More deciduous azaleas ...

Rhododendron canescens x alabamense 'Darlin's Dream'

Spring is the time for my favorite deciduous azaleas to bloom.  Be still my heart ...

Rhododendron 'Margaret Burrell'

 The new growth of Pieris japonica 'Flaming Silver' is red on this broadleaf evergreen shrub.  The red will change to green as the leaves mature.

 What a special gift of this Arisaema sikokianum (Japanese Jack-in-the- Pulpit) from Dr. Larry Mellichamp I received last year!  I was thrilled to have two blooms this year!  It is stunning!!

Our hellebores are about to drop seed.  In some areas, I will let the seeds drop, but in other areas I will cut the bloom stems because I don't want any more hellebore babies!

 

My first bloom from the little wildflower Dodecatheon meadia "Alba" (Shooting Star).  The name comes from the reflexed shuttlecock-like flowers and "shooting" stamens.

It's quite fertile around here ...

Our bluebirds have their first nesting in our backyard.

And, we have two nestings of nuthatches:  one in our backyard and one in our front yard.  

There are babies in all of the boxes as I hear lots of "peeping" going on!