What's Blooming Now - May 4, 2011
The May Bloomers

Although our hyacinths have long faded and our daffodils and tulips are not far behind, there is plenty of new beauty popping up around White River Gardens.  This in-between time ,as we anxiously await our annual orders to arrive, is great time to visit the Gardens and enjoy the plants at the forefront of our main growing season. 

The Virginia Fairbanks Sun Garden is currently displaying one of our favorite late bulb bloomers, Camassia or Wild Hyacinth.   Both the light blue Camassia cusickii and the dark purple/blue Camassia quamash are sending their blooms up through the ever growing perennial foliage surrounding them.

As you enter the Sun Garden you will also notice Double-File Viburnum ‘Mariesii’ (Viburnum plicatum tomentosum) and Hawthorn ‘Winter King’ (Crataegus viridis).  Both of these woody plants are sporting white flowers and are manageable plants for the home landscape.  The pergolas along the Sun Garden stream and Polly Hix Idea Gardens are still displaying the beautiful and fragrant light purple Wisteria blooms.  Wisteria is a beautiful, large vine that can grow aggressively if not pruned hard on occasion. 

The peony flower is a favorite for many and there are several groupings in the Heritage Garden that are almost ready to bloom.  However, the earlier blooming Tree Peony (Paeonia suffruticosa) is just as beautiful if not more.  There is one in the Herb Society Sunken Garden as well as two in the Heritage Garden.  These peonies grow on woody stems and can reach five feet in height.  Not to mention their blooms are large and gorgeous!

The Ruth Lilly Shade Garden is displaying the often unnoticed Mourning Widow Geranium (Geranium phaeum) as well as another late blooming bulb, the Wood Hyacinth (Hyacinthoides).  Both plants are great late spring additions to the woodland garden.  Another type of hardy geranium, Geranium macrorrhizum or Cranesbill Geranium, is blooming just above your heads under a canopy of trees as you walk the path by the Clowes Water Gardens nearest to the Sun Garden. 

You will also notice both alpine and wild columbine throughout White River Gardens.  Alpine Columbine (Aquilegia alpinus) stands out more with its large blue blooms, but Wild Columbine (Aquilegia canadensis) can be just as pretty with its daintier, pinky red blooms. 

Please join us in White River Gardens and enjoy these forerunners to the summer season!