I'm still in my first year at my new-to-me-home, and the garden was nearly a blank slate when we moved in. So there's not been much blooming. But I wanted to join in the Garden Bloggers Bloom Day (sponsored each month by May Dreams Gardens), so I prowled around the yard and managed to find a few things in bloom.

One of the things I was happiest to inherit in my new garden was a pink dogwood (Cornus florida var. 'Rubra'), shown here and above. Isn't it pretty?

Another pink blooming thing we inherited is this mature "Wine & Roses" weigela (Weigela florida 'Alexandra') that was along the side of the house. I tend to be fickle with the weigelas--I see them in other people's gardens and love them but never make space for them in mine. But this one is staying, albeit in a new location, and even inspired the color of our front door.

Another surprise in the new garden is a small patch of Spanish Bluebells (Hyacinthoides hispanica). They're getting a little tattered now, but they were a welcome bit of color as I have no other bulbs planted yet.

Yet another previous resident of my garden is a sizeable patch of Lithodora (Lithodora diffusa). I have to say, despite the bright blue flowers, I'm not a huge fan. Anyone want a bunch of it?

Interestingly, one of the plants that I really wanted to bring from the other house but couldn't without leaving a gaping hole was a Japanese Snowball Bush (Viburnum opulus). As luck would have it, I have one at my new place, and it had several stem rootings going, so now I have a half-dozen. I know they only have this one show, but I just love them. I don't know which variety it is--we'll see if it produces berries or not.

I did bring quite a few plants with me, including several large container plantings. This one is overflowing with one of my favorite groundcovers, Lesser Periwinkle (Vinca minor). I don't care how common it is--I love it's draping habit, evergreen foliage and those pretty purple flowers every single Spring.

I've also installed some new plantings, particularly some foundation and "backbone" plantings in the front garden, like David Viburnum (Viburnum davidii), seen here in flower. This hardworking evergreen subshrub gets a bad rap for its extreme overuse in too-sunny parking lots and commercial landscapes, but in the right location it can add a wonderful backdrop and interest with it's large, distinctly patterned leaves.

So that's what's blooming in my garden at the moment. Hopefully as the summer wears on and more plants find their way into permanent homes I'll have more to show. But for now, I applaud all these pedestrian plants for creating a lush backdrop for the flowers yet to come.

How about you? What's blooming in your garden?

Prunus serrulata "Kwanzan"

Of all the flowering trees, none is as romantic as the ornamental cherry "Kwanzan," (Prunus serrulata "Kwanzan"). Like many cherries, it has a lovely, graceful vase-shape form, attractive bark and good fall color, but is best known for its stunning display of showy, double pink flowers that envelop the tree in late Spring, covering the tree in what look like tiny floral dresses. After flowering is another spectacular show as millions of petals shower down from the trees in a pink, whisper-soft snowfall.

I’ll never forget the first time I saw this breathtaking tree in flower. I had rented my first ever house and knew nothing about the two trees out front except that they were enormous, nearly fifty feet tall. A friend identified them as flowering cherries, so as the rest of the neighborhood trees bloomed, I waited and waited. By the end of April, when other trees were finished and leaves began to appear, I gave up on having flowering trees.

A few warm days later, as I drove up the road to the house, I nearly wrecked my car. The two trees, which I now know were two of the largest "Kwanzan" I had ever seen, had bloomed in entirety, creating a canopy of pink frills. Later, when the bloom was finished and the snowfall of petals covered the yard in pink, I spent the entire weekend watching this unbelievable, straight-from-a-fairytale show, waiting for the elvish lady or medieval princess that was sure to appear at any moment. Those trees won my heart that year and I have loved them ever since.

Details

• USDA Zone: 5-9
• Mature Height: 30'-40'
• Mature Spread: 30'-40'
• Bloom Time: late Spring
• Fruit: None
• Habit: Vase-shaped with spreading, rounded crown.
• Growth rate: Medium
• Exposure: Full sun
• Soil: Tolerant of many soils, but prefers moist, well-drained soil
• Water: Somewhat drought tolerant; should not need supplemental water once established

Though the "Kwanzan" has a reputation for being easily stressed, relatively short lived and susceptible to disease, its spectacular show makes it worth these possible limitations. Crowns of this tree are very similar, making it an excellent candidate for lining walks or drives. It is also an excellent specimen tree and can be planted in containers or used for Bonsai. "Kwanzan" flowering cherry blooms in late Spring, up to two weeks later than other cherries. New leaves are bronze colored, then turn to dark green for the summer and yellow to copper in fall.

