A Heart-Filled Vase

Happy vase day! For this week's collection, I knew I had to include some "hearts."



First, I included the heart-shaped foliage of Red Barrenwort (Epimedium x rubrum). The foliage is as exciting as the flowers (which I didn't include this time).



Next, Virginia Waterleaf (Hydrophyllum virginianum) is another plant with amazing foliage. In this case, I think the mottled leaves and their deeply lobed structure are even more visually appealing than the flowers (they're not blooming yet). In this arrangement, the leaves complement the foliage of the next plant.



Bleeding Hearts (Lamprocapnos spectabilis): They're at peak bloom now, they're excellent cut flowers, and they have a decent vase life. Definitely a favorite--in the garden and in a vase!



It's a good year for Wood Violets (Viola sororia). I'm letting them naturalize more than in the past: Why discourage beautiful, native ground covers?



It took a while for the native Chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa) to settle in to the garden, but it's really coming into its own now. It's been a great fall foliage replacement for the invasive Burning Bush (Euonymus alatus) we removed about 10 years ago. And now plentiful spring flowers are adding to the magic! A Chokeberry sprig with a couple of flower clusters added a nice central focal point to the vase.



Finally, the photo at the top of this post doesn't include this last element, but I thought the arrangement needed a "spike" of some sort. So I cut a sprig of budding Korean Lilac (Syringa meyeri).

What a joy to have so many options for cut flowers again! I hope spring is in full swing in your garden, too. For more vases from gardens around the world, visit Cathy's "In a Vase on Monday" meme at Rambling in the Garden.

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On Tuesday, May 5, our book, "A Journey of Seasonal Wisdom," will be released as a paperback, and available on Amazon! It's also available in ebook format.

Fellow blogger, Donna Donabella, and I co-wrote the book, and its readers are truly part of the story. Take a journey with us through the seasons, week by week. We're both so thrilled our collaborative effort of several years is now a finished product! Visit Golden Dragonfly Press to learn more!

An Ode to the Trilliums

Trillium recurvatum

Trillium grandiflorum

Trillium erectum

And Now It's 'Real' Spring

Many of us who live in climates featuring extreme seasonal swings often joke about the many "seasons" of spring--from fake spring, to "spring of deception," to real spring. I think we've made it to the last stage. We'll still be cold a few times in the next few weeks, but I'm officially packing away the parka and the snow boots.

And the garden is signaling it's time to move on and grow!



The stars of area gardens right now are the Crabapples (Malus spp.). They seem to suddenly explode with lush flowers and intoxicating scents.

A few blooms of various Hellebores still hang on--especially those in colder, shadier areas.

The Mayapples (Podophyllum peltatum) in the woodland resemble a convention of umbrellas. As they flatten out in the next few days, apparently that's a sign it's time to hunt for Morel mushrooms.



Virginia Bluebells (Mertensia virginica)...sigh...I wish they could bloom all summer. Their time is too fleeting.



Same with the Bleeding Hearts (Lamprocapnos spectabilis). They're great companions for the Virginia Bluebells, as shown in the top photo.

Finally, for this "Six on Saturday," I'm including a nod to the Barrenworts, in this case, Epimedium x warleyense. I have several Barrenwort varieties, but this one seems particularly happy with the garden's conditions.

That's it for this week for my "Six on Saturday," a meme hosted by Jim at Garden Ruminations. Head on over to his wonderful blog to visit gardens around the world.

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Our book, "A Journey of Seasonal Wisdom," is now available in ebook format, internationally, on Amazon!

Fellow blogger, Donna Donabella, and I co-wrote the book, and its readers are truly part of the story. The paperback will be out next week! We're both so thrilled: Our collaborative effort of several years is now a finished product. Visit Golden Dragonfly Press or my previous post to learn more!

A Special Announcement on This Earth Day!

Happy Earth Day!

As spring unfolds, nature and gardens awaken, and change happens fast! Earth Day celebrates our place in nature. Its mission is to broaden, educate, and activate the environmental movement, worldwide. On this date, 56 years ago, the first official Earth Day was celebrated.

And on this Earth Day, we have a special personal announcement to share. My friend and talented poet, Donna Donabella at Gardens Eye View, and I are celebrating the launch of our book: "A Journey of Seasonal Wisdom." The book includes Donna's amazing poetry, a unique book format we co-created and co-wrote (encouraging readers to contemplate the seasons, week by week), and prose I added to round out the prompts.

This little book is for its readers--gardeners, bloggers, family, friends, neighbors, fellow humans. The book encourages simple joy and reflection. And it's a labor of love.

Visit this link to learn more: Golden Dragonfly Press. The book will be available on Amazon in e-book format first; then in paperback format in late April. I think you'll want a copy, because you're part of the story!

(Here's information about Earth Day and its beginnings, including the original vision and efforts of Senator Gaylord Nelson, from Wisconsin.)