain the better for these. Another one of the reasons I like it so well it is a good nectaring plant for bees. Like most natives it is quite gregarious and will plant itself in places you didn't know they were anywhere around. They are easily kept in bounds with a bit of pulling or dead heading the blooms when they start making seeds. Well worth the effort.
The Iris Parade is continuing. As you see here
and here the native Columbine mixes well with almost everything. They too seed around but are easily removed if they clash with your color scheme.
A little closer look at this Iris with the Columbines.
This yellow and purpley blue seem to be a theme.
There is always one that stands out. This big white one of my favorite Irises. I think it looks like an over grown Orchid with those ruffly edges. This was a pass along plant so I have no idea the name of this.
Speaking of favorite Spring visitors to the garden, the Rose-breasted Grosbeak always makes me happy to see him.
He had his mate with him but she was a bit camera shy.
Another couple that dropped in to check out the bird offerings was Eurasian Collared Dove,. Nonnative but a pretty bird. This is only the third time they have been in the garden. The previous sightings were single birds. I think he was interested.
She must have thought the area was too busy because they didn't stick around and have not returned.
I am awaiting the next wave of flowers in the garden. The ants are busily grooming the peony buds, encouraging them to bloom.
So what is your favorite native plant of the moment?
Your garden's looking very pretty, Lisa! Most of my self-seeders aren't native, although some like the Santa Barbara daisy (Erigeron karvinskianus, native to Mexico) are near-natives. My favorite native bloomer right now is the California poppy (Eschscholzia californica), which I've had a devil of a time getting established here.
ReplyDeleteI love California Poppies. One of my favorite memories about them is seeing a Burrowing Owl watching us watching it from behind a clump of C. Poppies.
DeleteOh my, your "overgrown orchid" is stunning! I love the fragrance of the spring violets and flowering quince is just pretty to me. And the peonies soon to bloom are right up there. What? you said favorite not favorites? Drats :-)
ReplyDeleteYep, it is difficult to choose just one, four or ten of favorites. :)
DeleteOh wow! ~ look at all those wonderful floral photos and love that little Grosbeck ~ delightful!
ReplyDeleteHappy Day to you,
A ShutterBug Explores,
aka (A Creative Harbor)
Great combinations of plants! I have Virginia Waterleaf (Hydrophyllum virginianum) here, which has a similar flower. I'm not familiar with the Appleated Waterleaf. Curious about the species name? Is it H. appendiculatum? Wow, they look so healthy and happy in your garden!
ReplyDeleteHi Beth, Yes this waterleaf is H. appendiculatum. The leaves aren't as deeply lobed as the H. virginianum. Sometimes they get a little too happy. We have had a lot of rain the last month or so so it is very healthy looking this year. I have a difficult time getting things to grow in this bed for some reason and it waltzed in and took over.
DeleteI have to correct my spelling,,,it is Appendaged not Appleated...Geezz.
DeleteBeth, thank you for bringing my spelling error to light. No wonder you hadn't heard of it. ha... bet you couldn't look it up either.
DeleteMy favorite native spring bloomer is the trillium.
ReplyDeleteThe white flowers ave turned purple and are fading away but the triple lobed foliage still stand tall.
I love trillium. I have a nice little stand of Prairie trillium.
DeleteThat’s an unusual bee such black wings, irises are more a summer flower for us but I too would find choosing favourite flowers to be difficult. We have quite a few coloured doves visit our garden. They weren’t introduced to the UK until the 1960s but have increased considerably since then. We don’t have anything like the grosbeak though.
ReplyDeleteOh so much beauty and activity in your garden! Ain't spring grand?
ReplyDeleteYou bet. So much to fill one's heart and soul.
DeleteThat Grosbeak is stunning! What a gorgeous creature. Your white Iris is just as beautiful, with all the ruffly edges. Looks like you have many beautiful Iris.
ReplyDeleteNatives here--I truly love the California poppies. In the softer light of late winter and spring, they glow. The deep rich blue of the Ceanothus and their glossy green pleated flowers, the little pearly bell flowers of Manzanitas and their polished burgundy bark. :)
Hello Lisa girl ! ... Your garden is looking AMAZING ! .. You have so many flowers showing off right now .. we are slowly but surely emerging in the cold north now .. and funny enough I bought two dark dwarf irises (tag did not NAME them but I am researching) .. Garden PA was the one that saw the Blue Bunting and it was stunning to him .. such a beautiful blue and no camera at hand of course (so now there is one on the kitchen table ! haha) .. we have had that grosbeak VERY briefly in the back garden .. I swear these gorgeous birds just like to tease us ? .. Happy Mother's Day for tomorrow , we are supposed to have decent weather I think so it would be a garden day for me which always makes me happy : )
ReplyDeleteThanks for the link. You're right that I have lots of favorites, and can't pick a single flower as the number one. The Waterleaf is beautiful that's one I have never grown. A bunch of my Columbines seem to have gone missing this spring.
ReplyDeleteWow, things are really looking good out there, I love the iris!!
ReplyDeleteI've never heard of waterleaf and it I went by the online pictures I don't think I'd ever chose to grow it, but your pictures prove that to be wrong! It sure does put on a nice show, it must be really happy in that spot.
Wondering what is blooming there for Mother's Day in the USA ???
ReplyDeleteHappy Mother's Day ^_^
Happy Day to you,
A ShutterBug Explores,
aka (A Creative Harbor)
I know it is hard not to complain ~ weather has been very cold and windy and more rain tonight and tues ~ ah well ~ as you wrote ~ soon it will be hot and humid ~
ReplyDeleteHappy Day to you,
A ShutterBug Explores,
aka (A Creative Harbor)