Spring Garden

The weather is typically springlike, alternating warm sunny days with cold rainy ones, mostly the latter unfortunately. I've had little chance to get out in the garden and plant new purchases, but at least I've been able to take a few photos of last year's acquisitions that are giving us pleasure.
The catkins on my dwarf willows are particularly pretty. Here's Salix nakamurana var. yezoalpina:

...and the grey foliage and red catkins on the Swiss willow, Salix helvetica:

Also in the front garden, my Enkianthus perulatus has grown considerably since last year...

...as has Beesia calthifolia just behind it.

In the same bed I've planted a new Heuchera called 'Venus', which has wonderful caffe latte leaves.

Also in front of the house are some of my favourite tulips, like tall, fiery 'Ballerina'...

...and tiny species tulip T. chrysantha, which I hope will naturalize in this area.

In the back garden, another tulip, 'Spring Green' is giving quite a display.

We've recently added a couple of chairs to this area, nice old worn cedar adirondacks that our neighbours were discarding. They look quite decorative under the flowering pear.

There's still a lot of bare earth, but some perennials haven't yet emerged. I planted the flowering currant on the left hoping it would attract hummingbirds, who are drawn north from Mexico as its blooms open.

So far no luck, but I will move it during its dormant period to the new area we've made closer to the back lane, where it will be more prominent.

Other little treasures flowering in the back yard include wood anemones,

double white primrose 'Dawn Ansell',

 and a Japanese painted fern just emerging from winter sleep.

Michael's bowl of sempervivums that I gave him for his birthday last year is also flourishing. I ordered named varieties from a grower in Ontario and, although he has technically stopped doing mail order, he very kindly agreed to send me a selection. Thank you, Jack!