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Landscape Perennials for Spring Blooms

My favorite Spring blooming plants from March & April include a few old favorites, and some new plants. I work at Cofer’s now, and I haven’t had much time to write, but will soon. My next post will be about the fifth year of raised bed garden planting-which I finally got done this past week.

Early March Bulbs sleep all winter & then awaken to Spring Sunshine

Tiny Quad Daffodils
Creamy and Snowy White
Buttery Quads
Grape Hyacinth Muscari
Tiny Frilly late bloomer Daffodil

Late March-Early April Shrubs, Perennials, & Vines

SweetShrub-Native
Tiarella-Native
Nellie Moser Clematis
Pink Azalea

mid April

Dutch Iris
Pink Bearded Iris
Native Dogwood
The Iris Bed! best year yet

late April After studying her reflection Nature improves upon her artwork

Sensitive Fern-native
Multi Blue Clematis
Blue-eyed Grass-native
First Aqualegia Columbine

Wow! So much happens in the garden in those few months.

The blooming is over now, but the plants live on growing & storing energy for more blooms.

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April Irises 2017

  • Ga, Zone 7b Dutch Iris, Bearded Purple Iris, Pink Iris

Like their namesake in Greek Mythology, Iris- “the messenger goddess”, or “the rainbow goddess,” these beautiful flowers deliver the message that Spring has arrived, in all the colors of the rainbow. I only got a few bloom colors this year, and I am thrilled to have them!

My friend generously dug them from her garden two years ago, and I transplanted them here. One purple bloomed the first year- from over a dozen transplants. Then, this year three purples bloomed, and an absolutely gorgeous pinky, mauve beauty. I’ve not looked up the varieties yet, but wanted to post this while they are blooming (except the Dutch iris- bloomed earlier this month).

I enriched the heavy clay soil with my organic, homemade compost and fallen leaf mulch. I followed directions from The American Iris Society’s website on planting the rhizomes. They take a little time getting settled in, but are worth the wait for the spectacular flowers.

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Growing Bearded Iris in Georgia

beardedpurpleirisblog1

This Bearded Iris traveled a long way to get here, and bloomed the first year after transplant! The season grew so busy this year, that I didn’t get these pics posted this Spring. My friend in Raleigh dug up two paper grocery bags brimming with iris rhizomes last year from her garden.

I brought them home, and planted a few groups in different sunny spots. Walter Reeves’ website  walterreeves.com discuses when and how to divide iris rhizomes. I also found the American Iris Society’s detailed instructions about how to plant and grow iris very helpful.

beardedpurpleirisblog2

The only one that bloomed this year was this regally dark and majestic purple beauty. I posted in the past about my Dutch Iris -which is planted in the same area. They are similar, but the bearded iris is larger, has more frilly flowers, and more striking foliage. The American Meadows All About Irises page contains helpful info about the kinds of irises, their histories, and how to purchase and grow them. I am so happy to have them growing here. As a bonus, the deer and squirrels don’t seem to find them tasty.

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Dutch Iris

DutchIrisThese gorgeous Dutch Iris bulbs were a gift from my thoughtful sister-in-law. She knows me so well and has given me so many great plants over the years. Also know as the classic Fleur-de-Lis,  I was fascinated by these flowers as a child and am so happy to have them growing in my garden.

DIris