A Great Day to be a Bumblebee

Weigela subsessilis 'Canary' is in full bloom in the Barn Ruins.

The bumblebees like it so much, they go to great acrobatic lengths just to get a closer look.  I thought for sure this bumblebee would be too much for such a small flower, but both stayed attached.

Nearby, along the steps leading down into the Barn Ruins, Corydalis lutea 'Alba' blooms inconspicuously.  It grows well in this shady, cool spot. 

Bright purple can be seen just outside the Barn Ruins walls.  The redbuds are in bloom in this area, and all along Azalea Lane.  We have many different cultivars planted.

The newest addition is Cercis canadensis var texensis, the 'Texas White' redbud.

'Forest Pansy' redbud and the nearby weeping 'Covey' are in full bloom. If you proceed down Azalea Lane you can see 'Appalachian Red' and 'Oklahoma'.

'Appalachian Red'

Cercis chinensis puts on a more impressive flower show than Cercis canadensis and has a shrub-like form instead of the tree form of the Eastern redbud.  Cercis chinensis also seeds prolifically.

Nearby, Chaenomeles speciosa, flowering quince, is showing off for the Easter weekend.

A less showy, but cool plant, popped up this week.  This is Podophyllum peltatum, also known as mayapple. It is a native woodland plant.  The flower bud is not yet open.

Although not native, and tending to seed prolifically as well, the Japanese maples are stunning. 

I found many more bumblebees enjoying the azalea blooms at the bottom of Azalea Lane.  I suppose if I were small enough, I would bury my whole head in the flowers too.

Finally Amelanchier canadensis, shadblow serviceberry, is blooming near our visitor parking lot around the pavilion and also near the Children's Garden.  Later in the summer, they will produce edible fruit.  The birds love the fruit, but if you're lucky they might leave a few.

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