Last updated on December 2nd, 2011
I COULDN’T WAIT to get outside with my camera this morning. Why? Because yesterday’s freakish heatwave — 85 degrees after weeks and weeks of frigid weather — caused my garden to explode with color. Take a walk with me, and I’ll show you the tulips (like heirloom ‘Van der Neer,’ above) and other creatures who just needed a little warmth to pull them out of their cold, springtime coma (click photos to enlarge):
Bred in 1860, and a gift from my friend Judy (who obtained the bulbs from Old House Gardens), Tulipa ‘Van der Neer’ is one of my earliest tulips. I have it in the Serpentine Garden, where its rosy-purple cups look well against a sea of blue-flowered Vinca minor.
And speaking of Vinca minor, I can’t suggest a better weed-suppressing groundcover. The periwinkle-blue flowers are a great bonus.
Also in the Serpentine Garden are masses of sweetly-scented Muscari ‘Cote d’Azure.’ These increase in number with each passing year.
Just above the first terrace in the Serpentine Garden, and providing a strong contrast to the blue vinca and muscari, is the flowering quince Chaenomelis x superba ‘Crimson & Gold.’ It’s next door neighbor is the gorgeous, double peach quince ‘Cameo,’ which blooms in mid-May. I consider flowering quince a perfect perennial shrub — it requires no care whatsoever, besides a little pruning to keep its thorny stems within bounds.
Even the ancient beech tree in my driveway (I’m told it’s one of the oldest beeches in New York State) burst into bloom. And what weird blossoms they are — like tiny, dangling cotton balls.
Not open yet, but showing color after yesterday’s heatwave, is Tulipa ‘Purple Flag.’ I planted just 12 of these bulbs many years ago, and they have rewarded me with more and more blooms each spring. I have them in a bed at the north end of the Rose Garden, beside a brick path. There isn’t a more graceful purple tulip.
Overnight — and I’m not exaggerating here — my Yoshino Cherry tree covered itself in bloom. This is the same variety of cherry (Prunus x yedoenis) that Japan gifted Washington, DC back in 1912, as a symbol of friendship. The snow-white flowers are softly almond-scented.
What’s blooming in your spring garden?
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Flowering Quince ‘Crimson & Gold’
Katreader says
Absolutely gorgeous! Not too much is blooming at my place yet: the forsythia, some daffodils, some very scraggy pink and yellow hyacinths (potted from gifts a few years ago-I need to get my favorite purple ones) and some grape hyacinths…gifts from a squirrel! The leaves are up on the tulips-but no flowers yet. Generally speaking everything flowers late at my place. I'm not sure why.
Kevin Lee Jacobs says
Katreader – Thanks for looking! Your garden will burst into bloom soon — I think you are in a colder zone than me.
Sheila says
Your tulips are GORGEOUS! Love the Van der Neer especially.
Gregory says
Kevin, so glad you have lots of purples and blues in your garden. My favorite colors!
erin says
Kevin, Your garden is so beauiful. It's so nice to finally see color in the yards! My daffodils exploded this past weekend. I was begining to think they were going to be a no-show.
Kevin Lee Jacobs says
Sheila – Glad you like the heirloom Van der Neers. Unlike tall, modern tulips, these bloom on very short stems.
Gregory – blues and purples are my favorites, too.
erin – Thank you. All the bulbs I've added over the years have started to pay dividends in terms of beauty.
Glad your daffodils decided to bloom for you!