Today we have an amazing array of plants available for our gardens. Plants that once would have been available only to the super wealthy can be found at a small independent garden center, a big box store, or even the grocery store. The change may not be so noticeable to beginning gardeners but those of us that have been looking through catalogues for 40 years or so can see a dramatic shift. Many of these new plants are introductions from other parts of the world. Many are “newly discovered” natives (“newly appreciated”?). And many are bred by humans that are able to bring together species that would never meet in Mother Nature’s singles bars. One of those humans is Dan Heims of Terra Nova Nurseries and one of those group of singles he’s brought together is coralbells, Heuchera.

Heucheras were once grown for flowers alone pretty much. And they are mighty fine flowers. Great in the garden and for cuts. I’m sure hummingbirds love them too. But the importance of flowers has changed beautifully in the last two decades, especially since Dan and Terra Nova started their incredible breeding program. Heucheras are better known for foliage now. And why not? The foliage is around much longer than the flowers. As in close to year round. Much as I desire colorful flowers I cannot forget foliage. And with Heuchera I get color from foliage so my desires are satisfied.

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Everyone goes on and on about the flowering dogwood, Cornus florida. There are dogwood festivals and dogwood streets and dogwood subdivisions. Dogwood. Dogwood. Dogwood. Whatever. The flowering tree I think of as THE spring flowering tree is dogwood’s less lauded neighbor, Cercis canadensis – redbud.  If you want a glorious spectacle to enjoy take a drive south from Indy this time of year. Roadsides everywhere are brightened by the deep lavender-pink blooms of this native tree. My usual path is south on I-65 then west on I-64 to the old homeplace. But I’m certain State Road 37 down through Bedford would be gorgeous. I-74 to Cincinnati should be good as well. The redbuds seed into the open cuts made into forests when these roads are constructed and just keep spreading. When one gets cut down it quickly resprouts and in a few years is blooming again.

I’ve heard people complain about redbuds because they can get a canker that kills bits or all of a tree. They nearly always resprout and grow back into a lovely shaped plant again in short order so I don’t see the problem. The redbud is so much less fussy than the very nearly worshiped flowering dogwood.

Heaviest bloom does come in full sun but partial or even full shade is tolerated. I’ve seen them growing in the cut stone along an interstate. I’ve seen them growing in the yellow clay of a southern Indiana cow pasture. And everywhere in between.  Their naturally beautiful form makes them ideal trees for year round interest. Nice grey bark in winter is followed by the spectacular flowering. Deep green heart-shaped leaves deliver great texture through summer and come fall the lovely yellow foliage is one last reminder of how wonderful this tree is.

Redbuds are usually a good bright lavender-pink. I admit the usual color is not my favorite normally. But somehow it is different when the color is coming from the redbuds. Heavens though, do not plant them near anything with gold flowers. I don’t even like some of the different colored cultivars planted together let alone their shades of lavender, pink and “red’ with forsythia and the like.

Here’s a little collection of the different colors. You can see these Saturday and Sunday in the Deer Zink Events Pavillion at the Indianapolis Garden Club of America Show – Les Belles Fleurs. 

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After winter and a rather cold early spring the weather this week finally became likable. Actually, lovable!

Yes, I know 80s is a bit too warm but it wasn’t crazy like last year at least. What scared me was the way this week’s rain kept getting delayed. Always makes me think of drought anymore. But the rain came and everything is bursting into bloom – magnolias, daffodils, forsythia, spicebush, bloodroot, Grecian windflowers – the list goes on for a good bit now. It is a great time to visit with the grass greening up nicely to make all the colors pop. The redbuds (we have about a dozen different kinds) are in heavy bud. They will probably be in full bloom next weekend. That is just in time for Perennial Premiere, April 20^th and 21^st.

That’s right, folks. Another year has rolled around and it is already time for the 2013 Perennial Premiere, our annual kick-off for the coming growing season. As past attendees know, it is called Perennial Premiere but we will have far more than perennials. Everything from tropical bananas to native wildflowers to vegetables to bodacious begonias plus trees and shrubs will also be available. You can find a list of many of the available plants right here.  Read the rest of this entry »

Last week’s snow came as a bit of surprise. Yes, it appeared in the forecast a few days before arriving but I do not recall much mention of snowfall prior to that. The cold temperatures seemed to be refusing to move on so more snows could not be out of the question and yet this snowfall was kind of a slap in the face. It was like, “Well, shoot. I sure didn’t need this”. The nice thing about it was the temperatures did not drop much, just enough to create it and allow it to accumulate, leaving it warm enough that roads cleared quickly which I always appreciate.

And it was a pretty snow. Classic really. Christmas in March snow.

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Well, I’ve been doing this blog for a few years now and have never posted for Garden Bloggers’ Bloom Day. The 15^th of each month garden bloggers tell their readers what is blooming in their gardens (indoors or outdoors). This report from bloggers all over the country (and beyond?) was started by Carol Michel of May Dreams Gardens. Carol is a prolific writer (and a good one) with a Horticulture degree from Purdue, just like me, and she lives right here in Indianapolis. People often wonder if we are twins separated at birth because we are so much alike. Isn’t that so, Carol? Anyway, since this week’s blog falls right on Garden Bloggers’ Bloom Day, I thought it was time to join this pioneer of garden blogging.

So what is blooming at the IMA today?

The witchhazels (Hamamelis species) keep powering on. It has been an incredible year for them. Simply weeks and weeks of good showy bloom. Most witchhazels have some fragrance but it does vary in intensity. You might want to take a walk about and smell the different cultivars to find the one you like best.

Hellebores of course are major perennial players this time of year.

Helleborus foetidus has looked even better than usual for months (thank you mild winter). I like the common name stinking hellebore over the recently promoted bear’s claw hellebore. Truly they do not stink unless you trap yourself in a small room with a bouquet.

That touch of red lipstick is so sexy.

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