Caladiums in summer can't be beat!  I have purchased my bulbs from Florida Boys Caladiums for the past couple of years, and they have a great selection ... it's hard to choose!

The bright yellow flowers of 

Hypericum x inodorum 'Hypearl Compact Red'  have given way to the red fruit which should last through fall for a long season of interest.  I need to add some of these pretty stems to my cut flower arrangements!

Hydrangea quercifolia 'Snowflake' provides interest almost all year with its large leaves, arching conical flower heads with double flowers layered on top of each other, and fall leaf color of crimson or burgundy, not to mention its rich brown exfoliating bark.  Who could ask for anything more from one plant?

 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!

 

Last week we enjoyed a visit from Gaston County Master Gardeners.  One of the women is a potter, and she made these adorable birdhouses for us.  One of them even has a bunny on it!  What a delightful gift for our birds and for MapleWalk!!  

When you plant a bunny, make sure your container is large enough to comfortably accommodate a full grown rabbit!

 (This is "Parsley," our indoor bunny.  She has taken over this planter and ate the plant that was in it, so it's hers now!)