Trilliums in early April

 The oregon grape shrubs are indigenous in our area and this one has volunteered to grow in the strip between our driveways.  It is a very nice shrub in flower now and it has berries to feed the birds in the Fall.

 The purple pasque flower that grows in what I am calling the Magnolia bed.  This bed was renovated a couple of years ago when the David fell over.  The David was given a new base and leveled.  Then a new area from the David to the Irish heather next to the water meter access.  The back corner of this bed has the black bamboo which borders on the thyme circle.  There is a soul mate type of milkweed in the newly renovated part, some tulips, some fancy de Caen anemones (wind flowers), crocuses, a French lavender and a couple of other perennials.  This year some foxgloves have volunteered in the front of this bed along the stone path that leads into the inner garden rooms.  To the other side of the David there is a nice growth of yellow/green decorative herb.  I do not remember the name of the plant.  It is fairly aggressive but easy enough to control.  It borders the thyme circle one one side and has some little perennial geraniums on the stone path side.  In front of the bamboo and just behind the David there is a few Siberian Irises.  Next to the irises there is an old heather (that may be replaced soon too.) The Trilliums grow in the area between the black bamboo and the Magnolia tree which is next to the driveway.  I have transplanted some arabis near the Trilliums as ground cover.   The pasque flowers are near the back of this bed by the  hedging cedars and the driveway. There are a few other perennials  near the pasque flowers area... a couple of daffodils, an autumn joy sedum,  volunteer columbines, feverfew, etc.  The violets need to be totally eradicated from this area but  they are winning the war right now. There is an Irish heather at the front of the bed that partially  hides the water meter access which is a thoroughly ugly thing, that really should have been placed in the driveway and not in the garden.  Most of these flowers bloom in the same time period.  At the top of the bed, next to the driveway and the grass path there is a cement vase with a lovely wine colored aubretia and some snapdragons that insist on being perennial.  

 The lovely wine colored pasque flower

A close up of the pasque flower.  These plants are bred from the Prairie crocus kind of plant.   Quote from Wikipedia:  "The genus Pulsatilla contains about 40 species of herbaceous perennials native to meadows and prairies of North America, Europe, and Asia. Derived from the Hebrew word for Passover, "pasakh", the common name pasque flower, refers to the Easter flowering period, in the spring"
                                     
  Trillium chloropetalum (Sessile)  
    Got it at VIRAGS show and sale in '19.                                    
    Planted with the other trilliums under the Magnolia.

  Trillium erectum purple – native height 20 – 30 cm   8 - 12 inches          similiar to erectum but more purple color
        transplanted in a pot, as this is the stinking trillium
        May 2019 growing in its pot is at least 1 foot tall, no blooms
        Have transplanted it to the Magnolia bed.
 From Fraser Thimble Farm on Salt Spring Island May 30, 2018

 Trillium luteum – N.A. Native, fragrant, lemon scented                     yellow flowers and attractively mottled leaves.  Prefers                      partial sun in humus rich well drained soil.
        Transplanted by the water meter
        May 2019 is growing and is about 12 inches tall with light
        yellow big blossoms   (blossoms were later in May)
From Fraser Thimble Farm on Salt Spring Island May 30, 2018 . 

Trillium ovatum -  I have 2 of these plants, both in the Magnolia bed.  One is older and as at May 2019 it has had 3 blossoms. 
WESTERN Trillium
Stem erect, lower stem bare. Leaves 2–8 in. long, linear to widely egg-shaped, with pointed tip. Flowers on 1–2 1/2 in., erect to weak stalk above leaves. Sepals green, lance-shaped. Petals 1/2–3 in. long, oval with pointed tip, white fading to pink or deep rose-red. Seed capsule is a green or white berry. Grows in cool moist mixed woods, coniferous forests, redwoods, to 6000 ft. Subsp. oettinger has small nodding flowers, linear to lance-shaped leaves with very short stalks; grows in mixed forests in California's Marble Mountains. Subsp. ovatum has wide sessile leaves, upright flowers with petals 1/2–2 3/4 in. long; grows from coast to 5000 ft.
Planting & Growing

Western Trillium will grow to be about 8 inches tall at maturity, with a spread of 8 inches. When grown in masses or used as a bedding plant, individual plants should be spaced approximately 6 inches apart. Its foliage tends to remain low and dense right to the ground. It grows at a slow rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 10 years. As this plant tends to go dormant in summer, it is best interplanted with late-season bloomers to hide the dying foliage.  AS at May 2019... mine might be older than 10 years, needs more compost or leaf  mulch.

This plant does best in partial shade to shade. It prefers to grow in average to moist conditions, and shouldn't be allowed to dry out. It is not particular as to soil pH, but grows best in rich soils. It is quite intolerant of urban pollution, therefore inner city or urban streetside plantings are best avoided, and will benefit from being planted in a relatively sheltered location. Consider applying a thick mulch around the root zone in both summer and winter to conserve soil moisture and protect it in exposed locations or colder microclimates. This species is native to parts of North America. It can be propagated by division. 

The tiny aubretia flower set against the huge magnolia flower.  Just a whimsical view of the plants in flower in the Magnolia bed

 

Trillium Ovatum – native western white Trillium                               transplanted by the water meter - May 2019 1 blossom, one plant,    about 8 inches tall

From Fraser Thimble Farm on Salt Spring Island  May 30, 2018

    

The pasque flowers are finished blooming, as are the trilliums.  The Magnolia tree is just about finished its spectacular show.  The tree peony just across the grass path from the Magnolia is now in full bloom with light pink, fragrant blossoms to match the size of the Magnolia's.  The Siberian Irises and the French lavender in shades of blue/purple are coming into bloom now.   Also volunteer columbines also blooming  in shades of blue all over the front garden rooms.  The inner garden room with the burgundy smoke bush, under planted with a silver sedum has a lovely geum adding its spectacular bright red blossoms to the mix.  It all looks so much better cleaned up.  I trimmed the boxwood hedges this morning and have about half of the tall hedge to finish as my trimmer ran out of charge.