What's Blooming Now - April 19, 2011 - April's Flowers

Mid-April is a great time to visit White River Gardens!  There are currently a plethora of tulips, daffodils and a host of other bulbs that are in full bloom and dazzling in spring cheer.  This week is a perfect opportunity to get some pictures of our tulip displays in the Knot Gardens, the Belevedere just outside the Hilbert Conservatory exit doors, and the Clowes Water Garden plantings. 
 
Amid the blooming bulbs, there is quite a bit of perennial activity in the Ruth Lily Shade Garden.  Look for native woodland perennials such as Celadine Poppy (Stylophorum diphyllum) and Virginia Blue Bells (Mertensia virginica).  Both of these plants can form beautiful clumps of themselves, but be aware that Celadine Poppy can sometimes be a bit aggressive (notice our beautiful solid mound of it at the south end of the Shade Garden).

Other bloomers include Lungwort ‘High Contrast’ (Pulmoniaria), Bleeding Heart (Dicentra spectabilis), and Siberian Bugloss (Brunnera macrophylla).  These early spring bloomers all appreciate the open tree canopy of spring and the shadier cover during the summer.  
 
We hope the spring the showers will not keep you away as this is one of the most beautiful times of year here at White River Gardens!