Hearts on Fire!

High 73 F
Low  36 F

We are having a week of warmth which is pushing growth at a rapid pace.  When I left home this morning it was still a bit chilly and upon return it was really quite warm and flower buds have opened.  The foliage on the Dicentra spectabilis 'Gold Heart' is  ablaze and I really like it best at this stage.  Who really needs the flowers.  This has been in the garden for three years now and I find that the  D. spectabilis 'Alba' and the straight species with the pink flowers both reseed freely.  I have not found any seedlings from this particular 'Gold Heart' bleeding heart yet. Hope springs eternal!

The magnolias are blooming. The star magnolia and the species.  This flower is produced from a rootstock which had a yellow magnolia grafted to it but the yellow magnolia died back and this is what is left.  A very hardy plant with spotty flowers.  I think it is fine at the edge of the woodland.  Gee, I forgot to take a picture of the star magnolia.  That will have to wait for another day.   

This Rhododendron is also coloring up nicely, at least the part not eaten by the deer.  I think this one is 'Olga'.  The small leaves always look nice as they reflect the light.  This next combination is the Sedum 'Angelina', Sedum 'I can't remember right now' and a little sprig of Spirea 'Magic Carpet. I love this early color combination which has the same colors as the Dicentra s. 'Gold Heart' plus a bit of gray!  Too bad the bleeding heart is a shade plant and these have full sun requirements.  Still,  I'm loving these hot colors!  The hot colors are such a relief from the black and white winter.  What colors do you find most appealing in the spring?  Pale pinks or hot orange?