Exochorda is native to China and central Asia and is a pretty deciduous shrub with arching branches. It bears pure white flowers.
The buds resemble pearls, which give rise to its common name of ‘The Pearl Bush’.
It is also known as ‘The Bride’ because when the flowers are fully open and covering the shrub, the effect is of a bridal gown, a froth of white.
We planted one of these a few years ago and it is always a delight to see its full effect in April and May. It contrasts well with the deep blue of the evergreen Ceanothus.
Suddenly the garden is full of flowers and bees and insects - and life! We saw our first damselfly yesterday hovering over the pond and a small newt today near the surface. All photos should enlarge when clicked - but there again, they may not . . .
Exochorda x macrantha 'The bride'
Sometimes known as 'Pearl Bush'
Syringa -commonly known as Lilac
A lilac Lilac
Choisya ternata - Mexican Orange Blossom
Physocarpus opulifolius - Common Ninebark with visitor. The buds are tightly shut at present but will open to white flowers that are very popular with bees
Syringa, Lunaria and Rosmarinus officinalis - Lilac, Honesty and Rosemary
Lavandula stoechas 'Papillon' - usually simply called Lavender
Ilex Altaclerensis Golden King - variegated holly
Despite its name this is a female self-fertile shrub. I am delighted to see flowers this year - there were none last year. The white flowers attract flying pollinators though this cluster of flowers and buds has been visited by an ant. In case the picture cannot be enlarged, the cropped shot below shows it more clearly.
Thank you to the Today's Flowers team for hosting this lovely meme.To see more blooms around the world please click here - and maybe you will be tempted to join in!
From 'The Waste Land' 1: The Burial of the Dead T S Eliot (1888 - 1965)
I cannot agree with Eliot's sombre reflection.Certainly April is changeable, perverse and unpredictable in her habits,but when the sun shines and birds sing and buds unfurl into fresh green leaves and scented blossoms and delicate flowers it is a month to be lauded and applauded.
April violets - Viola - in the garden
We have never planted these in our garden but they appear each year and are spreading, to our great delight!
Dog violets - Viola riviniana - in the forest today
(Pity they weren't Viola labradorica!!)
For me April is a soft and gentle month of new life and optimism, of a promise fulfilled and a pledge renewed that more is to come.
April's colours are subtle; there is not the extravagance of the summer flowers that bloom to excess, each brighter and showier than its neighbours to attract the butterflies and bees. Roses are overblown - forget-me-nots never!
Forget-me-nots - Myosotis - appear every year, mostly blue, occasionally pink or white, they are pretty, unassuming little plants.
The last few days in my corner of the globe have been wonderful - warm, bright, breezy and loud with bird song. Already there are many butterflies and bees busily following their instincts and each day brings new delights as more almost forgotten beauties reveal themselves.
Exochorda - the Pearl Bush
Always at this time of year, almost unbidden, the choral piece 'All in the April evening' comes to my mind. I sang it as a girl at school and have always loved it. In this video it is sung by the Glasgow Orpheus Choir.
Lily of the Valley -Convallaria majalis - comes twirling its way to the surface.
Honesty - Lunaria rediviva - is a biennial plant. Its flowers are usually purple, sometimes white and attract, bees, butterflies, moths and flies which pollinate them. Some of its popular names are Silver dollar, Penny flower, Moonwort. Flower arrangers like to use its papery silver seed heads in their displays. April sun gladdens the heart and makes the spirit dance. The sap is rising and, as Alfred Lord Tennyson (1809 - 1892) so aptly wrote, 'In the spring a young man's fancy lightly turns to thoughts of love.' More than 200 years earlier William Shakespeare (1564 -1616) wrote 'verses' that appeared in 'As You Like It'. It has been suggested that the banality of the rhymes and lyrics was a deliberate ploy by the bard to show his playful side. The words have been set to music by a number of different composers. In the following video the work is sung to Thomas Morley's music. He was a contemporary of Shakespeare so perhaps his rendering is the most appropriate!
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