Here’s a close up of what’s blooming and coming up in my yard. I took these photos over the weekend, before we were hit with high winds and lots of rain.
A newcomer to the garden, I love the “freckles” on this guy.
Bloodgood Japanese Maple was the centerpiece of my gardens and the first specimen I planted in 2012. In fact, it was the first tree I had ever planted. During spring the leaves seem to change color daily.
I can’t wait to watch one of the new additions to the garden–lady’s mantle. This is one of the plants I am obsessed with this year.
I am glad to see this shrub blooming. I see azaleas all over St. Louis and really like them, but have a hard time growing them. I plan to move my azaleas to a new location this fall in the hopes that a new spot will be better
I moved my Frances William hostas because they were getting too much sun. The new spot has morning sun and afternoon shade. I love the way this plant unfolds as it comes out of the ground
The rhododendron got the worst of the winter and suffered lots of leaf scorch. It’s blooms are beautiful though.
This silver mound is vigorous and hardy and is a wonderful ground cover at the edge of the patio bed. Notice how the water droplets magnify on artemisia’s feathery leaves.
The Arch City Gardener 
May 2, 2014 at 9:43 pm
Interested that you are so taken with ladies matle. It’s a good plant, but what do you find so intriguing about it?
May 2, 2014 at 10:58 pm
I am intrigued with the color and texture of the foliage. I like contrast in the garden, not just with shape but with texture and color. I read one of your posts where you mentioned that you’re not much of a foliage guy, that you like flowers. I do like foliage because it provides the eye a “rest” among all the flowers. I am more attracted to the grayish-green, fuzzy foliage of this plant (and it’s leaf shape) than I am to its flowers. Don’t get me wrong though…I love, love, love flowers