We’ve been working to put in lots of native plants to replace massive quantities of non-native ornamentals, Pachysandra terminalis (from Asia) and Vinca minor (central Eurasia), previously here. I’m excited to see everything blooming!
A week ago, May 4-6 — the eastern strawberries were really in full bloom, then, as was the Pieris japonica too.
the stunning Heuchera americana – flowers later in the summer!Indian azalea, white (front yard)Catawba rosebays dropped their blossomsPetals among the aster foliagered Indian azalea coming soonTrillium luteumComptonia peregrina (sweetfern)Lots of fresh green moss by the front door! I am never confident of moss IDs but PictureThis says it’s Plagiomnium cuspidatum (toothed plagiomnium moss).
While I was away for a few days, we had a lot of blooms — these are from early evening, May 12:
Tiarella cordifloria (foamflower)Phlox divaricata (Wild blue phlox)Geranium maculatum (Spotted geranium)Phlox subulata (Moss phlox)Dodecatheon meadia (Eastern shooting star)Iris cristata (Dwarf crested iris)Viola striata (Striped cream violet)Calcyanthus floridus (Carolina sweet shrub)Viola sororia (the basic violet that is all over, mostly in purple, but some yellow & white)Maianthemum racemosum (False solomon’s seal) bloom is coming!Fragaria virginiana (Wild strawberry)Dicentra eximia (Turkey corn, Fringed bleeding heart)Houstonia caerulia (Azure bluet)Cornus sericea (Red osier dogwood) … about to bloom @ 6pmRhododendron …. (I don’t know which species)terrible picture of another Dodecatheon meadia (Eastern shooting star)Stylophorum diphyllum (Celandine poppy)Gaylussacia brachycera (box huckleberry)Podophyllum peltatum (Mayapple) … wait for itThe mayapple flower!moss spiral, moss phlox, pinus strobusHoustonia caerulis (bluets) on the moss spiralmoss filling in some muddy patches!slope with false solomon’s seal and foamflower
Evening, May 12: Most of this all just came out in the last few days. Some more blossoms from later in the evening today:
Trillium luteumPhlox divaricata, front yardRhododendron indicum (Indian azalea) – not nativeRhododendron … maybe indicumVaccinium corymbosum (Highbush blueberry) bloomed a week or two ago, but a few blooms still hanging onFothergilla major (dwarf mountain witch alder) was blooming more profusely a week agomore Dicentra eximiaBasil! yummthe more edible non-native strawberry!Hepatica nobilis (round-lobed) bloomed a week or two agoPolemonium reptans (Jacob’s ladder) is on its way!The ferns have all been popping out, too!
May 14-15:
Bumblebees love the still-blooming celandine poppy!Rhododendron maximus (Great rosebay) is coming!Flame azalea is coming!Geranium maculatum & ferns by the house on “Ash Hill”Hepatica – not blooming any more but pretty!Sedum ternatum (stonecrop)Gaylussacia baccata (Box huckleberry)One of the Indian azaleas on Squirrel Hill. This one had some kind of blight & died back, but still bloomed.Front entry way – moss rock, red maple, moss…
