This week we continued to make progress in our annual spring green up. This weeks in terms of weather was very wet, humid and warm with nearly 2″ of rainfall from thunderstorms early in the week. Temperatures were general in 70s and 80s and recently, 60s. After the 90 degree weather last week many of the spring blooms such as crab apples, tulips and lilacs are spent. We have moved onto late spring flowers. Trees of all kinds and types are now in full leaf out. Neighborhoods are now shaded under the leaves we will have all summer. Looking across the urban tree canopy shows it lush and 100% green in all areas. This week in the garden an in my containers I planted all of my annuals, tropicals and frost tender vegetables in preparation for summer color. Summer is well on its way!

This week my Azaleas bloomed, and I noticed that are in full bloom other other parts of the city as well. I’ve seen some beautiful bright pink Azaleas in Downtown Des Moines along grand avenue. These shrubs are only hardy to southern Iowa and are not hardy any farther north of this point in the state. They may also be damaged in country areas. Instead get Northern Lights varieties.

Columbine blooming always reminded me of the soon to be arrival of warm humid weather and thunderstorms in the area where I grew up. These like spring sun and summer shade. They bloom in late spring.

 

Here is one last look of our total leaf out we are now experiencing. Weather does call for upper 30s and lower 40s for the next couple nights at this point any way, I am not concerned about damage to plants in Southern Iowa.

This will be the last spring growth update of the season since we are now moving towards early Summer and the abundance of blooming plants will continue to go down. However I will have continued horticultural related posts and photos all summer/fall long!