Garden Photo of the Day

Spring in Connecticut

Ranunculus, primroses, and other spring beauties

It is always a pleasure when Elle Ronis sends in photos of her magical garden in Stamford, Connecticut. We’ve visited her garden before (Flowers Big and Small and Shrubs for High-Impact, Low-Work Gardening), and she grows a wide range of beautiful plants.

Butterfly ranunculusButterfly ranunculus (Ranunculus asiaticus, butterly series) in full bloom. This is a particularly lovely strain of ranunculus developed in Japan. If you garden in Zone 7 or warmer, you can plant ranunuculus in the fall for an incredible spring bloom like this. In colder climates, they can be planted early in the spring, or in a greenhouse or cold frame in the fall.

Pots of ranunculus lining the walk for a marvelous spring display.

More ranunculus showing off behind a trough of small rock-garden plants.

Assorted Japanese maples (Acer palmatum, Zones 5–9) showing their spring color. With the right varieties, leaf color in spring can be as beautiful as leaf color in fall.

‘Avondale’ redbud‘Avondale’ redbud (Cercis chinensis ‘Avondale’, Zones 6–9). This is a relative of our native redbud from Asia, which produces an incredible number of flowers.

Magnolia ‘Coral Lake’Magnolia ‘Coral Lake’ (Zones 5–9). This hybrid magnolia has fragrant flowers and has been bred to bloom a little later so that it is more likely to avoid having the flowers damaged by a late spring frost.

Magnolia ‘Genie’The red flowers of Magnolia ‘Genie’ (Zones 5–9) are some of the darkest-colored blooms produced by any magnolia.

Belarina series double primroseThis double primrose looks like it is from the Belarina series (Primula hybrid, Zones 4–8). This series of primroses have ruffly, double flowers and wonderful vigor, though in general they are best in climates with relatively cool summers.

double primroseAnother double primrose, this one in a rich purple.

 

Have a garden you’d like to share?

Have photos to share? We’d love to see your garden, a particular collection of plants you love, or a wonderful garden you had the chance to visit!

To submit, send 5-10 photos to [email protected] along with some information about the plants in the pictures and where you took the photos. We’d love to hear where you are located, how long you’ve been gardening, successes you are proud of, failures you learned from, hopes for the future, favorite plants, or funny stories from your garden.

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Comments

  1. sagebird52 05/15/2020

    Beautiful and an inspiration. The flowering shrubs and trees are great.

  2. PattyLouise 05/15/2020

    Lovely flowers!

  3. User avater
    meander_michaele 05/15/2020

    What a positively luscious spring garden you have, Elle. As I scrolled down through your beautiful photos and paused to take in the delectable colors and ruffled petals of the different offering, I felt like I was enjoying a scrumptious brunch buffet at a fancy hotel....so many irresistible temptations!

  4. User avater
    treasuresmom 05/15/2020

    It is all so very lovely!

  5. cheryl_c 05/15/2020

    All beautiful, but I especially am drawn to the cement trough, and to the coral magnolia. Thank you so much for sharing your garden of delights.

  6. User avater
    simplesue 05/15/2020

    Purple Primrose- wow! Didn't know that was an option to grow in zones 4-8, I'm gunna consider squeezing some of those into my garden.
    You have a beautiful garden in a beautiful setting with woodlands beyond as opposed to houses... and that old stone wall is really amazing too!
    Nice choice of Magnolias too, I'd never heard of those until I saw them in your garden.

  7. btucker9675 05/15/2020

    Oh that redbud!!!

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