Coker Arboretum and Sisters' Garden, on a sunny day

We had such a good time in Chapel Hill we went back a few days later. DH was on vacation that week in April so we had the time.

Kwanzan cherry near the planetarium on the UNC campus

Japanese maple near the Ackland Art Museum that has intense gorgeous fiery fall color.

Columbine in the Coker Arboretum

Azalea 'Alaska'

Usually I don't like plants with yellow/chartreuse leaves but Eastern redbud 'The
Rising Sun' has a blend of colors that looks very beautiful in dappled shade.

Spanish bluebells

Spanish bluebells beneath a swamp chestnut oak

There are so many bluebells here.

Florida azalea Harrison's Red'

A late narcissus with Fothergilla and fernleaf scorpionweed.

Golden-larch, like baldcyress, is a deciduous conifer. According to Michael Dirr its native habitat is in eastern China at altitudes of 3000-4000 feet. He writes that golden-larch is "truly a beautiful specimen in large areas; grows slowly enough that it can be incorporated into the small landscape" and that the fall color is "brief but fantastic, a clear golden yellow". Unlike baldcypress it requires a light soil that is simultaneously moist and well-drained.

I love this narcissus, so graceful.

Little sweet betsy trillium

Red Buckeye, Spanish bluebells and Eastern columbine.

Woodland phlox. The nearly white cultivar (actually a very pale blue
that reads white) is so striking, especially paired with the blue.

Red buckeye

Dogwood

I love the lacy flowers and beautiful stamens of this hawthorn. Reminds
me a lot of Aronia only the stamens are more raspberry than mauve.

Iris 'Crimson King' in front of Hickerson House. I think I always mention its fragrance
when I write about this iris, but its sweet delicious scent can't be mentioned enough.

Smoke tree in the garden of a house just outside of campus.

Newly emerged white oak leaves

Gimghoul Road

Too early for most of the iris to bloom.

Chapel Hill is known for its stone walls.

Sister's Garden

Tulips. Read in a Homer Simpson voice ("doughnuts"), and
imagine a drool icon. So many tulips, of all different colors.

Purple windflower (Anemone coronaria)

Sweet pink and yellow violas

I love their dark purple tulips. They are probably marketed as black
although thankfully there are no true black tulips, at least not yet.

Dutch iris

To be continued...