Hello Spring!

I look forward to the longer days, the warming weather and Spring blooms emerging, I imagine we all do.  The crocus in purple, white and yellow always make me smile.  Everyday I see something new ready to open in its slow deliberate spring like way.

Every year I fall in love with a new spring bloomer.  And for insane reasons I must acquire every iteration of said plant.  One year I was finding the virtues of all azaleas, I’ve been on missions finding hellabores my garden was missing and I cannot resist narcissus.  I especially love the smaller varieties like narcissus ‘Minnow’, but they are all so cheerful.

This year I have gathered my attention around Forsythia.  I was never particularly fond of the bright yellow blooms, though I love to cut the branches when the buds are just forming and bring them inside for an early show.  What has grabbed my attention with these vibrant early bloomers is their graceful arching branches and its presence in a woodland garden.  A forsythia allowed to grow in its natural way becomes a beautiful vase shaped shrub with bold yellow blooms in the spring followed by fine toothy foliage. 

Forsythia like full sun to part sun, are deer resistant and require very little if any care.  They have a beautiful arching habit and would look good mixed with larger leafed shrubs and evergreens. 

There are many varieties, but my favorites are ‘Show-off’, ‘Gold Tide’ & ‘Spring Glory’

A single, 50-year old Forsythia Show Off, grown to great size in Lutherville, Maryland.

‘Show-off’ says it all.  The blooms start at the bottom and go all the way to the top of the branch. It reaches 5-6’ tall.

‘Gold Tide’ is a dwarf variety that only reaches 2-3 feet tall.  I have also noticed it is earlier to bloom than other varieties and even at that height has the graceful arching branch structure.   

‘Spring Glory’ is a bit taller than ‘Show-off’ and can make a wonderful backdrop in a woodland garden.  At 6-8 feet it will add great interest to the spring garden

Being my choice for an early bloomer I will now set my sights on a favorite summer bloomer!  Here are some other spring bloomers in stock for 2021.

Magnolia, Dogwood, Camellia, Rhododendrons, Azaleas, Narcissus, Crocus, Spirea, Flowering Quince, Evergreen Clematis, Serviceberry, Hellabores, Bleeding Heart, Viburnums & more…