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Saturday
Apr182015

April Showers and the Garden

As I walk in the garden, my feet leave imprints in the sodden soil. Moisture drips from leaves and flowers.A rose leaf is bejeweled with raindrops.A spray of water soaks me when I brush against a branch. My friends and I warn one another to not complain about the weeks of rain; for in July, when the fierce summer sun becomes oppressive, we will be begging for rain. Let the plants soak it up, let the earth store it up, let the streams and lakes and rivers be filled with it; let us all rejoice in it now.Columbine grows in the front garden next to purple sage.

I am enjoying April. It is a beautiful month in the garden, saturated with colors, and even the rain cannot take away the glory of Japanese maples, azaleas, dogwoods, magnolias and camelias.

Some April blooms, clockwise from top left: Apple blossoms; Unknown camellia, planted in 1983; Scabiosa 'Butterfly Blue'; Erigeron, a wild aster also called fleabane

In the woodland garden I have a new bridge! I thought to replace the old wooden one, which had become infested with termites, with one crafted of iron. But then I found the very same bridge kit at half the price I originally paid. I couldn't resist! We treated it with linseed oil, meticulously caulked all the joints, and painted it with a high grade solid stain in hopes of deterring termites. The color is a bit different from the original one, and there is a new companion to the bridge. Do you see him?The little fox was a Christmas present from Lou. I called the old bridge my squirrel crossing, but this one will be for the foxes.

Here are more images taken in the April woodland garden:In the front are Autumn fern, epimedium, spreading yew and 'Waterfall' Japanese maple. Toward the back you can glimpse the new fern glade.

I place a number of potted tropical plants in the woodland garden for the summer, including Stromanthe tricolor in the left image and on the right in the middle: Bird's Nest Fern, variegated fig and Dracaena marginata. In the foreground of both images is the evergreen Distylium

Above, Upper left and right: Uvularia, also called merry bells; Lower left: native columbine; lower right: Heucherella 'Alabama sunrise.'

I like to walk in the garden in late afternoon. After a day of rain, I took the following photos as the sun was setting:

Blessings to you all!     Deb

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Reader Comments (22)

Gorgeous images, as always! We are telling ourselves the same thing about the rain here - and more forecasted through Monday. Oh, we are fickle about our weather here in the South, aren't we? Always hoping for the opposite of what we have!

April 18, 2015 | Unregistered CommenterChristii

Your woodland garden is so beautiful Deb, such a delight with all the different colours of foliage and your pretty flowers, love your first Aquiligia. I'm sure your fox is very happy by your new bridge, he certainly has a wonderful home!

April 18, 2015 | Unregistered CommenterPauline

It's always so beautiful in your garden Deb. And I know that when I see it here I can look forward to seeming some of those plants blooming around here...much later of course, but it's still beautiful to see.

Love your bridge...I would dearly love to have one in our dry stream bed also.

Jen

April 18, 2015 | Unregistered CommenterJen @ The Light Laughed

Beautiful sky/cloud photos!

I like your foxy bridge :)

April 18, 2015 | Unregistered CommenterAaron Dalton

Beautiful colours, garden and sky! Your garden is looking wonderful as always Debs!

April 18, 2015 | Unregistered CommenterMark and Gaz

Love all the photos especially those with the red maples. What a deal on your little bridge. Poppie and I were sitting on his back porch not too long before he passed and a fox came streaking across the yard in front of us (I hope I haven't told this story before). I was just stunned because we hadn't seen a fox out here in probably ten years. My memory is not the best but the streaking fox is one I don't think I'll forget. Wish we could get more rain...

April 18, 2015 | Unregistered CommenterLinda Jones

Such lovely images in this post Deb! I love the leaf edged with raindrops and the perfectly round water droplets on the pink columbine. Best of all are the long shots. How glorious it all looks with the rain you've had. The new bridge fits in where the old one left off and I like the foxy addition.

April 18, 2015 | Unregistered CommenterJennifer

Oh how lovely to see your raindrop splashed plants. If only we were getting some of that lovely liquid sunshine here! As usual, I had to scroll up and down several times to enjoy your photos. There's so much to enjoy. I just adore the colours in the Maples, Azaleas, Dogwoods, Magnolias and Camellias. Not plants I get to see in real life.

I love the new bridge too. Great colours.

April 18, 2015 | Unregistered CommenterBernieh

Your garden, complete with the spring rain, fits my dream of what a garden should look like. I obviously live on the wrong side of the country! The droplets of rain hanging from the Columbine almost makes me want to cry - you should definitely treasure every drop. There's a 30% chance of light rain here next week - fingers are crossed!

April 18, 2015 | Unregistered CommenterKris P

April in your garden and especially your woodland is magical. I feel as you do about the rain in spring, too soon it will be so hot and the plants and I will be begging for some rain so I can accept it now although actually we have had little rain so far this April. Have a lovely week Debbie.

April 19, 2015 | Unregistered CommenterChristina

Magical...

April 19, 2015 | Unregistered CommenterDenise

So pretty! I miss seeing some of those plants here up north, like the azaleas and camellias. I'm glad you found the same bridge kit - I just adore that little wooden bridge! I hope the termites don't find this one, and it lasts a long time!

April 19, 2015 | Unregistered CommenterIndie

It's glorious to see all those flowers blooming in your garden. I especially love the pink columbines.

April 19, 2015 | Unregistered CommenterJean

I really like your new bridge. The rain always makes a garden so fresh and the colors pop. Your garden with all the Japanese maples, azaleas, dogwoods, magnolias and camellias just rocks springtime. You captured those raindrops perfectly in your gorgeous photos.

April 19, 2015 | Unregistered CommenterDonna

Oh, it all looks so misty and healthy! Your photo looking back into the woods is so magical ... actually all the views are gorgeous!

April 19, 2015 | Unregistered CommenterBeth @ PlantPostings

Hi Deb! It is raining quite a bit , isn't it? You are totally right about not complaining though, take what comes! I love the new bridge and the the colour you painted it, your garden in always looking great!

April 20, 2015 | Unregistered CommenterAlberto

Deb, I don't do jealous, however I really, really admire your fabulous large garden. So much to see and as for the woodland, well it speaks for itself. Have a great gardening season, rain or shine. Alistair

April 20, 2015 | Unregistered CommenterAlistair

Deb I really enjoyed seeing all the blooms including the native wildflowers...everything covered in water looking refreshed....so lovely.

April 20, 2015 | Unregistered CommenterDonna@Gardens Eye View

Deb, that last series of the sky is really something, and I love that photo with the brilliant red shrub shining all lit up by the setting sun.

April 21, 2015 | Unregistered Commentercatmint

Beautiful Deb, your garden always inspires.

April 25, 2015 | Unregistered CommenterKaren

Of course autumn is gorgeous, but April is a different riot of color. The grass is so green it makes your eyes hurt, and every tree is in bloom, while daffodils and tulips bloom at their feet. It's a beautiful time of year.

April 26, 2015 | Unregistered CommenterRobinL

Congratulations on your new bridge.
I can't imagine your garden without its iconic bridge!

May 3, 2015 | Unregistered CommenterDiana Studer

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