Back track

I have to back track some. In my excitement over finding Hepatica popping up, I skipped 2 plants that had already started blooming

The snowdrops have been blooming for 3 weeks already. In fact, they were up when we got that foot of snow a couple of weeks ago. The snow melted and there they still were, as delicate looking as ever. I have them planted with Ophiopogon planiscapus 'Nigrescens' (Black Mondo Grass). You don't see black and white in the garden too often.

The lenten roses have lived up to their name, starting to bloom during Lent. The flowers come up now and last about 2 months, followed by evergreen leaves. No shade garden is complete without these stunning performers. They make great cut flowers too.

When I was looking at my garden and discovering these signs of Spring. I was hit by this incredible fragrance, kind of like Jasmine. Or maybe Hyacinths, but I knew they weren't blooming yet. Then I remembered the Sweet Box. This short evergreen shade lover, was blooming with little white really fragrant flowers.

All 3 of these plants are reliably deer resistant, I have the hoof prints in the garden to prove it.

Galanthus nivalis (Common Snowdrop)

Helleborus orientalis (Lenten Rose)

Helleborus orientalis (Lenten Rose)

Sarcococca hookerianan humilis (Sweet Box)

Springing up

Top photo Hepatica americana
Second photo Skimmia japonica

Just yesterday I discovered the Hepatica americana unfurling. It is a native wildflower, one of the first to show signs of life. You can almost watch it open up, this plant wasn't there in the morning, but was in the afternoon.

The Skimmia japonica is about to burst also. When it blooms it has a beautiful fragrance.

Getting started.