GBBD April Flowers in Pennsylvania, Zone 5

The Circle Lawn on April 15th, 2012.

 Welcome to GBBD April at Gilmore Gardens in Pennsylvania, Zone 5!

Our garden is still a month ahead of where it normally is in spring.  It looks much more like May from last year than April.  We are located on a corner lot in our little town, so we have lots of passersby with which to share our spring celebration. Our location contains gardens in shade, semi-shade and lots of full sun. See the map of Gilmore Gardens to link these areas together in your mind as you look around.

Polemonium reptans 'Touch of Class'...

is a wonderful new Jacob's Ladder hybrid that I added to my Shade Path garden last fall. 

It's main attraction is its white-rimmed leaves, though its blooms are dainty and attractive also.

I like having it sited in the area of this garden that has white highlights. The white stripped hosta...

and the white bleeding hearts (Dicentra spectabilis alba) help its coloring to stand out to my eye. 
It will go dormant for the heat of the summer, but a few large foxglove (Digitalis purpurea) or hosta will cover it up in no time.

It's flowers are rather smaller than the common Jacob's Ladder (see it on the Shade Path also).

Perhaps you would enjoy giving it a try this year too!
See more of the Shade Path and its June succession of foxgloves.

Shade Path ~ First Week of May 2011

Completing our series for the First Week of May...

A few nice views of our Shade Path, which is really just beginning to fill out with its fluff of forget-me-nots and hosta leaves.  Above is Narcissus 'Thalia' in front of our Anemone blanda 'Blue Shades'.

   Hydrangea petiolaris going up the maple tree... N. 'Thalia' dancing over our un-named Epimedium... Japanese forest grass just coming up in its chartreuse tufts...

The first signs of Cornus florida blooms (left)... And the Dicentra alba also dancing on the wind by the white-streaked hostas (right).

Pretty and fragrant N.'Thalia' surrounded by the sprouts of the perennial yellow foxglove, Digitalis grandiflora.

First blooms of the wood spurge, Euphorbia amygdaloides.

And one of my favorites almost here! Our double, white lilac (Syringa hyb.)

I will be trying to keep up with our current views as a way of journaling through the growing season this year.  Hope you enjoy reading along! Let me know what you like! 

See the whole series for the First Week of May:

Driveway Garden

Hill Garden

Trellis for New Heights

Cherry Corner Garden

Shade Path