It's official! Spring is in the air here in the Pacific Northwest! The daffodils are blooming. The primroses are fluffy. But the most telling? The rain has changed from winter's misty grey drizzle to the powerful Spring deluge. I love listening to it, especially now that it's just (barely) warm enough to open the windows in the afternoon.

I'm always excited this time of year, waiting for those summer gardens. I love Spring. I love Fall, too. I don't know if I could choose one over the other. And I'm partial to Summer as well, though I could live without the dog days of July and August. When winter comes, I'm usually well finished with sunshine and looking forward to the holidays, cozy fires and cocoa. So I guess I love them all. I don't think I could pick just one.

But at the moment, I'm really excited about Spring!

What about you? Do you have a favorite season?

Even with Easter just around the corner, Spring doesn't seem to be arriving soon enough. I do enjoy winter gardens, but about now I start to feel like I've been holding my breath for the last few months. So I'm daydreaming (or planning) my garden, looking through last year's photos to try and remember what it was I wanted to do differently or the same.

This particular border at my last house was such a lovely surprise. It was primarily passalong and swap plants, and not my usual classic pink and blue cottage garden color scheme. But I loved how it turned out and I ended up continuing the theme for the entire border. And I love the birdcage, too. Nothing says cottage style like birdhouses and birdcages, right?

I'd like to play with this color palette at the new place, although it will most certainly evolve. But I am glad I rediscovered these photos. Sometimes trying a completely different color palette leads to fabulous results. Of course, sometimes it can be a disaster. Sometimes doing something different is freeing and liberating. Sometimes trying too hard to be different makes a huge mess.

So how are you going to plan your summer garden? Meticulously? With the tried-and-true? Freewheeling? Going for the experimental? Or maybe no planning at all?

Seriously, I want to know.

Like all of you, sometimes I have a hard time figuring out why something isn't working. Though I never lack for opinions on other people's spaces, often in my own home & garden I have to feel my way toward the solution. Case in point: the entry arbor from the English-style cottage garden in front of my old house. It took me three tries before I got it right.

Arbor #1
I chose the first arbor because it was white, wood and cheap ($110 on sale). Unfortunately, the minute I installed it I knew it was wrong. The flattish arch clashed with the home's round-arched entry. The diagonal lattice seemed too busy against the other elements. Worst of all, the too-short arbor made the entrance feel claustrophobic. Feeling guilty, I lived with it for two years before I gave it away. When I removed it, the garden seemed to breathe again. Unfortunately, I misunderstood why.

Arbor #2
Thinking that the claustrophobic feeling was from the first arbor's bulkiness, I next chose an airy wrought-iron "look" bought on clearance for $35. It was taller and featured a round arch and square lattice. But it didn't work. Next to the bold white picket fence, it felt wimpy and lackluster rather than welcoming. After a year, I moved it to the entrance to the side yard, where its "barely there" quality is an asset, providing support for climbing vines without demanding attention.

Arbor #3
Finally, I got it right. Though this arbor was the most expensive, even on clearance ($133.50 down from $350.00), it was worth it. This arbor works for several reasons, the most dramatic of which I hadn't anticipated. I knew the square lattice and nice, tall (almost 7') round top would work. But I didn't realize it would make the yard feel both bigger and cozier. Since it is the same style, scale and material as the picket fence, it visually connects them, making one unbroken line. Now the two halves of the yard feel like one (bigger), but also completely enclosed (cozier).

I never would have guessed such a simple thing would make such a big difference. I knew it wasn't right before, and I knew that when I got it right it would be better, but the profound way completely changed the feeling in the garden surprised me. It was one of those "a ha" moments that I hope to take with me into all of my new spaces.

What about you? What's the best "happy accident," or unexpected benefit you've ever stumbled upon when designing a room or garden space?