I most likely have vinca minor, then. This one is slow, too, and has been in-ground for four or five years.

Whatever it is, the bloom is gorgeous!!!

There is just something about blue flowers that really attracts me. I've been trying to find a good location for some plumbago in Florida.

Greening up // That bare spot in the middle of the two Phlox is leftover from an accidental Roundup drift last year. Might need put a plug in there. Have some sprigs rooting.



Think there are actually two Caryopteris here. The left one is green foliage and the right one (Sunshine Blue) is the yellow/chartreuse foliage. Sunshine Blue seedlings aren't always true to form.




Miss Bateman Clematis // The foliage on this variegated Liriope made it all Winter. Should I trim it?




A most rugged Dianthus. Shrugs off everything. // Lithodora Grace Ward. First bloom of the year. Love the blue.

Beautiful. I love Lithodora but I cannot grow it!!! I have tried several times and it dies every time.

Me, too, Arlene. Think I lucked out on timing and location.

As to the liriope it's your choice Debra. It will put up new foliage regardless.

I love seeing everything greening up.

Debra, glad to see all your photos! I love the picture of the Tahiti Double Daffodil And even though the caryopteris isn't doing anything yet, it is one of my favorite shrubs. I love to run my hand across the leaves and smell the fragrance!

Glad the creeping phlox made it. I love it!

Great work Debra! I love how you have almost no lawn left, that's my kinda garden! Before you know it, you'll hardly even see the path.

I would trim the Liriope, Debra. If you look at the growing center of the plant you should see this years growth starting. Easier to trim now than to do it after new growth gets high. I love Lithadora. It took me awhile to get it established but once I did it grows without any extra care. I have Grace Ward and Blue Star. I only wish they bloomed for a longer period of time.

with Bonnie. If you wait too long to trim, you might nick some of the new growth which will still grow, but not look so pretty -- reminds me I had better get trimming on mine.

Okay, I gave it a haircut.

Early Iris are starting to open.

Going to be a pretty one too Debra.

I can't wait to see all those Iris in bloom.. I hope you'll show us a shot of your front yard when it is... Seems to me some more lawn has disappeared since the last picture I saw of your front

I will, Sherry, and, yes, it has.

A slew of these purples are going to be opening over the next week. Happy because my sister is getting married next Saturday and purple is the color. I should be able to cut a nice vase for her, then. The community garden woman is picking me up this morning to join a talk-and-till (I'll talk, they'll till ), but should still have enough oomph to take some photographs of the fully open blooms when I get back.

Aha! Liriope is Monkey Grass!! I didn't know what you were talking about until I read some of the comments about trimming and then went back and enlarged the photo. I have it in several places in the front landscaping of the house. Love the stuff. Never knew I loved Liriope!!

And yup -- I always cut mine back. Just about this time of year!

I can't wait to see the photos, Debra. Its raining here..... AGAIN.... so I will be indoors. Dangerous time of the year to be forced to stay indoors, during the bloom season, with a credit card and all the iris vendors sites opening.

Late to this thread. Love all the spring activity in your garden Debra!
I really like my Vinca. Yes, it spreads but in the rock garden it is always so pretty as a carpet of purple blooms under the daffodil blooms. Really makes them pop. As for lirape, I have some patches that are huge so they don't always get trimmed down as they should. They are too tough to cut down with a trimmer, so it has become a chore to clip them all down. The only plus has been some of the clumps now grow much prettier flowers than before. Go figure!
You keep taking care of yourself Debra.