Walking through the garden it occurred to me how little spring beauty I've shared here on the blog, most of my "wow,...it's spring!" photos have ended up on Instagram. Here's an attempt to spread the love around a bit better...
This Itoh peony 'Misaka' came to me last summer via Monrovia. It was pretty much bloomed out at that time so I am very excited to see its dozen or so blooms open this year. This one is in the lead.
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It was a rainy afternoon when I took this photos, obviously. This was the first rain we've had in weeks. While the sunny days have been a mood-booster and upped my garden productivity we could definitely use the moisture. Walking into the back garden...
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Schefflera brevipedunculata
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Metapanax delavayi
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Cornus sanguinea 'Compressa'
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Soon the bromeliads will be liberated from the basement and this area will be even better than it is now.
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Sensitive fern, Onoclea sensibilis.
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The brown edges eventually disappear, but while they last they're my favorite feature.
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A little foliage chaos under Clifford (the big-leaf magnolia).
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The chartreuse circle planter is hanging from the chocolate mimosa—Albizia julibrissin ‘Summer Chocolate’—which hasn't yet leafed out. The Echium wildpretti at it's base chose not to bloom this year, which means another year of that fabulous silver foliage.
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Just around the corner from the echium is a small project I hope to tackle soon. The brick border is going to be moved up a couple feet (shown by the mocked up grey line, which is subject to change based on the discovery of tree roots). As you can see the lawn is really sparse right here and that way I get to plant more ferns. The variegated aspidistra is currently auditioning to see if it wants to live here too.
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Lonicera x brownii 'Dropmore Scarlet' also hangs from (on) the chocolate mimosa.
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I happened to catch the unfurling of this volunteer fern at just the right moment.
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Turning to look west...
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The Magnolia laevifolia is absolutely covered in flowers this year.
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They're simple perfection.
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Last summer I got bored with my Pseudopanax x 'Sabre' in a container and put it in the ground, sink or swim style, as it's not reliably hardy here. It made it through last winter no problem!
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Wall-o-foliage! The patio and stock tank pond are directly behind all that. Clockwise from the far left: Trachycarpus wagneriensis, Stachyurus salicifolius, Eriobotrya japonica, Podocarpus macrophyllus 'Miu', and Dasylirion wheeleri.
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Sophora prostrata 'Little Baby' blooms.
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And the Stachyurus salicifolius from the patio side (you saw the other side in the "wall-o-foliage photo above).
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A close-up of its flowers.
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Here's one of the Echium wildpretii that decided to bloom, backed by the Ceanothus 'Dark Star'.
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The next three images are of my daphniphyllum. This one shows the solid green plant on the left, and the variegated on the right.
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Daphniphyllum himalaense ssp macropodum 'Variegated' with a Persicaria microcephala ‘Red Dragon’ for added color.
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Daphniphyllum macropodum v. humile, this new foliage/bloom stage always blows me away, so gorgeous!
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After taking the daphniphyllum photos I turned around to this view. The roof belongs to our house, the white framed window is our garage. Sammy (the tall Yucca rostrata) looks quite fetching!
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Those jagged leaves belong to Acanthus syriacus, I keep meaning to try and move this plant as it's been sort of buried. That's a Nolina ‘La Siberica’ behind it.
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Another foliage vignette, Aspidistra elatior and Mahonia eurybracteata 'Soft Caress'. Funny story; that mahonia is in a square metal container, I plopped it there one year and just never moved it. Earlier this spring I figured I should finally free the poor thing and put it in the ground. Nope. The bottom of the pot must have rusted out because it is firmly rooted in place.
![]()
This is such a busy photo! The striped sticks belong to a bamboo, Sasa palmata f. nebulosa. The fern bowl has been kicking around the garden all winter, it will soon be back under the shade pavilion for the summer months. What I really wanted to get a photo of though is the Scadoxus puniceus and its three emerging stalks, two of which have developing flowers.
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Okay looking along the side of the garage, towards the entrance to the back garden (between the house and garage), it's time to take a quick look out front.
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Pacific Coast Iris 'Wildberry Shortcake'
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Grevillea 'rivularis', which is absolutely covered in flowers.
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That's a bit of the grevillia next to the opuntia pads at the top of this photo. This area is along our driveway, right where I park my car.
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Smooshed in with the regular "garden variety" (pass-along plants) sempervivum are these Sempervivum 'Oddity', with their crazy tube-like leaves. These came from my friend Amy Campion (so I guess that means they're passs-alongs too!).
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Another of the soon to bloom echium...
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Rhododendron linearifolium
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The Juniperus conferta 'Blue Pacific' are pollen making machines right now. Touch the plant and a cloud of yellow rises off those tiny blooms. Ugh.
![]()
If this image looks familiar it's because I shared a very similar one last week when I wrote about pruning the arctostaphylos in the center. This time I look the frame out far enough to get the third manzanita on the far right...
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This one, Arctostaphylos densiflora ‘Harmony’. If you stand in just the right spot you can see it's sexy legs...
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Step to the right though and it becomes a HUGE blob. I've got my work cut out for me here.
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Just one more plant to feature, Corokia cotoneaster.
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It's covered in tiny yellow stars. April is a very fine month in a Pacific Northwest garden...
