Like the Atamasco Lilies, Sweetbay has been in bloom for a month. If we get much rain this year it will bloom on and off all summer.
The silver-backed leaves are as beautiful as the lemon-scented flowers.
The tiny flowers of Blue Toadflax are covering fields in Johnston County with a fine lavender haze.
I planted Green and Gold 'Eco Laquered Spider' 14 years ago, and two plants now cover a semi-area of approximately 20' by 35' near the old house site. Neither drought nor flooding bothers it, and it would seem the more it's ignored the happier it is. Its only drawback is that the leaves mildew during the humid heat of summer.
Spiderworts are a treasure for their bunches of low-blooming flowers. Given enough moisture Tradescantia virginiana will bloom on and off for the rest of the year. I don't know if it's because I'm too far north for them to be rambunctious, but they are not spreaders in my garden, giving only enough seedlings to spread around where needed.
Spiderwort 'Zwanenburg Blue' with the rugosa 'Foxi Pavement'
Phlox pilosa var. ozarkana quickly makes good-sized drifts.
Phlox 'Minnie Pearl' has filled out nicely this year, creating a big bouquet of perfectly snow-white flowers.
Currently the native stars of the show currently are the Baptisias. They've been beautiful already for a month in their bud and early flower stages. They are both elegant and cottagey at the same time, and look great with irises, roses and foxglove.
In my garden Baptisia australis ranges in color from soft lavender
to blue-violet.
Baptisia alba is so striking with its charcoal gray stems, shown here with Cl. Old Blush.
'Purple Smoke', an offspring of Baptisia alba and B. minor
Baptisia alba and 'Purple Smoke' with rugosa rubra, rugosa alba, Foxi Pavement and white iris.
Thank you Gail for hosting Wildflower Week!
