The Start Of Spring- a photo essay

   Daffodils are one of the most popular flowers in the high country. They are native to Europe and Northern Africa.  The flower is now found in almost every part of North America. 

Daffodils come in many colors, ranging from white, yellow, and orange to pink and purple.  The bulb is best planted in late fall, just 2 weeks before the first frost. The plant blooms in multiple rounds, so gardeners can expect fresh flowers from early April to late June. The plant is perennial and only needs to be planted once.

This is a perfect plant for beginners to gardening or as a filler for already started gardens. 

 Purple Alliums are common in the high country, but due to their need for sun, they are often hard to grow. Unlike many other flowers in the region, purple alliums are originally native to Asia.

Alliums are a foot tall and hold up a circular arrangement of small, purple flowers. The  plant will come back each year and is best planted early in the fall. The flowers bloom late spring or early summer.  This plant needs tons of sunlight which could be hard for high country gardeners to provide. This flower would be harder to grow than daffodils, but is definitely one gardeners should consider to elevate their garden. 

Wild Geraniums are native to the U.S.  and are often considered a wildflower. The plant grows in almost all parts of the United States. 

Wild Geraniums have pink and purple flowers which grow in clusters around the plant. The leaves and stalks of Geraniums sit low to the ground and can cover large areas in a short amount of time.  Seeds are best planted mid winter and flowers bloom early summer. This plant is good for gardeners who want to cover large areas of space and have a plant which needs little attention. Wild Geraniums are perennials and will rarely need replanting. 

Snowdrops are a small, early blooming plant which is very popular is North Carolina. Snowdrops are perennial and spread slowly over a couple of years. If you wish to add more of the plant to your garden, early fall is the best time for planting. Once planted, Snowdrops will thrive on their own and will bloom before most other plants have even come out of the ground.  Snowdrops are native to Europe, but can now be found all over the southeast. 

Snowdrop flowers are small in size and hang low to the ground. The flowers can be light green or yellow, but are most often white.,

Hyacinths are a late blooming plant compared to others in the area.    The full flower doesn't come out  until late spring. The plant is native to the Mediterranean, which has a large effect on their bloom time.  They are perennials and will come back year after year. 

The plant has a large stem which holds up a brightly colored flower. The  flower color ranges from blue, purple, and pink. 

This is a harder plant to grow in this area due to their late bloom. 

Peonies are popular in this area due to their quick growing time. Peonies are from many areas of Europe and Asia. They were first brought here to South America and then moved north. The cool climate of the high country makes this an easy plant to grow.

There are 33 known species of peony with flowers typically being either light pink or white. Gardeners can expect flowers from early April into late June.  If gardeners wish to have more peonies, the best planting time is late September. 

Iris plants are incredibly versatile. They grow in almost any climate and are native to almost all of North America. They are perennials and will come back year after year with little to  no help from gardeners.  Iris' are best planted late summer to early fall. Flowers can be expected to bloom late spring to early summer. 

Flower colors can range from  pink and purple to light yellow and orange. Some of the most rare species can have flowers that are black and brown. Iris is a great plant for high country gardeners and can be an interesting flower to add to your garden. 

Lenten Rose is native to Europe, with most of their population thriving in  Greece  and Turkey.  The plant lives in most of North America due to its resistance to both the cold and heat. Lenten Roses are best planted early fall or late spring. They often bloom from February to April with a strict blooming period of 40 days. 

Lenten Rose buds come in light yellow-green to bright red petals. The plant and leaves stay close to the ground and stay in bloom for a long time. 

Blueberry Bushes are a very popular plant in the high country. Blueberry Bushes are native to Eastern North America which is why they grow in abundance here. They are a native to Watauga County, however those plants don't produce the fruit which most people eat. Blueberry Bushes often grown in higher elevations, but will produce more fruit the lower they are. 

Blueberry Bushes are dark purple when sprouting but grow a light brown bark as they get older. In late spring blueberry bushes are covered in white flowers. Around June and August, small berries form in place of the flowers.