Species tulips

I planted a few species tulips last fall. I'm just starting to explore the genus, but I'm quite taken with them. Compared to the standard hybrid tulips (which I also love) the forms are quite delicate and graceful. I'm going to have to try a lot more this year...

Tulipa tarda So cheerful! Also tough and spreads vigorous for me.

Tulipa 'Little Beauty'

 

'Little Beauty' again... LOVE the blue at the base of the flower. I tried growing it as a teenager at my parent's house... where it became instant deer food. I'm hoping it lives long and well in my current (mostly deer-free) garden.

Tulipa clusiana A flower close-up.

Tulipa clusiana Bad picture of the whole plant. I don't think I've captured how delicate and graceful they are. I'm in love.

Tulipa batalinii Delicately amazing little flower.

Any species tulip fans out that? Recommendations for what I should try next?

Pink dandelions

I know I'm crazy but I just couldn't resist.

My pink dandelions are blooming!

Aren't they fun? These are Taraxicum pseudoroseum as opposed to the common lawn weed, Taraxicum officinale.

 Now that they are flowering, I'm wondering if they will successfully naturalize in the lawn like their yellow relative. I'm seriously tempted to grow up a bunch and plant them out in the front yard in place of my regular yellow ones. It would be so much fun to watch people walk by and do a double take!

May Day

May came in with perfectly glorious weather, so I spent the day out in the garden, weeding, looking about, and soaking in the beauty... here's some random shots of what I was enjoying.

A drift of Anemone blanda

The crinkly, purpley, glossy leaves of Ajuga 'Metallica Crispa'

Another favorite Anemone, 'Bracteata Pleniflora'

The feather new growth of bronze fennel

The unfolding leaves of variegated honesty (Lunaria annua)

And, of course, the obligatory daffodils