The Garden Life: Early bloomers usher in spring

The snowdrops are in full bloom. Crocuses and daffodils color the floor of the garden in waves of golden yellow, purple and blue. Despite the fact that I have chosen many garden plants specifically for their early spring bloom, each new flower blossom comes as a delightful surprise to my winter-weary senses. More than any other time of year, the onset of spring brings out my inner child. How delightful to see through these young eyes again.

If I haven’t convinced you over the last few years to plant the large Viburnum bodnantense “Dawn,” let me remind you once again how worthy this deciduous shrub is in the winter and early spring garden. Every year this plant has carried a smattering of cotton candy pink blossoms from November through February and now, into March. The flowers emerge from bare wood, and if you stop for a moment as you pass and breathe deeply you will smell a clear, subtle fragrance that foretells spring.

This is a true garden lover’s plant. It might not impress the casual observer. There are no leaves in winter to back up the bloom and the flowers are too small and sparsely scattered over the bush to make an individual impact. On the whole, it doesn’t photograph well. Like the ruffled collar of the winter aconite or the glossy sheen on the leaves of the ground-hugging asarum, this is one of those plants that only the person who planted it will fully appreciate.

Every gardener should have a plant or two for his or her own satisfaction.

On the other hand, most of us want our efforts in the garden to make some kind of impression. A good plant to cross the gap from winter into spring is the evergreen Camellia sasanqua. This is a landscape shrub that has a presence in the garden all year long, with glossy, dark green foliage. The flower blossoms range in color from snow white to shell pink, raspberry red and deep carmine. The flower season extends from mid-December through March. “Kanjiro” is one of my favorites, with single, lipstick pink blooms. “Yuletide” is a reliable Christmas red with bright yellow anthers.

Camellias originate from subtropical regions in China and Japan. They are easy to cultivate, with the same cultural requirements as rhododendron, azalea and holly. All like acidic, well-drained soil, full morning or light afternoon sunshine, and a light application of fertilizer just after flowering. They prefer some shade in the heat of summer and some protection from freezing wind in winter. Unless you are training the shrub up a trellis or as an espalier, they need very little pruning to maintain a nice shape.

Hellebores are another plant staple I continue to recommend for the Northwest garden. Christmas Rose, or Helleborus niger, is a showy species hellebore, perfect for perennial beds along the front of the house. Many field-grown varieties come in mixed pastel shades new to the garden scene. Look for muted purple pinks with pale green centers, shell pink with purple speckles and a yellow so pale it appears fragile, but adorns a plant of ruthless hardiness. The emerging leathery foliage of the hellebores will last through most of the year. If leaves turn black from frost or winter saturation, cut them to the crown and a new leaf will soon replace the old.

There are many varieties of viola, including the Johnny jump-ups and winter pansies, which have lasted through the winter. Garden centers are already restocked with assorted varieties to add to pots and window planters. Over time, if planted out in garden beds and borders, many of the violas will self seed and establish small colonies of mixed colors. I have the offspring of Johnny jump-ups in my garden from one planting ten years ago. Their bright, cheerful faces light up at the slightest sun break.

In no time, spring will overtake the last of our winter interest plantings. In this lull before the storm of spring, the mahogany and cinnamon bark of the Japanese cherry and the Paper Bark maple (Acer griseum) add the color of reflected light to gray, overcast skies. This is the time of year to plan and to plant for next year’s winter interest or to confirm that the trees and shrubs you already have are situated in the best location to take advantage of the season. Like spring, summer and fall, winter is a perennial reality. Take the time now to make next winter another chance for your garden to shine.

Robb Rosser is a WSU-certified Master Gardener.