‘This week’s MBF is a local native, Gelsemium sempervirens ‘Carolina jessamine.’ In late winter/early spring, its yellow blossoms appear just as the deciduous leaves are beginning to show. It is one of those wonderful early blooming plants that announces, “Spring is just around the corner.”
Carolina jessamine is fast growing. I planted two of them on this arbor and they quickly covered it. A bit of pruning on a ladder is required from time to time to keep it in place. Only one year has it suffered from cold weather. I thought a particularly cold stretch had killed them, but I cut them back to living wood and in months they were covering the arbor again.
It is often misidentified as a member of the jasmine family.
A Walk in the Garden 
What a beautiful flower and lovely pics John! I am feeling spring-like here (I love it when we just get hints …) but this makes me feel even more hopeful. All best to you and sorry I don’t visit to see your wonderful pictures enough!
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It is a favorite I remember from living in the South. Unfortunately, it will not grow here in the Midwest.
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I’m glad you added that last sentence as I was thinking it was related to the other jasmine. What a treat to have it bloom so early.
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How exciting to see. I planted a (maybe) hardy form last summer and so far so good. My fingers are crossed that I see blooms this spring although I don’t think I’ll get a show like that.
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That’s just gorgeous! A wonderful herald of spring’s return!
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What a beautiful flower that can thrive in cooler weather…looks especially lovely on the arbor!
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Beautiful sign that spring is near. Lovely the way you designed the garden John. Is that from your GC garden?
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