A Little Color in the April Garden

A bright blue sky on a sunny and cold April day beckoned me into the garden to see what was growing. Although it's mostly brown around here right now (the forsythia hasn't even started blooming), there are patches of green and other colors from the boldest northern plants.

Here are a few snapshots from my April garden wander: 

Rugosa rose hips spread over a bit of the garden that had been taken over by a gregarious honeysuckle bush that I cut back in the fall.

Rugosa rose hips spread over a bit of the garden that had been taken over by a gregarious honeysuckle bush that I cut back in the fall.

Looks like I missed a few garlic cloves when I harvested last summer. Oops! It's a good thing, though, because I didn't get around to plant new cloves last fall.

Looks like I missed a few garlic cloves when I harvested last summer. Oops! It's a good thing, though, because I didn't get around to plant new cloves last fall.

Look at these perfect dandy plants!

Look at these perfect dandy plants!

Strawberry volunteer. We don't even grow strawberries.

Strawberry volunteer. We don't even grow strawberries.

Second flowers are up, after the snowdrops.

Second flowers are up, after the snowdrops.

These crocuses started to bloom before the latest cold snap, and then the unopened buds sat patiently for over a week, waiting for a sunny day.

These crocuses started to bloom before the latest cold snap, and then the unopened buds sat patiently for over a week, waiting for a sunny day.

This mess of brambles and old grape vines is my next project. I'm going to cut back the vines, rip out the brambles, and hope for the best.

This mess of brambles and old grape vines is my next project. I'm going to cut back the vines, rip out the brambles, and hope for the best.

a beautiful birch

a beautiful birch

Valerian emerging

Valerian emerging