Cacophony of Color

In his poem, The Wasteland, TS Eliot famously said, “April is the cruelest month.” Perhaps Mr. Eliot is correct, but it’s hard to imagine that in our gardens this year. It’s as if God said, “We’ll put on a show in April, and worry about the other months later.” And what a show, at our home here in the Virginia Piedmont. 

When we moved here twenty-five years ago, there were no gardens. Yes, we inherited a few azaleas, some forsythia, and a couple of dogwoods, but that was it. Everything since has been all Cathy. The hillside garden, the shade garden, the front garden, Cathy’s cutting garden, some redbuds – they were all put in by Cathy. Her labor of love is both amazing and beautiful. 

This year, it was if all of our plants were on a clock that had somehow both accelerated and compressed time. In February the hellebores and crocuses started the show. March blended in the daffodils and forsythia, which led to the cacophony of color that was April.  

I don’t know if it was global warming, a warm winter, a mild spring, plenty of rain or what. All I know is the flowers were unbelievable – an endless parade of new blooms, all consolidated over the past thirty days. 

The month started with Virginia Bluebells, Viburnum and the Redbuds. The Dogwoods, Forget Me Nots and our Japanese Maple with its red leaves then joined in. Bugle weed and Dandelions added their flowers to the crowd and were soon followed by our Azaleas, which never bloom as early as they did this year. 

The Shade Garden started contributing as well, with Lillies of the Valley, Bleeding Hearts and Spice Bush all getting in on the act. At the end of the month the Clematis and Columbine became a part of the show. 

April is gone now. Other than the Crocuses, Daffodils and Redbuds, most of the flowers and blooms still remain, with more coming. I know “April Showers bring May Flowers”, but it’s hard for me to believe the month of May could be more beautiful than this past April. In my mind, it’s only cruel that April is over.

Addendum:

• In all honesty, I know next to nothing about plants or flowers. What I’ve learned has come over the past ten years since retiring. While I was working, I didn’t have a full understanding, or appreciation for what Cathy did here at the farm with her gardens. It’s only been since I’ve retired that the scales have fallen from my eyes and I truly see the beauty. I know it sounds silly, but it’s true. Since then, my awareness and interest have grown. I’m still not great on names, but Cath helps me with that.  Continually.