This has been an odd April. It seems like time has been compressed and everything is flowering at once. It’s only April 22 and the lilacs are already beginning to open. Traditionally, the Lilac Festival is held here in Rochester in mid to late May. If we don’t get some cooler weather, the lilacs might be past when the festival is supposed to happen from May 14-23.
Bleeding heart
The natural progression of the Spring flowers has been altered and the daffodils are blooming with the poet’s eye narcissus and the grape hyacinths.
Poet's eye narcissus
The flowering trees are gorgeous this year, especially the magnolias. Around our house, the forsythia and quince are loaded with blossoms.
Mom's quince
And then there are the new fruit trees. The peaches and the pears are buzzing with the pollinating bees. The apple trees aren’t blossoming yet though.
Red Haven peach flowers
In the shade garden, the flowering bleeding hearts and the brunneras add to the colorful emerging foliage of the astilbes, heucheras, and hostas. It’s a riot of color there!
Brunnera 'Jack Frost'
The final picture is of the little crabapple tree pushing out its first buds. Isn’t she pretty?
Crabapple buds
What’s blooming at your house?
When I took the dog out this morning, I noted that my lilacs (near Toronto) are beginning to bloom! I checked the dates for the lilac festival at our local botanical garden — three weeks from now! The lilacs will be gone by then!!! I was shocked to see that my bleeding hearts are in bloom also!
(I am Jon’s cousin)
Comment by Nina Walsh — May 2, 2010 @ 7:02 pm