Hi GPODers!
Ready or not, spring is here! Despite our best intentions, spring is almost always frantic and feverish with warmer weather bringing a slew of garden chores and social activities. Amidst all of this excitement and increased activity, a flurry of growth emerges from our gardens that can quickly come and go before we have a chance to really admire and appreciate it.
Thankfully, friend-of-the-blog, Beth Tucker in Waxhaw, North Carolina has already gotten outside and captured many of the bursts of color and life that have emerged from her beds during the earliest days of the season. Beth has shared several scenes from her garden in North Carolina over the years, as well as photos from her previous garden in New Jersey (Check out those submission here: A Look Back at Beth’s Early Summer Garden, Beth’s Poolside Garden, Winter Favorites, Memories of Spring, etc.). Today we return to North Carolina to see how the 2025 growing season is treating her so far.
Hopefully viewers will forgive the messiness of my garden—still in the process of spring cleanup.
The camellias are in the border between our raised back deck and the pool. Morning sun, shade in the afternoon.
If any plant gives me zone envy, it is the camellia. I’m located just outside of the hardiness zone of these beautiful shrubs and while there are plenty of other plants that provide early blooms in my area, few rival the big, bold flowers and glossy foliage of this genus.
Lily magnolia (Magnolia liliiflora, Zone 5–8) with the pretty porcelain pink blossoms is in full sun in our backyard small lawn area.
Aside from camellias, Beth enjoys a pop of color from another flowering shrub. Her bright red flowering quince—potentially the variety Double Take® Scarlet (Chaenomeles speciosa ‘Scarlet Storm’, Zone 5–9)—is covered in flowers and unfurling buds.
A few of my many irises are starting to bloom. These are in our front walkway, as well as the two irises below.
Lots of irises, various lilies and daylilies are in the front border. It was a builder grade planting of shrubs lined up like soldiers when we bought the house. I transplanted many and planted my favorites to bring more of a cottage border feel to the front walk.
Various shades of purple and yellow appear to be the color story in Beth’s front beds, and this ‘Mariposa Autumn’ iris (Iris germanica ‘Mariposa Autumn’, Zone 4–9) is a spectacular addition to the plant palette. As the name suggests, these irises put on a spectacular spring/early summer display display and will bloom again in late summer into fall.
A grouping of irises along the stepping stones leading down to the raised bed area in back.
So many plants have already put on a floral show in Beth’s garden that we will be back in North Carolina again tomorrow to see more of the early spring color she has on display.
And don’t forget that your spring garden also deserves our attention and admiration! While you’re outside getting spring chores done, remember to take photos of your early spring flowers and foliage to share with Garden Photo of the Day. Follow the directions below to submit your 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!
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Fine Gardening Recommended Products
Bee Watering Station with Vivid Flower Design
Fine Gardening receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs.
Thoughtful Combo: You will receive a bee feeder and 30 glass marbles. This thoughtful combo can provide clean water for the bees, you just need to put the marbles into the bee watering station, add water (note: the water level should not exceed the height of the marbles) and hang them in the right place. The round, colored marbles can provide a place for the bees to stand and prevent them from falling into the water, effectively keeping the bees safe. Fine Material: This exquisite bee bath is made of high quality iron material, smooth surface, rust and weather resistant, not easy to fade, sturdy and reliable. Bee cups for garden can well meet the drinking water needs of lovely bees, and it can also provide food for bees, such as sugar water, nectar, etc., attracting more bees to your outdoor area and making your garden full of vitality. Perfect Size: The butterfly watering station has an overall height of 13.4 inches, a bowl diameter of 9.4 inches, and a weight of 0.44 pounds. The bee cup serves the needs of the bees well without plunging them into dangerously deep water or taking up unnecessary space in your garden, and this compact and efficient design makes it a practical addition to any outdoor space. Elegant Design: Our bee watering cups are designed in unique flower shapes with vibrant and realistic colours to attract lovely bees to your garden and patio, bee feeders for outside are not only functional but can also be used as a landscaping element, their vibrant floral patterns enhance the beauty of your garden. Multicolored Decoration: Colorful bee water stations look like flowers in a garden, flower bed or pot and attract bees and butterflies. They can drink or bathe in bee feeders, which are highly decorative and practical.
Monarch Butterfly Rescue Wildflower Seeds 4 oz.
Fine Gardening receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs.
HIGH QUALITY SEEDS and EXPERT GUIDANCE: Experience the quality seed difference. We are committed to providing the highest quality, open-pollinated, non-GMO/non-GE seeds to our customers, guaranteed. A trusted source of high quality seeds since 1985. ATTRACT MORE MONARCHS: We know seeds and we know pollinators! Our expertly crafted botanical garden seed mixes contain a wide variety of both perennials and annuals that are specifically designed to attract pollinators. Attract more Monarchs and Butterflies in general. Gardener tested, pollinator approved! All Of Our Wildflower Varieties Are 100% Pure Seed, They come with complete planting instructions. Compare and see the quality value. This Wildflower Seed Mix will make the perfect gift for those gardeners in your life.
Gardener’s Log Book from NYBG
Fine Gardening receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs.
This weatherproof five-year log book includes the following features:
· Sturdy waterproof cover to protect pages from rain and muddy soil
· Lined pages and gridded paper for plotting beds
· Five years of 12-month bloom and harvest grids for recording what you planted and when
· Authoritative appendices on composting, pruning, pest and disease control, and container gardening
· Useful reminders by season on fertilizing, mulching, and transplanting
· Space for listing your favorite sources and suppliers.
