Poppies

Extravagant floozies of orange and black. Tissue paper petals held fast with black pearls.

Sunday, Mother's Day. I've asked for some shrubs -- I know hard to wrap. And I want to pick these out myself. I need a list to shop with.

Shade shrub ideas

Hydrangea macrophylla – Zones 5-11. Gorgeous ball-shaped clusters of flowers throughout the summer months and attractive winter seedheads make hydrangea shrubs a well-loved garden shrub for mixed borders, perennial beds and other garden situations. Hygrandea cultivars are available from 4-12' tall and with flowers in pink, blue, white or other colors making them a flexible choice for a part-shade garden spot. Hydrangea macrophylla is known as the “big leaf hydrangeas” and they provide large foliage and ornamental flowers in part shade to full shade gardens. See more about Growing Hydrangeas.

Kalmia latifolia – Zones 4-9. Mountain laurel shrubs are beautiful woodland native shrubs that do very well in part shade or dappled shade gardens. Broadleaf evergreen foliage and attractive late spring flowers are part of what this shade loving shrub has to offer a creative bed or border. Mountain Laurels are medium to large shrubs that grow anywhere from 5-15' tall and wide and make an ornamental evergreen backdrop for other perennials, shrubs and annuals. Mountain laurels need well-drained soil and do not perform well in clay soils but do well when given slightly acidic, well-drained and shady garden conditions.

Kerria japonica – Zones 4-9. A versatile shrub that only grows a few feet tall but spreads to 6' or more with dense, twiggy growth, Japanese kerrias are attractive year-round. These shrubs prefer afternoon sun but tolerate nearly full shade making them great choices for a shady border. Japanese kerrias are spring flowering shrubs and variegated forms are now available for season long beauty before the winter kills the foliage and just the architectural structure remains. Japanese kerria shrubs are ornamental flowering shrubs that prefer moderate to fertile soil and shady but well-drained areas.

Read more at Suite101: Flowering Shrubs for Shade: Large Plants for Shady Garden Areas http://shade-loving-plants.suite101.com/article.cfm/flowering_shrubs_for_shade#ixzz0n6NGFtR8

Shrub ideas for the front garden

Herb's Low Dense Yew - Taxus x media 'Herb's Low-Dense'

Zone: 4 H: 3-5' S: 4-8'
One of the best yews we grow. Selected by the late Herbert Trautman. Low spreader that does not winter burn. A good substitute for T. cuspidata 'Nana'.
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Spiced Bouquet™ Koreanspice Viburnum - Viburnum carlesii 'J.N. Select'

Zone: 4 H: 6' S: 7'
Spiced Bouquet™ Viburnum was selected in the late 1980’s by Michael Yanny at Johnson’s Nursery, Inc. This cultivar has a denser growth habit than the typical Viburnum carlesii seedling, as well as a pronounced glossy sheen to the leaves. Other characteristics are typical of the species, including the intense, sweet-spiced flower fragrance.
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Spice Island™ Koreanspice Viburnum - Viburnum carlesii 'J.N. Select A'

Zone: 4 H: 5' S: 6'
Spice Island™ was selected in 2000 at Johnson's Nursery. Inc. from open-pollinated Viburnum carlesii seedlings. It is a compact form which develops much more uniformly during the production process. This cultivar branches better that other Viburnum carlesii 'Compacta' cultivars in the trade, making for considerably fewer one-sided or poor structured plants. Spice Island™ matures at one half to two thirds the size of a typicalViburnum carlesii plant.
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Sugar n' Spice™ Koreanspice Viburnum - Viburnum carlesii 'J.N. Select S'

Zone: 4 H: 8' S: 8'
Sugar n' Spice is a heavy flowering cultivar with the same sweet-spiced, floral fragrance for which the species is known. The flower clusters (cymes) are smaller than average, but are much more plentiful throughout the body of the plant. This plant needs at least six hours of direct sunlight, as well as, rich, moist, well-drained soil to perform at its peak. The plant was selected at Johnson's Nursery, Inc. from open-pollinatedViburnum carlesii seedlings.
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Irish Setter™ Dogwood - Cornus racemosa 'J.N. Red Stem'

Zone: 3 H: 12' S: 12'
Selected from local ecotype seedlings growing at Johnson's Nursery. Irish Setter™ has superior resistance to septoria leaf spot, which is very common on this species. Has a beautiful maroon fall color. In winter, the wood from the previous growing season retains a showy, bright red color. Irish Setter™ suckers at a lower rate than the species.
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Redwing® Viburnum - Viburnum trilobum 'J.N. Select'

Zone: 2 H: 12' S: 12'
Viburnum trilobum ‘J.N. Select’ originated in 1983. It was selected from seedling plants for its showy red growing tips and neat dense habit. Found by plant propagator, Michael Yanny, at Johnson’s Nursery, Inc., ‘J.N. Select’ is a taxonomically correct Viburnum trilobum cultivar as opposed to the many Viburnum opulus plants in the trade being sold under the name of Viburnum trilobum. ‘J.N. Select’ matures at 8-12’ with a similar spread. Three to four inch diameter flat-topped flower clusters appear in mid to late May and are extremely handsome. Clusters of small, bright red fruits remain colorful all winter. The lush, dark green leaves of ‘J.N. Select’ turn a bright red color in the fall. The plant has a medium growth rate. Viburnum crown borer can be a problem when planted in wet soils. The Chicagoland Grows Program has formally introduced Viburnum trilobum‘J.N. Select’ into the horticulture industry. The plant has the trademarked name Redwing™ Viburnum. For growers license contact Angela Treadwell Palmer at Chicagoland Grows, Inc., phone number 1-847-835-8301 ext. 8309 or email at apalmer@chicagobotanic.org.

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Random tulips are blooming but not those that I planted last fall.

Bleeding hearts are blooming.

Little purple and whites are blooming.

A gardening team came over today to clean my garden. Oh, what joy!

Ideas:

More bluebells on the side. 1/2 near sidewalk between first two trees now. They are gone earlier this week.

More crocus -- really big ones.

Ice Follies look great but the garden needs more spring bulbs. Two more rounds of daffs -- very early and later? oranges, deep yellows. something Jazzy for the late daffs. And all around the front until the back yard gate.

Hyicynths with the daffs. Many are out now and look great with the daffs.

April garden

Ice Follies are up and out, looking very much alone right now. The hundred bulbs I planted last fall look sparse spread around the front garden beds. I could use something purple -- hyacinths? wild ones? -- and some oranges -- more narcissus.

We are going to have the garden professionally cleaned and readied for the season. A gift from Indy friends. A great gift because I don't think I could do it myself in a timely manner. Maybe for July.

Crocus

Crocuses are out. I have a few bunches of yellow crocuses in the herb circle in the front garden. I want more!