April gardener

The early spring garden. Heavy clay soil is making for a slow start, as usual, and removal of failing trees takes time I’d otherwise devote to lesser tasks. But we’ve had many sunny days and adequate rain so I believe all to be well. More on the trees later perhaps.

About 8am - from the terrace.

Who owns the garden? A question I’ve been asking myself. Look into the distance.

Spring matrix at edge of terrace. Packera aurea, Equisetum arvense, Hakonecloha macra, Helleborus foetidus, Colchicum foliage, Brunnera …

Afternoon. Edges are bursting with growth, the middle … warm season grasses, large prairie plants … is slow to emerge

Lamium orvala.

Disporum cantoniense ‘Night Heron’ - the name is as pretty as the plant.

Syneilesis aconitifolia.

Terrace.

Paeonia japonica - a few in their second year.

In bud.

Canal pond.

Camassias.

Camassias, pond, bridge.

A delicate plant that appears to be indigenous to the place - Pachyphragma - but it’s actually from Iran and Turkey, I believe.

A successful early groundcovering plant combination for rough, heavy clay - Amsonia ‘Storm Cloud’ and Packera aurea.

Aronia arbutifolia ‘Brilliantissima’ - a ‘see through’ native shrub for early spring.

The apparent bareness of the prairie garden belies the huge perennials and grasses that will emerge in two more weeks.

Test hole to evaluate planting possibilities in an area where trees were removed. How long will the water take to percolate into the clay? It won’t be quick.

Looking toward the prairie garden.

Bohemeria emerging.

Saruma henryi just planted last spring.