I love Spring even though the weather is like a seesaw and I’m so busy designing and working in other people’s gardens that mine is full of weeds and the back driveway is full of plants that need to be planted. That’s why you haven’t heard from me in two weeks.

Myosotis sylvatica, Centaurea ‘Amethyst in Snow’, Lysimachia nummularia ‘Aurea’, Heuchera ‘Southern Comfort’

In the meantime, there has been a progression of bloom in my garden that makes me happy to wake up every morning. During the first week of May, the tiny blue flowers of  Forget-Me-Not, Myosotis sylvatica, started blooming. It has seeded at the front of my back beds and looks lovely for about a month. When it starts looking ratty, I just pull it out but happily, by that time, it has reseeded for next year.

Pink and cream tulips with Phlox subulata and white Scilla hispanica

I thought the deer were eating all my tulips but they have actually been glorious this year. I favor shades of pink and purple that echo the color of my Creeping Phlox (Phlox subulata). In bright contrast are the chartreuse flowers of Spurge (Euphorbia polychroma). No one walks past them without asking me what they are.

Iris cristata ‘Eco Orchid Giant’ (front) and ‘Powder Blue Giant’ (back)

My clumps of Crested Iris (Iris cristata) are slowly increasing and they were beautiful this year. Even though they are only in bloom for a few days, I love the short, wide, upright foliage. They grow on the dry edge of a slightly shaded bed.

Geum ‘Mango Lassi’

I happen to love the species Geum. It has now been hybridized for longer lasting flowers and excellent seedheads. Two of my favorites are ‘Mango Lassi’ – sounds good enough to drink – and ‘Firestorm’. Their apricot and bright orange flowers really spice up the garden.

Paeonia suffruticosa ‘Shimanishiki’

I have one tree peony, Paeonia suffruticosa ‘Simanishiki’ and she is a beauty. In the garden for eight years, the number of gorgeous bi-colored, huge blooms increases each year.

Smilacina racemosa, budded

Smilacina racemosa in full bloom

Smilacina racemosa berries in late August

Smilacina racemosa berries in late November

In my shady garden, I love to watch the evolution of False Solomon’s Seal (Smilacina racemosa). First it foliates; then the leaves unfurl; next the creamy white blossoms start to open; and finally the stems arch and the flowers are a bit fuller. Later in the summer, there will be pink berries that finally become red.

You, too, could wake each morning, just waiting to see what is happening in your garden. There should be something new at least every week, if not every day. That’s the true meaning of a twelve month garden.