Fragrant Spring Bouquet

Today I put together my first garden bouquet of the year.  With temperatures in the mid-80's Fahrenheit this week the blooms won't last long outside, so I might as well bring some indoors.

'Apricot Parrot' tulips are the stars of the bouquet.  Their coloring is peachy coral in bud and turns to cool pink as the flower matures.

Double flowering 'Pink Star' tulips arc toward one side of the vase while stems of purple honeysuckle meander around nearby.

Nodding green flowers of a double flowered Lenten rose (Hellebore) provide filler in the arrangement.  Before adding any flowers I made a grid of peony leaves at the base to hold everything in place.  The leaves in this shot are from a bleeding heart, however.

Stems of white bleeding heart (Dicentra spectabilis 'Alba') add sweetness to the mix.  My kids love to pull the flowers apart to find slippers, bunny ears and a sword.

Fragrance comes from puffs of Korean spice Viburnum (V. carlesii).  After blooming this classic shrub features glossy leaves in summer and a kaleidoscope of color in fall.
The garden continues to race through spring with our much warmer than normal temperatures.  I have to spend extra time out there enjoying it each day since nothing lasts long in the heat.  I have no complaints about spending extra time in the garden, of course!