Hot pink Camellias and Grape Hyacinths are sure to perk up your spring gardens.
By Jodi Tooke
How blessed we are as gardeners to witness the renewal of life each year! But how many pause to appreciate its beauty? My friend Diane brought this to my attention in her presentation on ’Perennials’ through our Know It to Grow It program at the Garland County Public Library. Describing beautiful photos of everything that colors her garden, she gushed joyfully about each precious perennial.
My garden is barely contained chaos and includes native as well as cultivated plants. Of course, I enjoy hot pink Camellias hanging on in March and perky yellow Violas thriving despite cold mornings, but I know spring is on the way when I see the dainty white blooms of Spring Beauty. Lawn lovers call them weeds, but these tough little wildflowers are my harbingers of spring. Grape Hyacinths pop soon after in swaths under my oak trees, followed by white and yellow daffodils and delicate Snowflakes.
My Emerald Snow Loropetalum and coral azaleas seemingly bloom overnight, and tiny Violets compete with the Lyre-leaved Sage that sends up showy stalks in April with purple tube-shaped flowers. My white Irises are usually the last to perform, but they’re the most beautiful of all.
When I remember to look up on those cool spring mornings, the orange and yellow trumpet-shaped flowers of the Crossvine dangle from vines clinging to the uppermost oak tree trunks where they bask in the sun. As spring’s first blush fades, be on the lookout for summertime blooms and share snapshots with friends!
Jodi Tooke volunteers with GC Master Gardeners of the UofA Div. of Agriculture, Cooperative Ext. Service. Master Gardeners pool skills and resources to improve home horticulture, stimulate interest in plants and gardening, and encourage beautification.
