The Last Frost of Spring

When I looked out my window last Saturday morning, the freshly blooming spring was coated with a layer of glistening frost. 

Pieris Japonica - an late winter bloomer - seemed unscathed by the frosty touch. 

Solomon Seal and Azaleas pressed on in their glory

My hellebores kept their little heads down as usual as if to say, "Oh dear, here we go again." 

 My Japanese maples were glorious with their glitzy foliage in the early morning light.

Japanese double kerria 

Have you ever wondered how the tulip magnolias got their name? One look gives it away. 

 Kwanzan cherry with virburnam/

 I LOVE this heuchera called 'Electric Lime'

 Erica or Mediterranean heather still blooming after 3 months finally gets usurped by the blooming azaleas.

Fothergilla is a very under-rated 3 season beauty in the garden. 

 This Golden Shadow red twig dogwood is one of my favorites and echoes the colors of the Euphorbia 'Blackbird' blossoms seen the photo below that are about 3 feet away from it.

Chinese Snowball viburnam - blooms again in the fall but is audaciously stunning each spring. 

 Variegated Solomon Seal is almost other-worldly as it rises up from the ground each spring

A freshly frosted tulip 

Muscari

Mable has just about figured out how to get out of our old fence. Peonies ready to bust open.