69 In Flowers/ Gardening

My Top 5 Spring Garden Blooms

My Top 5 Spring Garden Blooms | angiethefreckledrose.com

The spring gardening season is always full of anticipation and excitement here in New England.  Although the average last frost date for USDA zone 6a has passed, it's still dropping into the low 40's at night.  My garden beds are not filled to the brim with beautiful flowers yet, and the wait for blooms can seem like an eternity.  The first flowers to bloom in my garden are usually crocus, hyacinth and daffodils.  Once those flowers have finished blooming, it seems easy to enter into garden limbo.  Everything is growing, but it's hard to find flowers that flourish and fill in this empty gap. 

My Top 5 Spring Garden Blooms | angiethefreckledrose.comI have some personal favorites that help bridge this gap with color and growth during this time.  These flowers need to be able to withstand some of the harsh elements.  They need to hold up through heavy spring rainstorms, cool nighttime temperatures and an array of animals foraging for food that may include your foliage.  I have put together a list of my top five favorite varieties of perennials and shrubs that will thrive in your springtime garden.  It's Tuesdays in the Garden, so don't forget to scroll down after reading, and check out some other great spring flower guides!

My Top 5 Spring Garden Blooms | angiethefreckledrose.com

Marie-Frances lilac

Lilac

Lilacs look as if they came right out of a fairytale.  They are popular spring blooming shrubs known for their intoxicating fragrance and gorgeous showy flowers.  Once you discover the beauty of these bushes, you will want to display them all over the yard for neighbors and guests to see.  They are very hardy plants, and will come back year after year if cared for properly.  These deciduous shrubs and multi stemmed small trees are most commonly purple.  Lilacs also come in different colors like pink, white and yellow.  My favorite has to be Marie Francis lilac bushes.  These plants produce a more unusually seen pastel pink blossom.  Here is a little bit more about Marie Frances French lilacs.


My Top 5 Spring Garden Blooms | angiethefreckledrose.comZone: 3 to 7
Light Requirement: Full Sun
Planting Time: Spring
Bloom Time: Late Spring
Average Height: 5 feet tall
Fun Facts: Attracts pollinators, cold hardy, makes great cut flowers


 

My Top 5 Spring Garden Blooms | angiethefreckledrose.com

Blue Moon Phlox

Phlox

Phlox are a perfect addition to any rock garden.  They come in a variety of colors and bloom times.  Blue Moon woodland phlox, otherwise known as Sweet Willam, boasts rich blue violet blossoms.  This flower get's it's nickname because of  it's sweet scent. Definitely a favorite perennial of mine in my shade garden.  Known to be a carefree plant, it can tolerate most growing conditions.  This variety will put on a beautiful show by late April.  If you are looking to provide pollinators with an early source of nectar, this is an excellent choice!  It is especially attractive to the Tiger swallowtail butterfly. Another favorite of mine is Emerald Pink creeping phlox. This makes a wonderful ground cover. 

My Top 5 Spring Garden Blooms | angiethefreckledrose.com

Emerald Pink creeping phlox

Zone: 3 to 8
Light Requirement: Shade
Planting Time: Spring
Bloom Time: Early Spring
Average Height: 12 inches tall
Fun Facts: Attracts pollinators, low maintenance , shade tolerant  


 

My Top 5 Spring Garden Blooms | angiethefreckledrose.com

Festiva Maxima peony

Peony

The peony brings any garden a rustic, old world look.  They are known to live long lives and bloom for many years.  Festiva Maxima Peonies have very large, white, fragrant blooms with a hint of glowy pink. These pretty flowers have specks of raspberry which make it particularly unique.  I always look forward to them beginning to blossom in late May.  Another favorite of mine would be the soft pink Sarah Bernhardt peony.  This classic flower has very large, double blossoms with a naturally feminine charm.  Both of these varieties make a perfect addition to any cottage style garden.  The one important lesson I've learned when it comes to peonies, is to always make sure to stake them early.  Their heavy blooms can droop low to the ground bending and damaging the stems during a rainstorm.  Make sure to take care of this early in the season so you don't miss out on these prized perennials. 

