The March Bank is known for its stunning display of blue flowered glory-of-the-snow (Chionodoxa lucilliae) and Siberian squill (Scilla sibirica) that saturate the woodland bank—as well as many other parts of the garden—in late March. Italian windflower (Anemone apeninna) adds to the blue palette in early to mid-April and overlaps with the, slightly later, nodding, brilliant blue flowers of Virginia bluebell (Mertensia virginica) that are still putting on a good show in the garden this week. As we enter May, more flowers are adding their blue to the mix: Jacob’s ladder (Polemonium reptans), wild blue phlox (Phlox divaricata), and English and Spanish bluebell (Hyacinthoides non-scripta and Hyacinthoides hispanica). Camas (Camassia sp.) and Siberian Iris (Iris Sibirica) extend the blue to the sunnier edges of Magnolia Bend.
These blue flowers mix beautifully with every color that the surrounding gardens can muster up; whites, yellows, reds, pinks, purples, and greens in varying shades, tones, and hues. Blue helps to strengthen and sharpen some colors while toning down others and works well to blend some otherwise contrasting colors. Used on its own, blue provides a sense of serenity in an otherwise riotous time in the spring flowering landscape. Among the blue flowers, the spiked flowers of the English and Spanish bluebell contrast nicely with the more airy texture of Jacob’s ladder and wild blue phlox to provide a sense of movement and depth within a single-colored massing. Come and share in the joy of the blues and see how you might be able to work this color into your own home garden. Got the Blues?
The March Bank is known for its stunning display of blue flowered glory-of-the-snow (Chionodoxa lucilliae) and Siberian squill (Scilla sibirica) that saturate the woodland bank—as well as many other parts of the garden—in late March. Italian windflower (Anemone apeninna) adds to the blue palette in early to mid-April and overlaps with the, slightly later, nodding, brilliant blue flowers of Virginia bluebell (Mertensia virginica) that are still putting on a good show in the garden this week. As we enter May, more flowers are adding their blue to the mix: Jacob’s ladder (Polemonium reptans), wild blue phlox (Phlox divaricata), and English and Spanish bluebell (Hyacinthoides non-scripta and Hyacinthoides hispanica). Camas (Camassia sp.) and Siberian Iris (Iris Sibirica) extend the blue to the sunnier edges of Magnolia Bend.
These blue flowers mix beautifully with every color that the surrounding gardens can muster up; whites, yellows, reds, pinks, purples, and greens in varying shades, tones, and hues. Blue helps to strengthen and sharpen some colors while toning down others and works well to blend some otherwise contrasting colors. Used on its own, blue provides a sense of serenity in an otherwise riotous time in the spring flowering landscape. Among the blue flowers, the spiked flowers of the English and Spanish bluebell contrast nicely with the more airy texture of Jacob’s ladder and wild blue phlox to provide a sense of movement and depth within a single-colored massing. Come and share in the joy of the blues and see how you might be able to work this color into your own home garden. 
May 1, 2008
The photograph above was taken this morning of the same area pictured below. We are on track to have beautiful azaleas for 
April 29, 2008
Now is the time to enjoy the fragrance and color of Winterthur’s lilacs in full flower in the Sundial Garden. This garden area was developed in the mid 1950s to create an April display of lilacs, quince, spiraea, and magnolia. The lilacs in flower now are hybrids of the common lilac, Syringa vulgaris. Their colors range from light yellow and pink through many shades of lavender and blue, all with a delightful fragrance. 
Winterthur’s daffodil display is one of the Brandywine Valley’s best kept secrets. Planted in drifts by the thousands, daffodils are a visual high note in the garden, flowering in between the peak displays of minor bulbs on the March Bank and azaleas and rhododendrons in Azalea Woods.
Planted along the main drive, Clenny Run, and Sycamore Hill, Winterthur’s sweeps of daffodils have remained much the same as when H. F. du Pont planted them. Narcissus had always been a favorite of du Pont, with some of the earliest plantings taking place in the March Bank by 1902. He developed a system of planting that revealed his plantsmanship and knowledge of design. He wrote in the Daffodil and Tulip Yearbook 1961, “Always plant the varieties separately. This is one of the essential and all-important lessons the intending planter must learn, as there can be no comparison as to the more pleasing effect of a bold expanse of one variety than that of a mixture.” Du Pont believed in informal beds and used the curved and irregular shapes of tree branches to create the outlines for his daffodil sweeps.
The results of du Pont’s efforts are still enjoyed today and are a highlight of the spring landscape. A large part of the display can be enjoyed on your drive into Winterthur. The long drift of Narcissus ‘Queen of the North’ along Clenny Run, is just coming into full flower and can be seen to the right as you reach the bottom of the drive. The rest of the display can be seen near Sycamore Hill from the garden tram or on a stroll through the garden. 
A week of sunny weather in April can give a gardener amnesia. Suddenly you find yourself planting as though it is May, forgetting that the nights can still get cold and turn your hard work into mush. Because today has been cool and cloudy I’ve already had two calls from gardeners asking for advice on frost. Keep in mind that it is not typically cool cloudy days that bring frost; frost is much more common on clear, cool nights with little wind.
Frost damages tender plants by causing cell walls to rupture. You can simulate the effect by putting a leaf of iceburg lettuce in a freezer for a minute. As the lettuce demonstrates, the leaves of a frost damaged plant wilt as though they have been crushed and will not recover on thawing. To keep frost at bay you can use any number of simple strategies. Begin by watering your plants thoroughly during the day, as water and soil are effective thermal masses that will help keep the micro-climate around your plants warmer. If your plants are in pots or trays, move them into a garage or shed for the evening. Alternatively, cover plants with sheets/blankets, paper/newspaper, or sheets of plastic. You can use stakes distributed throughout your beds to hold the covers off of the foliage of your plants. Remember to remove covers as the sun comes out the next day to prevent overheating. If your plants are damaged, but not killed, you can clip out the frost-damage and they should be fine. 
On the second Saturday of each month, one of our staff members leads a walk highlighting something special in the garden or on the estate. These 
The blossoms of flowering quince are a sure sign that Winterthur’s Sundial Garden is about to come into its own. In the Sundial Garden, April is like a fireworks show—light the fuse and stand back. This part of the Winterthur Garden was not designed to offer multiple seasons of interest; instead, it was created to look its best in April. With the warmth of the last couple of days, magnolia, quince, and spiraea have begun their display. Presiding over this colorful performance is one of Winterthur’s finest specimen trees, a large, cloud-like Magnolia called ‘Wada’s Memory.’
One of the most spectacular plant combinations in the Winterthur Garden is near its peak; the Winter Hazel Walk is a collage in shades of purple and pale yellow. The Walk combines the butter yellow of winter hazel (Corylopsis spp.) with the pink to purple flowers of the Korean azalea (Rhododendron mucronulatum). Hellebores, evergreens, and shrubs like the cherry prinsepia (Prinsepia sinensis), play supporting roles. A visit in the morning or evening is a perfect time to enjoy the azaleas backlit against thousands of winter hazel blossoms.
More information about the garden and a