A Flower Quiz and Haiku

April flowers in our gardens

Can you name the April flowers (one is not a flower) blooming in our gardens?

You will find the answers below my April Flowers Haiku.

Tissue paper shapes.

Colors unfold from cold earth,

fragile, hardy hope.

Answers: (left to right, top: pansy, double blooming daffodil, strawberry blossom, hyacinth, tulip; middle:  miniature iris, azalea; bottom: alba reptans ground cover, sweet woodruff,  African violet,  vinca ground cover and royal fern)

Our Hyacinths Give a Fragrant Welcome

hyacinth

Blue, peach, white and purple hyacinths are in full bloom again under our Bradford Pear tree in the front yard.   They give a fragrant greeting to everyone who comes to our home.  The hardy clusters of waxy star-like flowers stay through April.  Even their long green leaves brighten up our lawn-free front yard in May, after the hyacinth flower is gone and before the ground covers spread.  I don’t clip the green leaves until they turn brown because the leaves absorb the sunlight, giving the underground hyacinth bulbs nourishing sunshine to store up for next years’ flowers.   Hyacinth bulbs typically only bloom for a couple of seasons then need to be replaced.  This is our hyacinths’ fourth spring season!