My Top 5 Spring Garden Blooms | angiethefreckledrose.com

Sarah Bernhardt peony

Zone: 3 to 8
Light Requirement: Full Sun
Planting Time: Spring
Bloom Time: Late Spring
Average Height: 36 inches tall
Fun Facts: Deer & rabbit resistant, fragrant , great cut flowers


 

My Top 5 Spring Garden Blooms | angiethefreckledrose.com

Tulip

Tulips are an obvious and standard spring flower.  They are a perennial bulb that comes in almost any color.  This lovely flower also varies in many different shapes and sizes.  Impressively, some varieties can last well into the middle of spring in my garden.  The Red Emperor tulip is definitely worth mentioning.  Some start to bloom in early April, then more show up, ready to bloom right before May begins.  It's amazing how these tulips just keep popping up here and there.  They are so easy to grow, and look especially divine in containers.  They boast extravagantly elegant red petals with their signature yellow striped interior.  Even as the flowers start to fade, the black centers help them continue to stun.  Have a bag of tulips you forgot to plant in your garden?  No problem!  Force them indoors and enjoy tulips all year round! 

My Top 5 Spring Garden Blooms | angiethefreckledrose.comZone: 3 to 8
Light Requirement: Full Sun
Planting Time: Fall
Bloom Time: Early Spring
Average Height: 16 inches tall
Fun Facts: Winter hardy, can be grown in containers,
great cut flower
Tip: Plant in part shade to enjoy a longer blooming time


 

My Top 5 Spring Garden Blooms | angiethefreckledrose.com

Renaissance spirea

Spirea

Spirea is a deciduous or semi-evergreen shrub known for it's gorgeous clusters of flowers.  Though these flowers may be tiny, they are profuse and sensational when they bloom in groups.  They range from bright pinks and purples, all the way to softer yellows and whites.  They look great as a border plant or in a wildlife garden, and also make a lovely addition to an all white moon garden.  My favorite variety is the Renaissance Spirea known for it's showy white blooms.  I am also growing the Double Play Artisan Spirea from Proven Winners in my yard.  It has fuchsia flowers, is very compact and very low maintenance.  In early spring, this variety has rich purple-red new growth that is equally as appealing as it's flowers.  I am such a fan of this shrub that I'm thinking of adding Double Play Painted Lady to my landscape this upcoming season!

My Top 5 Spring Garden Blooms | angiethefreckledrose.comZone: 3 to 7
Light Requirement: Full Sun
Planting Time: Spring
Bloom Time: Mid-Spring
Average Height: 5 feet tall
Fun Facts: Attracts pollinators, fast growth rate, beautiful orange-red fall color
Tip: Make sure to water regularly and more often in extreme heat


 

My Top 5 Spring Garden Blooms | angiethefreckledrose.com

Tuesdays In The Garden

Now it's time to take a tour of some other fabulous gardens.  Stop by a splendid Pacific NW garden to see what's blooming, then learn about some easy care plants.  Take note of some favorite early spring perennials, and after that discover some flowering bushes you will just adore.  We all come together on Tuesdays to make you your very own gardening cheat sheets with a theme in mind!  Don't forget to pin anything that catches your attention for later, and give it a try yourself! 

My Top 5 Spring Garden Blooms | angiethefreckledrose.com
My Top 5 Spring Garden Blooms | angiethefreckledrose.com
My Top 5 Spring Garden Blooms | angiethefreckledrose.com
My Top 5 Spring Garden Blooms | angiethefreckledrose.com

I am patiently awaiting the arrival of my first peony bloom of the season.  The foliage is looking strong and filling my garden with some colorful greenery.  My Blue Moon Phlox started blooming about a week ago.  So happy to see some flowers thriving in the shade garden.  I have a group of Red Emperor tulips still lingering around my rock border, and the lilacs look as if they will burst open with blooms at any moment.  Crossing my fingers that my Renaissance spirea will closely follow behind.  Do you have a few varieties of spring blooms that you just couldn't live without?  Please add suggestions in the comment section below.  I'm always looking to expand my flower beds with some new favorites.  Anything blooming in your garden right now?  Send me a bit of cheer and tweet me your pictures @thefreckledrose.  Hope everyone is enjoying spring!  See you back here soon for another round of Tuesdays In The Garden.

