Welcome Spring! I always tell newcomers to the Piedmont that they’re in for a treat, that Spring unfolds like a parade. Though we’re in a drought, this year’s parade did not disappoint, revealing  one colorful, flowering tree, bush or vine at a time; it’s glorious! First, my overwintered orange pansies, then pink ornamental crab trees, white Bradford pears, then the delicate, floaty, barely pink cherry blossoms, red bud trees in bright red violet my favorite since my grandmother had a massive one, neon yellow forsythia, purple panicles of wisteria, then the flat, upward-facing white, and an occasional pink, dogwood. Wrapping up the parade is the southern favorite, the wonderfully outrageously pink, fuchsia (and white) azaleas. Streets are lined with flowering trees; I sometimes have my mouth open in joy as we drive through the show.

In my flower garden, I’ve been pleased again this year to see the perennials sprouting up with no effort from me. The red orange-flowered geum stayed leafy and green all winter and is building its cells to unfurl a flower soon. Red, and pink dianthus, which we always called Sweet William is abloom.  My purple coneflower and maybe the prolific rudbeckia have come back. If the rudbeckia somehow doesn’t make it, it’s such an abundant producer of pretty yellow orange flowers, I’ll definitely replace it. Last year, I bought a special (expensive) magenta salvia that grew beyond my expectations to be almost as tall as me! Though each flower was small, the sun shone through them like stained glass. I thought it would be perennial but the winter was harsh for this area and I don’t see any signs of life in it—yet.

Three varieties of dahlias have several shoots each and will need props early on for their exuberant though sometimes brittle growth. I fell in love with the large colorful flowers when we lived in England and watched BBC’s Gardener’s World. In the US, we call them doll-y-ahs (or dal-y-ahs) but the British call them dale-y-ahs. Since I first grew them in England, I pronounce their name the British way.

I’d planted some spinach and parsley for the winter, in the front part of my flower garden—where I could get to it easily. These now have a home in my new raised vegetable bed. I’ll tell you about it soon.

Do you have a favorite spring-flowering tree or bush? Does something else flower this time of year where you live? What are you planting this Spring? I’d love to hear, in the comments.

Please like, subscribe, and share. Thanks!