Happy Friday, GPODers!
On Wednesday we saw Linda’s lovely woodland garden on Lookout Mountain (Linda’s Garden on a Mountain), yesterday we saw pretty pink blooms from Lila’s garden in Mill Creek (Lila’s Azaleas), and today we’re wrapping up this mini spring tour of Washington with Cleo Raulerson in Bellevue. Cleo has already shared her gorgeous garden in fall and winter (Late October in Cleo’s Back Garden and Cleo’s Washington Garden in Winter), and today we finally get to see her space as the weather warms up and plants wake from their winter slumber. Cleo always includes so much fabulous information on her plants, so I will waste no time and get straight to the good stuff.
Spring is my favorite time of the year, especially in the garden. We are fortunate in Western Washington to have a long spring to watch the new leaves and spring flowers emerge and grow. Here are 2025 photos of some of my favorite spring plants and garden scenes.
Leaves of our laceleaf Japanese maple (Acer palmatum var. dissectum atropurpureum ‘Ever Red’, Zones 5–8), planted 36 years ago, just beginning to emerge in early April with two Magic Carpet spirea (Spiraea japonica ‘Walbuma’, Zones 4–9) in the foreground
Ten days later, the laceleaf Japanese maple on the left is mostly leafed in. Shrubs left to right: Snowflake oakleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia ‘Brido’, Zones 5–9), violet-blue flowers of ‘Crater Lake’ rhododendron (Rhododendron ‘Crater Lake’, Zones 6–8), and Shindeshojo Japanese maple (Acer palmatum ‘Shindeshojo’, Zones 5–9) in its initial red leaf color (then green leaves in summer and coral-red leaves in autumn). The Bellevue skyline is in the background.
The metal blue allium sculptures are a favorite topic on garden tours. In April, white summer snowflake (Leucojum aestivum ‘Gravetye Giant’, Zones 4–8) is blooming on the left, next to blue camas (Camassia leichtlinii ‘Blue Danube’, Zones 3–8). Pink ‘Bow Bells’ rhododendron (Rhododendron ‘Bow Bells’, Zones 6–9) is just starting to bloom on the right.
One of my favorite spring scenes, with ‘Redleaf’ Roger’s flower (Rodgersia podophylla ‘Rotlaub’, Zones 5–9) just emerging; an ancient Exbury azalea adding a bright pop of apricot color, which is echoed in the glass goldfish; and other plantings. The small white flowers in the back are dwarf fothergilla (Fothergilla gardenii ‘Blue Mist’, Zones 5–8).
Close-up of redvein enkianthus (Enkianthus campanulatus, Zones 5–8) in full bloom. This is a great year-round shrub.
One of our favorite subalpine wildflowers on Mt. Rainier is the mophead (Pulsatilla occidentalis syn. Anemone occidentalis, Zones 3–8). Its European cousin, pasque flower (Pulsatilla vulgaris, Zones 4–8), happily grows at sea level, so we can have a reminder of our great Mt. Rainier hikes in our urban garden. Pulsatilla vulgaris blooms in shades of purple/mauve in March, then the white-gray mopheads last well into summer.
Close-up of yak rhodie blooms (Rhododendron yakushimanum ‘Koichiro Wada’, Zones 5–9). This pale pink flower fits well into the garden; then we can enjoy the new silvery leaves with a covering of fine, felty hairs later in the spring.
I love blue flowers. Hubricht’s bluestar (Amsonia hubrichtii, Zones 5–8) is wonderful. Here are the blue spring flowers; then the slender green leaves sway in the breeze all summer and turn bright yellow in the autumn. Magenta flowers on the left are the hyacinth orchid (Bletilla striata, Zones 5–9), which I got from my aunt’s Maryland garden.
Part of our garden is damp clay. Sixteen years ago, I bought seven plants of this candelabra primrose (Primula × bulleesiana, Zones 4–7). The seed heads are left on most of the summer. I now have a wandering stream of these primroses, which is a garden favorite.
Thank you so much for this fantastic spring tour of your garden, Cleo! Your space is filled with so many interesting and eye-catching plants in every season; we greatly appreciate the time you take to identify each one.
I cannot believe that next week is already the end of spring! This season absolutely flew by, but I’m thrilled with how many fabulous spring gardens we’ve been treated to over the past few months. If you would like your spring garden featured on the blog before summer photos flood our inbox, consider sharing your photos this weekend! Follow the directions below to submit photos via email, or send me a DM on Instagram: @agirlherdogandtheroad.
We want to see YOUR garden!
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.
Have a mobile phone? Tag your photos on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter with #FineGardening!
Do you receive the GPOD by email yet? Sign up here
Fine Gardening Recommended Products
ARS Telescoping Long Reach Pruner
Fine Gardening receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs.
Telescopes from 4 to 7′. Cut and Hold (160) Blades. Drop forged blades for unsurpassed long lasting sharpness. Lightweight, 2.3 lbs., for continued use. Perfectly balanced for easy pruning.
A.M. Leonard Deluxe Soil Knife & Leather Sheath Combo
Fine Gardening receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs.
MULTITASKING DUAL EDGES: a deep serrated edge and a tapered slicing edge ideal for tough or delicate cuts. DURABLE 6-inch stainless steel blade withstands 300 lbs of pressure. TWINE CUTTING NOTCH, DEPTH GAUGE MARKINGS & spear point – no need to switch tools when using this garden knife. LEATHER SHEATH: heavy duty, protective, clip on sheath to keep your knife convenient and secure. LIFETIME WARRANTY.
Spear & Jackson 4930FZ Razorsharp Telescopic Tree Pruner
Fine Gardening receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs.
Telescopic tree pruner with SK5 carbon steel blade which stays sharper for longer. Variable length telescopic handle extends up to 92 Inch (2340mm). Lopper for cutting branches up to 1.2″ (30mm). 13 inch (330mm) saw is ideal for cutting thicker branches. Supplied with a long cord and pull-action handle. Part of the Razorsharp Advantage collection, the obvious choice for gardeners who demand and expect precise, powerful performance. “Grow Your Own” Great British Growing 2020 Award Winners.
