| In the spring, while trees and shrubs are still showing | | | | flowers include poppy and peony and lupine. |
| their pale green new growth, the early border | | | | Though there are many early blooming garden plants, |
| generally consists of colorful bulbs and a few early | | | | green is still the dominant color in the spring landscape |
| blooming perennials against a backdrop of green | | | | so choose a few plants with interesting foliage. Hosta |
| foliage and brown earth. Spring bulbs are perhaps the | | | | grows in many shades of green including blue-green |
| most important flower in the early spring garden. | | | | and gold-green. Hosta forms the perfect backdrop |
| Spring bulbs, a welcome sight after a long winter, | | | | for spring flowers. Evergreens provide the garden |
| offer the earliest blooms of all garden flowers. Some | | | | with beautiful shades of green year-round. Variegated |
| bulbs will last until the early perennials begin to bloom | | | | foliage, like that of the emerald and gold euonymus, |
| in May and June. | | | | brightens up the garden with a mix of light and dark |
| There are also some early blooming shrubs which can | | | | colors. |
| provide the garden with colorful flowers. Forsythia | | | | Spring bulbs, such as tulips, daffodils, blue bells and |
| and witch-hazel, for example, bloom long before | | | | crocuses, are planted in the fall and blooms as early |
| many perennials even begin to emerge from the soil. | | | | as March. Bulbs are a very versatile flower as they're |
| In fact, in the middle of spring and early summer | | | | suitable for the perennial garden, the shrub bed or |
| there are more shrubs and trees in bloom than at | | | | even for planting in the lawn. They're most effective |
| any other time of year. | | | | when planted in masses so plant quite a few in each |
| Most early blooming perennials are quite suitable for | | | | area. |
| the shade garden. They're able to take advantage of | | | | Early blooming perennials are generally short lived and |
| the sun while it still reaches the ground beneath | | | | often quickly lose their lush green foliage (poppies |
| deciduous trees which have yet to form their leaves. | | | | & lupine in particular). Plan your flower garden so |
| Woodland gardens are often the most colorful | | | | that annuals and later season perennials are ready to |
| landscapes in the spring since many native, shade | | | | take over and provide the garden with colorful |
| tolerant flowers bloom early in the season. | | | | blooms. Be sure to deadhead the perennials as the |
| A great early blooming perennial for the garden is iris | | | | flowers fade. Deadheading is the process of snipping |
| which ranges in color from white to purple and in size | | | | spent blooms off a plant. |
| from a few inches to 4 feet. Bleeding heart is a short | | | | Designing your garden on paper before digging gives |
| lived yet stunning pink blooming perennial which is at | | | | you a helpful guide while you plant. Though early |
| home in both the shade garden the woodland garden. | | | | flowers are welcoming sure signs of spring, be sure |
| Columbine, an easy to grow perennial, blooms in a | | | | to incorporate all kind of flowers in the garden so |
| variety of colors. Some of the showiest early season | | | | there's continuous bloom from spring to fall. |