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Weather Diary, Apr 26: Hi 68, Low 43/ Precip .03
All material © 2009-2020 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.
This Itoh peony 'Misaka' came to me last summer via Monrovia. It was pretty much bloomed out at that time so I am very excited to see its dozen or so blooms open this year. This one is in the lead.
It was a rainy afternoon when I took this photos, obviously. This was the first rain we've had in weeks. While the sunny days have been a mood-booster and upped my garden productivity we could definitely use the moisture. Walking into the back garden...
Schefflera brevipedunculata
Metapanax delavayi
Cornus sanguinea 'Compressa'
Soon the bromeliads will be liberated from the basement and this area will be even better than it is now.
Sensitive fern, Onoclea sensibilis.
The brown edges eventually disappear, but while they last they're my favorite feature.
A little foliage chaos under Clifford (the big-leaf magnolia).
The chartreuse circle planter is hanging from the chocolate mimosa—Albizia julibrissin ‘Summer Chocolate’—which hasn't yet leafed out. The Echium wildpretti at it's base chose not to bloom this year, which means another year of that fabulous silver foliage.
Just around the corner from the echium is a small project I hope to tackle soon. The brick border is going to be moved up a couple feet (shown by the mocked up grey line, which is subject to change based on the discovery of tree roots). As you can see the lawn is really sparse right here and that way I get to plant more ferns. The variegated aspidistra is currently auditioning to see if it wants to live here too.
Lonicera x brownii 'Dropmore Scarlet' also hangs from (on) the chocolate mimosa.
I happened to catch the unfurling of this volunteer fern at just the right moment.
Turning to look west...
The Magnolia laevifolia is absolutely covered in flowers this year.
They're simple perfection.
Last summer I got bored with my Pseudopanax x 'Sabre' in a container and put it in the ground, sink or swim style, as it's not reliably hardy here. It made it through last winter no problem!
Wall-o-foliage! The patio and stock tank pond are directly behind all that. Clockwise from the far left: Trachycarpus wagneriensis, Stachyurus salicifolius, Eriobotrya japonica, Podocarpus macrophyllus 'Miu', and Dasylirion wheeleri.
Sophora prostrata 'Little Baby' blooms.
And the Stachyurus salicifolius from the patio side (you saw the other side in the "wall-o-foliage photo above).
A close-up of its flowers.
Here's one of the Echium wildpretii that decided to bloom, backed by the Ceanothus 'Dark Star'.
The next three images are of my daphniphyllum. This one shows the solid green plant on the left, and the variegated on the right.
Daphniphyllum himalaense ssp macropodum 'Variegated' with a Persicaria microcephala ‘Red Dragon’ for added color.
Daphniphyllum macropodum v. humile, this new foliage/bloom stage always blows me away, so gorgeous!
After taking the daphniphyllum photos I turned around to this view. The roof belongs to our house, the white framed window is our garage. Sammy (the tall Yucca rostrata) looks quite fetching!
Those jagged leaves belong to Acanthus syriacus, I keep meaning to try and move this plant as it's been sort of buried. That's a Nolina ‘La Siberica’ behind it.
Another foliage vignette, Aspidistra elatior and Mahonia eurybracteata 'Soft Caress'. Funny story; that mahonia is in a square metal container, I plopped it there one year and just never moved it. Earlier this spring I figured I should finally free the poor thing and put it in the ground. Nope. The bottom of the pot must have rusted out because it is firmly rooted in place.
This is such a busy photo! The striped sticks belong to a bamboo, Sasa palmata f. nebulosa. The fern bowl has been kicking around the garden all winter, it will soon be back under the shade pavilion for the summer months. What I really wanted to get a photo of though is the Scadoxus puniceus and its three emerging stalks, two of which have developing flowers.
Okay looking along the side of the garage, towards the entrance to the back garden (between the house and garage), it's time to take a quick look out front.
Pacific Coast Iris 'Wildberry Shortcake'
Grevillea 'rivularis', which is absolutely covered in flowers.
That's a bit of the grevillia next to the opuntia pads at the top of this photo. This area is along our driveway, right where I park my car.
Smooshed in with the regular "garden variety" (pass-along plants) sempervivum are these Sempervivum 'Oddity', with their crazy tube-like leaves. These came from my friend Amy Campion (so I guess that means they're passs-alongs too!).
Another of the soon to bloom echium...
Rhododendron linearifolium
The Juniperus conferta 'Blue Pacific' are pollen making machines right now. Touch the plant and a cloud of yellow rises off those tiny blooms. Ugh.
If this image looks familiar it's because I shared a very similar one last week when I wrote about pruning the arctostaphylos in the center. This time I look the frame out far enough to get the third manzanita on the far right...
This one, Arctostaphylos densiflora ‘Harmony’. If you stand in just the right spot you can see it's sexy legs...
Step to the right though and it becomes a HUGE blob. I've got my work cut out for me here.
Just one more plant to feature, Corokia cotoneaster.
It's covered in tiny yellow stars. April is a very fine month in a Pacific Northwest garden...
Weather Diary, Apr 26: Hi 68, Low 43/ Precip .03
All material © 2009-2020 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.