Find all the exposed earth, at this time of the growing season, a bit stressful.

Pictures all taken yesterday or today.

Difficult to decide what to do about ephemeral spreaders moving into other perennials that bloom at this time of year.
e.g. yellow Anemone ranunculoides.
I find part of the problem is me disturbing the rhizomes by working the beds (including adding/replacing perennials) in the previous year.
Today:



Largest amount of perennial colour currently is lungbanes.
Seems that it's the two species lungbanes I have that bloom first:





First primulas:





First Brunnera:





Double blood root:



Cheating: a hellebore I just bought:

Nice Charlie, what variety is the 2nd primrose picture, It has really pretty foliage as well as pretty flowers. Does your double blood root spread very quickly? I've had mine for years and it hasn't spread much at all.

We've been so cold the only thing that's started blooming is the crocus. It was only 20 degrees when we got up this morning and not much over 40 today so I haven't hardly been out in the gardens,
plus the 2 of my grandkids have been here the last couple of days so no time. It is suppose to warm up for the next few days anyway.

Caroline I'm so excited for you that you are finally getting some nice weather!

Very pretty.

Thanks Sue, Rita.

It's Primula marginata 'Mauve Mist'.
Only got it in later fall, last year,
(plants being sold off), so no experience with growing it.

Had that double blood root probably five years and, as with your experience, Sue, it's hardy spread at all.
Did have to replant it last fall and seems fine.

Had to dispose of some single blood root, last year, for spreading too much.

Definitely your turn to get some decent weather, Sue.
Nice to have the kids around (when not too busy gardening?).

Lovely blooms Charlie, I really like Primula marginata 'Mauve Mist'.

It's going to be warm and sunny here for at least a week, in the 80's by Monday, everything is growing and sprouting very well in the garden, looks like I lost only one daylily, it was a prolif and I think it didn't like where it was planted.

Sue and Caroline you both deserve some decent weather.

Thanks, Margaret.

Me too.
I like all colours (whatever works in the garden),
but I particularly like colours that are a combination of blue and red,
mauve included.

Glad your garden's really coming along.

Hope the daylily was not a favourite.
Generally, I take losing plants as an opportunity to plant (hope not to buy) new/different ones,
but there's a few dozen, we have, that I especially like.

Thanks for the info Charlie, I looked up the primula and it is an Auricula. None of my Auricula's have foliage that is that pretty! Good news is that it is hardy to zone 3.
Sorry about your plant Margaret, especially if it was a favorite but I'm like Charlie it's just a chance to try something new! So glad for you that your weather has warmed up,
I'm sure mine will sooner or later but it only got up to 39 today.

Continuing later bulbs here with early perennials:

Tulips today in one of my gardens (Mrs L's garden) in Aurora;
namely, one I installed and maintain.

It looks beautiful!

Very nice, Charlie, you do good work.

Thanks, Rita, Margaret.

Think I did what Mrs L. wanted.
(She likes traditional tulips.
Me too, but we don't have the space in our small garden.)

She's a great person to work for.
She delegates and lets me go with what will work for her property.

All I require myself to do is to get it right.
Quite a learning challenge!

Well, you have done it marvelously.

Newyorkrita said:Well, you have done it marvelously.

Thanks, Folk.

Charlie - If you cross the border, please come to MN and design my gardens!! You have a wonderful eye for color/plant combinations!

Not so sure about my designs, Christine.
A lot of it just happens.

Off to the botanical gardens near Niagara Falls.
Those people really are organized.

Well you can "just happen" in my garden any time!!

Christine27360 said:Well you can "just happen" in my garden any time!!

Was away in Niagara-on-the-Lake (zone 6b).
Everything more advanced than here.

Tulips at the Niagara Parks Commission Botanical Gardens.



Perennials.



Use most of the range of perennials, I recognized there, here (zone 5b).
Things just not as advanced.

Our own small garden today:







Closer:

Charlie, I love the first photo of the purple/lavender tulips at the Botanical Gardens.

Looks like lots happening in your garden, you have a lot of lovely blooms.