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My Top 5 Spring Garden Blooms | angiethefreckledrose.com

 

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69 Comments

  • Reply
    Splendid Little Stars
    May 6, 2016 at 5:29 pm

    Oh the joy of Spring blooms!
    Boomerang lilac is blooming in my garden now. And yes, it will bloom again later. It smells heavenly, too!
    I have lots of daffodils and very few tulips because the deer like those so much. I have some wild tulips that I bought that the deer don’t touch–at least not so far. They come back every year.

    lovely photos of beautiful flowers!

  • Reply
    LuAnn Braley
    May 6, 2016 at 4:59 pm

    Hi Angie, I’m visiting from Friendship Friday at Create With Joy.

    I love those photos. I can almost smell the flowers! Do you have any thoughts for someone who would like to have more flowers in the yard…maybe some that don’t taste good to dogs?

  • Reply
    Michelle Marine
    May 6, 2016 at 4:39 pm

    Your photos are gorgeous, Angie! I love spirea and lilacs. Can’t wait to do some landscaping when our house is finally finished!!

  • Reply
    Justine Y @ Little Dove
    May 6, 2016 at 11:21 am

    Gorgeous blooms! I love lilacs and peonies, so pretty. We just planted tons of fruits and veggies and I have yet to plant flowers; but I have to plant them in our fenced-in garden area because of our DEER. Oh my gosh, we have so many deer and they will eat anything (even deer-resistant and things you would never think they’d eat!!) so any pretty plants have to be walled off. It’s kind of a bummer but what are you gonna do? I think I’ll plant some peonies and hydrangea (some of my favs!) in our garden/orchard and just enjoy them from the other side of the fence. 😉

  • Reply
    Jennifer L. } Modern Chic
    May 5, 2016 at 9:48 pm

    I love flowers in spring in general but those lilacs and peonys just scream spring. That and sunflowers are just happy flowers.

  • Reply
    Michelle Ramblingwoods
    May 5, 2016 at 9:02 pm

    My phlox and tulips and day lily are eaten by the deer so I have to find something else..Michelle

  • Reply
    Grace
    May 5, 2016 at 2:43 pm

    So much beauty! Tulips let me know spring has finally arrived. Lilacs smell amazing. And peonies are just gorgeous – they’re my favourite flower, and I have a huge peonies thigh tattoo. After moving I only do vegetable gardening now, but it’s been wonderful getting the early seeds sown these last couple weeks.

  • Reply
    Carrie
    May 5, 2016 at 12:30 pm

    I love Peonies! They are my absolute favorite flower! So pretty! I love all of these! I just wish they would grow here!

  • Reply
    Lisa Sharp
    May 5, 2016 at 11:00 am

    Just moved and there are tons of flower beds here. It’s been fun to watch what will pop up. I have a few peonies, there were three already here and our real estate agent gave us one as a housewarming gift.

    I haven’t heard of phlox, now I want some!

  • Reply
    Kim Cunningham
    May 5, 2016 at 10:59 am

    Lovely collection. I love the look of the pink lilacs. Would love to plant them, but not sure where. Had phlox for several years, but they did not return last year.

  • Reply
    Brittany
    May 5, 2016 at 10:33 am

    I just bought my first home and was THRILLED to discover a gorgeous flowering bush in my yard, and then even more thrilled when my instagram followers told me they were lilacs! They’ve already died :(. But they were beautiful while they lasted!

  • Reply
    Melanie
    May 5, 2016 at 10:32 am

    This is very helpful and informative. I want to start gardening but I don’t really know how. I love tulips and I’d love to have many of those 🙂

  • Reply
    Ducks n a Row
    May 5, 2016 at 9:25 am

    Angie, I love lilacs so much that I have a post set for tomorrow all about them AND the Lilac Festival, too. They are simply gorgeous. Stumbled and PINNED too!
    Sinea ♥

  • Reply
    Laura Kathleen
    May 5, 2016 at 8:26 am

    Lovely photos! Peonies are my favorites for spring! Love having everything come to life again!

    Laura | Laura Aime Vous

  • Reply
    Christine - Jar Of Lemons
    May 4, 2016 at 10:32 pm

    These are so beautiful! My husband and I are about to plant a bunch of flowers including Peonies, so I’ll have to come back to this post right before we do!

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