Hi GPODers!
Spring arrived on our calendars a couple of months ago, but spring arrives in our gardens at all different times. For some of us spring starts showing its color at the very start of the year, while others are just starting to see their most vibrant displays emerge. For Marty Whalen in Backus, Minnesota (Zone 4) spring color really came to life this month. Marty first shared some spectacular blooms from her northern garden a couple of years ago (Marty’s Minnesota Garden), and today she returns to share some pastel blooms from May.
My garden is in northern Minnesota. I have been creating this for 28 years. Here are a few things blooming now in May.
Marty has a superb selection of spring bulbs, which finally made their grand entrance this month. These ‘Tahiti’ double daffodil (Narcissus ‘Tahiti’, Zones 4–8) are a ruffled delight.
Ephemerals are also excellent for early season color, and Marty’s ‘Pagoda’ trout lily (Erythronium ‘Pagoda’, Zones 4–9) adds more pops of yellow to her landscape.
For some glowing white blooms, ‘Lingerie’ daffodils (Narcissus ‘Lingerie’, Zones 4–8) also delectably double blooms.
Many tulips will not make repeat appearances in Martys Zone 4 garden, but ‘Pink Impression’ tulip (Tulipa ‘Pink Impression’, Zones 3–8) is made of tougher stuff. This vigorous bloomer will also mature into a brighter pink as the blooms unfurl.
‘Candy Princess’ (Narcissus ‘Candy Princess’, Zones 3–8) is another double daffodil with serious star power. These look orange in this photo, but in real life they are a delicious shade of salmon pink.
I absolutely adore Marty’s selection of out-of-the-norm bulbs. Classic grape hyacinth (Muscari armeniacum, Zones 4–8) are always beautiful clusters of purple, but the white variety (Muscari botryoides ‘Album’, Zones 4–8)—also known as white pearls of Spain—will make you do a double take.
For a lovely, buttery color and outstanding fragrance, primroses cannot be beat.
Lastly, Marty shows off how ‘Candy Princess’ daffodils and ‘Pink Impression’ tulip make for an incredible combination.
Thank you so much for sharing these gorgeous blooms with us, Marty! It is lovely to see the spring color your garden has produced this month.
What spring color are you enjoying in your garden this month? We would love to see what is blooming and about to bloom in your landscape. Follow the directions below to submit your photos to Garden Photo of the Day!
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