On the way home from work yesterday—during one of our brief respites from rain—I must have seen or heard a half dozen mowers buzzing (mine being one) as folks frantically tried to play catch up with their ever-growing lawns. Late April rain followed by several 90 degree days followed by even more rain has made grass grow and flowers and foliage “pop” overnight.

One section of the Winterthur Garden that is in its full glory as a result is Azalea Woods. Walking through the maze of paths in this 8 acre woodland, one is saturated in color form head to foot. Wildflowers such as Trillium, Jacob’s ladder, and Spanish Bluebell provide swathes of color at the feet of masses of kurume azaleas in shades of pink, white, red and lavender. White flowers of dogwood, red bud and Carolina silverbell provide color overhead yet well below the cathedral-like canopy of the towering tulip poplar, beech and oak that makes up the woodland. But don’t stop there—Winterthur boasts azaleas in flower throughout the estate so take advantage of the weekend forecast (crossed fingers) and come and see what beauty the rains have bestowed upon us.

The Sundial Garden peaks with billowing clouds of pink and white accented by the purple of emerging lilacs and redbuds. Explore the March Bank to discover the delicate flowers of thousands of small bulbs and early wildflowers, including trillium, trout lily and Virginia Bluebells.

Follow a trail of pink and white magnolias, flowering quince, cherries, and rhododendrons from Azalea Woods to the Sundial Garden. These pave the way for lilacs and azaleas which typically bloom in early to mid-May.

Enjoy the benefits of membership – walk in paradise all year. 

Join us on April 30 for our Wednesdays at Winterthur (W@W) garden series. H.F. du Pont planted thousands of the Great White Trillium and other unique trillium species. Today’s walking tour with Assistant Director of Horticulture, Linda Eirhart, will highlight these delightful trilliums throughout the garden. She will be discussing their identification characteristics and unique cultural needs.

Meet at 11:30 am at the patio behind the Visitor Center. Dress for the weather and wear walking shoes! The program lasts approximately one hour. No reservations necessary. Included with all admission tickets, Members free.

More information about Wednesdays at Winterthur can be found on our homepage.

Bluebells, trilliums, and other “spring ephemerals” (wildflowers that disappear by late summer) are making their annual debut in the Winterthur Garden. Spring beauty (Claytonia virginica), bluebells (Mertensia virginica), trillium (Trillium spp.), and bellwort (Uvularia grandiflora) are at their peak in the garden. You will find them scattered among the beds of azaleas soon to be flowering in Azalea Woods and among the waning bulbs of March Bank.

Their flowering coincides with the Trillium Symposium, hosted here at Winterthur and organized by Mt. Cuba Center, the New England Wildflower Society, and the American Public Garden Association. Over the next two days, attendees will discuss the many aspects of trillium that make it a fascinating as well as beautiful plant.