Hello to the Natives !

"Berry Bladder" fern or Cystopteris bulbifera  or bulbet fern .. I have planted quite a few of these babies last year. Seeing that intense red stem now at this point in the season is so rewarding !

They practically glow with this colour and what a foil between Spring bulbs and their greenery.

No I did not enhance this photo, I couldn't believe the colour either .. I think the trick is back lighting.

Trillium luteum or yellow trillium is amazing ! It has grappled with cold, drought, and snow in-between within a matter of weeks ? albeit typical of SE Ontario .. it is still remarkable to watch even as a gardener .. I guess that is the point right ? gardeners never get tired of seeing plants not only survive but thrive as well, no matter the circumstances.

Jacob's Ladder , Polemonium reptans "Stairway to Heaven" has such a beautiful pink tinge when it first peeks out in the Spring, and it doesn't stop there .. it will have gorgeous little flowers that draw you in.

Natives are beautiful plants that keep the shade garden so interesting .. especially when you need that something after a long winter. Yes most of them are ephemeral .. but that is their magic !

This part of the garden takes a little longer to wake up, but it is .. waking up !

Ok .. I had to sneek in a few more hellebore, I could not help myself. They have been spectacular this year !

Golden Lotus 

Royal Heritage strain

My gargoyle approves of these gorgeous flowers and when the flowers finish ? the foliage stays fresh and full looking all season, who doesn't love a multi-tasking plant ?

Yes things are still a little bare looking here still  , but once it starts to take off ... it TAKES OFF !

Happy Earth Day !

 This isn't exactly our weather right now, but it will be some time ?  Happy Earth Day in any case !

Oh so CRUEL !!

I know .... Spring is a delicate balance of winter leaving ? and Spring staying ? 

But .... REALLY  ??????????????????????? just before Earth Day ????????????????? 

I have to get it out of my system ?

I know .... ENOUGH of the hellebore already ? .. I can't seem to help myself .. but if you scroll down you can see other non-hellebore parts of the garden waking up.

Keep scrolling !

A little more !

Finally a non-hellebore picture !

The Lamb's Ears are waking up in time for some bad weather Wednesday .. we may have snow/sleet/rain .... heaven knows what else !

The front gardens have lots of daffodils smiling .. I just haven't had a chance to take pictures of them .. I always turn to the privacy of working in the back go figure ? I am a lone wolf gardener ;-)

This lichen lives on a very old piece of driftwood Garden PA brought me from his fishing trip years ago. Now it is home to a different kind of garden, self contained and flourishing ;-)