Sunrise Spring Garden Tour

Dear Readers! 

Well, it's official! Spring has finally made it to the Midwest! It sure was a long, cold winter but it does make one appreciate spring time all the more! About a week ago, I got up really early and visited this wonderful, historic manor that we have in our community. In fact, it's not too far away from our home. It is such a splendid place to go for a walk and be inspired! 

On this cool, spring morning, I wanted to capture some of the lovely trees and flowers that were in bloom. I have always dreamed of having a seasonal garden where a variety of different plants are blooming according to their season so that my garden is always alive with color. After a few years, I think I have finally tackled the summer garden. Now I need to work backwards to spring! So come along with me! I will stop along the way to share some information about the plants just in case you wish to start your own springtime garden as well! 

This white beauty is a type of magnolia tree. I believe it is called the magnolia star! It is a perfect bridal white and looks like something out of a storybook when it's all in bloom. The best place to start when trying to figure out if a tree or perennial will work best in your garden is to consult a plant hardiness zone map. This will tell you what zone you live in. Most trees and perennials come with a tag that explains how to care for it in your particular zone if in fact it will flourish there. Magnolias are great in zones 7-9 because they love the moist, rich soil. However, different varieties are known to grow even further north. Be sure to keep your young tree well watered. As the tree matures, it is also important to keep it pruned. Purchasing a young tree can be expensive but I just discovered that magnolias can be propagated from cuttings. If you are interested in propagating a magnolia, check out this website: Propagating Magnolias

This picture doesn't include any spring foliage but I think it is the cutest little archway!!

Next, we are on to the daffodils! These are among the earliest of spring flowers and are known to still be in bloom amidst a blanket of snow! Daffodils are a fall-bulb which means they need to be planted in the autumn about a month or more before the first frost. This will give them the opportunity to put down roots before going dormant for winter.

There are also a few different varieties of daffodils including minis! For more information about how to grow daffodils visit this page from the Old Farmers' Almanac, Daffodils

This stone planter contains a low purple-blue flower called a viola. This is actually a genus name that refers to a large variety of delicate, early spring flowers. Pansies, johnny-jump-ups, and violets are also in the viola family and come in lots of different colors. Violas tend to have the best blooms during the cool of the early spring. They can be started indoors and when transferring them outdoors, be sure to have rich, well-draining soil. For more information on planting violas, head on over to this website: How to Grow Violas

After my sunrise walk, I was excited to get to work on my own springtime garden. Thank you so much for joining me on this garden tour. I hope that it gave you some inspiration for your own spring time garden!