rhododendron time!

what does a shrub full of these look like?


like this!


and one not from my yard (but I love the yellow with purple)


these are in my yard and out of control. They need some serious pruning, but I think that will wait until after they're done blooming.

Wisterious

This wisteria isn't in my yard, but I walk by it almost every day. Before it starts blooming it doesn't look like much -- mostly just thick old vines pulling the support up out of the ground. But once it starts blooming...


supporting structures.


It's beautiful and smells good too!


I think the flowers look similar to sweet peas.

some early may color

This frilly purple rhodie is EXPLODING right now -- I'll try to get a full-shrub shot of it soon.



Close up of the purple rhodie. I love the spotting pattern on this one.



This tulip was almost gone by, but I loved how it looked with the scilla behind it.

still no leopards

The orange oriental poppies are coming along. I love them at this fuzzy stage.



Leopard's Bane aka Arnica (and some weeds, but.... you know how it is.)



close up of the Leopard's Bane. No leopards yet! (I make this joke every year -- I can't help it!!)