I was standing at the top of the hill overlooking tractors and clay, that will soon be the garden of my friend, Bob, at his new home in Columbia, SC.

Although a stiff breeze created a thick haze of pollen dust, and the sweet smell of Wisteria was heady and almost overpowering, the hillside below me was already a riot of color, like a child’s Easter basket spilling eggs and candy. The dogwoods, azaleas, tulips, faded Jonquils reminded me that spring had indeed arrived in the Midlands.

In the days of sweet Gertrude Jeckyll-inspired gardening, April was peak perennial time, but southerners changed all that beginning with Elizabeth Lawrence, and modern gardens know perennials thrive all summer here. Now it goes on and on, with April being like the fair with a collision of colors that reminds us that it is time to prepare for the summer and fall.

In fact, spring isn’t even my favorite time. When people ask when to see my gardens, the answer always is either summer or fall. While April brings some thrill of spring, it also reminds me of what I have to do for the next two seasons. Over the next few months, I’ll share some of what looks good now and what needs to be done next.

Early Spring Garden Checklist

Now is the time to plant Colocasia (Dwarf Elephant Ear) and gladiolus communis (a sub-speciaes of byzan). Just drop them in among spring pansies.

You’ll need to keep an eye on the Colocasia as they tend to take over if left alone.

Don’t forget to fertilize the bulb foliage of those fading daffodils. Feeding them now will ensure strong and beautiful plant and blooms next year.

It’s also time to prune those hedges. These are often the curtain- the backdrop- for the perennials and annuals that make our summer gardens so beautiful.

Finally, put a light broadcast of general fertilizer on emerging perennials. I’m putting out today 10-10-10 in a very light application and just for good measure, spraying lots of things with a fish-based liquid feed!

Looking Good Now

You may want to consider Tradescantia Sweet Kate (Spiderwort) with Scilla peruviana (Caribbean or Cuban lily) and Ajuga reptans Atropapurea. All of these easy-to-grow perennials present blue to purple flowers usually in April that often last into the fall. Partial shade, an avoidance of too much water, and good air circulation will ensure a beautiful and lasting border.

Other perennials you may want to try if you havent already are:

Selaginella (Peacock Moss), a groundcover for moist shade with leaves that emerge now and last until winter burn.

Arisaema (Cobra Lilies). Tony Avant calls his most bizarre plants, whose leaves emerge now and flowers unfurl oftem in an incredible purple show.

Angelica Pachycarpa with jade green leaves look great now—like parsley, but three feet across, and its bulbous, fist-like buds are emerging into what will become large umbrels of white flowers. And although the common species (A. gigas) does not do well in Zone 8 and warmer this one is summer dormant, and a hit in fall, winter and spring.

And, of course, I cant forget the versatile Canna with itsleave just now emerging from the ground. The purple ones look great with Cynara Cardunculus (Cardoon) planted among them. This hairy and prickly plant with its silver leaves emerges now and its round thistle-like purple flowers reach their peak in mid-summer.