Plants I'm Growing: First Blooms--Solomon's Seal, Rhododendron "Double Eagle," Wisteria, Echium Gentianoides (April 9-10, 2012)

A lot going on in the garden at the moment. In the past few days, Solomon's Seal, the rhododendron called "Double Eagle," the Wisteria at the back of the garden, and Echium gentianoides have all come into bloom. I've been very busy with work this week, so it's been hard to keep up with the flowers.

Double Eagle" starting blooming on April 9. The plant had no flowers last year after a spectacular 2010. It's spectacular again this year. The whole plant is covered with yellow flowers (pictured). Echium gentianoides, a rather open, delicate-looking, true blue Echium also started blooming on April 9. The Wisteria started blooming on April 10--but only a few flowers are open on one or two flower clusters. Solomon's Seal, a lovely little woodland wildflower that I feel nostalgic about because of childhood associations with the East, started blooming on April 10 as well (top photo).

Plants I'm Growing--First Blooms: Rhododendron "Double Eagle," Butterfly Bush "Sungold," Salvia Lyrata

First blooms of 2011 on three plants in the garden yesterday and today. Yesterday the yellow rhododendron "Double Eagle" bloomed. In stark contrast to last year, there is only one flower cluster. Last year, the whole plant was covered in blooms. Rhododendrons are difficult....

Today the first flowers opened on the butterfly bush called "Sungold," which has distinctive yellow-orange globes of flowers in alternating pairs. First blooms today also on the low-growing salvia with purple leaves that I believe is Salvia lyrata. I let these go to seed each year and we get new ones in unpredictable places around the garden.

"Double Eagle" bloomed on March 29 in 2009 and on March 25 in 2010, so this is quite late. The plant has calculated botanical years of 361 days and 391 days. "Sungold" bloomed on May 2 in 2010, so this is earlier than last year and a year of 355 days. Salvia lyrata bloomed on May 4 in 2010 for a year of 353 days.

Plants I'm Growing--First Blooms: Rhododendron "Double Eagle" (2010)

First blooms today on the yellow Rhododendron potted on the deck, a variety called "Double Eagle." Of all the Rhododendrons in the yard, this one is doing best for some reason. I don't know why. "Double Eagle" bloomed last year on March 29. A year according to this plant was 361 days.