Bloodgood Japanese maple (Acer palmatum) starts to leaf.

Pretty pink tulips in bloom. Fond reminders of a family trip to the Netherlands last fall.

Clematis begins its winding growth. Transplanted in the fall from a container, it seems to like its new spot. This is the second year for this plant and I think I’m falling in love! 🙂

Bright chartreuse and green leaves of Japanese forest grass (Hakonechloa macra) after a rain.

Pretty pink and purple rhododendron in full bloom. Note the rain barrel in the back. More about that in a coming post.

Husker Red penstemon (Penstemon digitalis) bursting forth. This is one of my favorites. I love the purple/green leaves with red veining. Before too long it will be in bloom.

Hairy stemmed astilbe (Astilbe chinensis) are planted near the Japanese forest grass. But there are other signs of life in my shade garden: pointy tips of hosta emerging, curly coral bell (heuchera) leaves, rosy colored  tips of Solomon seal (polygonatum biflorum), lemon-lime creeping Jenny (lysimachia nummularia), and soon, ferns, glorious elegant ferns.

The great seed planting experiment shows signs of life: cool season greens and brocolli.

Spring rainfall, cool night time temperatures and warmer days make possible all of the above.