Parrot tulips blooming in my new flower bed

© Cindy Dyer. All rights reserved.

Fringed tulips

Fringed tulips (Nikon D850, Nikkor 105mm micro)

© Cindy Dyer. All rights reserved.

Canna blooms

© Cindy Dyer. All rights reserved.

Canna blooms

© Cindy Dyer. All rights reserved.

Jerusalem artichoke

Jerusalem artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus); photographed at Green Spring Gardens

© Cindy Dyer. All rights reserved.

Spring Starflowers

These star-shaped, pale blue flowers with grass like foliage are Spring Starflowers (Ipheion uniflorum). This perennial is grown from bulbs and blooms in mid-spring for 3-5 weeks. Originating from Argentina and Uruguay, this plant naturalizes very swiftly, spreading by self-seeding and from bulb offsets. Often used in rock gardens and woodland gardens, they grow just 4-5 inches tall, and are perennials in Zones 6 to 7 (with mulching to protect from frost) and in Zones 8 to 9 without mulching. They can be grown in full sun to part shade, require medium watering, are low maintenance, and tolerate a wide range of soil types. They are just beginning to bloom at Green Spring Gardens this week.

I photographed these tiny blue flowers last year in mid-April at Green Spring Gardens. See how they look en masse here.

© Cindy Dyer. All rights reserved.