There is so much to see in the gardens this week!

Rhododendron 'Mootum'

Large, softly ruffled white blooms open in elegant clusters, each flower accented with a subtle yellow glow at the throat, creating a luminous, refined presence in the landscape. This evergreen azalea forms a compact, upright shrub with fresh green foliage and is prized for its repeat blooming habit—flowering in spring and continuing through summer and fall under the right conditions. A dependable and versatile performer, ‘Mootum’ offers extended seasonal interest and thrives in partial shade with well-drained, acidic soils.

Rhododendron 'April Gem'

Today we spotted two of spring’s fleeting treasures emerging in the garden—ephemerals that remind us just how magical this season can be. These early bloomers take advantage of the sunlight before the canopy fills in, offering a short but unforgettable show. Scientific Name: Sanguinaria canadensis

Common Name: Bloodroot

A true woodland gem, Bloodroot greets spring with crisp white petals wrapped around a golden center. Its deeply lobed leaves unfurl dramatically as the flower opens.

The name “Bloodroot” comes from its striking red-orange sap, once used as a natural dye by Indigenous peoples.

Each flower only lasts a day or two—making it a true “blink, and you’ll miss it” moment.

Ants play a role in spreading their seeds (a fascinating process called myrmecochory!).

Now in bloom!

Rhododendron sutchuenense is a very early-blooming rhododendron native to China. It typically reaches about 5 feet in height after roughly 10 years of growth and produces soft pink to lavender-colored flowers in early spring. This species is not known for being particularly fragrant. 🌸

Did you know the Pieris japonica ‘Andromeda,’ is named after a captivating Greek myth? Andromeda, the daughter of King Cepheus and Queen Cassiopeia, was sacrificed to appease the sea monster Cetus—but the hero Perseus, riding Pegasus, rescued her and won her heart.

Pieris japonica is an elegant evergreen shrub native to Japan, Taiwan, and eastern China. It grows in a dense, upright form, typically reaching 9–12 feet tall and 6–8 feet wide at maturity. In early spring, it produces graceful, drooping clusters of small white, bell-shaped flowers that resemble lily-of-the-valley.

Its glossy leaves remain evergreen year-round, with new growth often emerging bronze or red before maturing to deep green.

While non-native, this beautiful shrub blooms early in the season and provides nectar-rich flowers that attract important pollinators like bees. 🌿🐝

In bloom this week! Rhododendron mucronulatum 'Korean Rosebay' is native to northeastern Asia, particularly South Korea, North Korea, China, Mongolia, and parts of Russia. This deciduous rhododendron typically grows to 4–8 feet tall and produces early-spring blooms in shades of lavender, pink, or purple before the leaves fully emerge.

The plant has small, narrow, lance-shaped leaves that are slightly hairy and turn bronze in autumn. Its funnel-shaped flowers appear in clusters and are lightly fragrant, creating a striking display very early in spring. 🌸