Oh the wonderful things a little sunshine has done for my gardens. Despite the fact that the sun finally came out I chose a pretty little perennial to post today that actually prefers partial shade..... which may be exactly why it's so much further along than my sun-loving perennials. Seen here is TIARELLA cordifolia var.- 'Spring Symphony'

I originally selected this perennial for it's very cool foliage....it's flowers had already been clipped off. It's dark green, deeply scalloped leaves are fuzzy topside . The most notable feature, however, are the veins which are heavily marked as though ink-stained in black w/ concentrated patterns of color along the center of each lobe.....as if the pattern were tattooed on each leaf. But, I was really delighted the next season when it blossomed and it's flowers were just as cool as it leaves.

TIARELLA is a diminutive of the Greek word 'tiara' meaning turban. As seen in the image here (taken this morning) the turban-shaped 'flower' is actually a collection of many spidery florets on a single, wiry stem rising about 10" above the foliage. Opening from the bottom up each tiny five-lobed floret spreads out into a star shape. Anthers w/ a single salmon colored seed extend beyond the petals giving the entire flower a marvelous feathery appearance. En masse 'Spring Symphony' makes a stunning presentation where it lives in the Apple Tree Bed.