For some reason they aren't budding. Still too young? English bluebells are supposed to be comparatively hard to grow, not like the weedy "Spanish" ones (most vigorous are actually hybrids between the two, perhaps this includes most grown in gardens). Virginia bluebells, of course, are not related to English bluebells.

Hi Tim. It's definitely Mertensia virginica, Virginia Bluebells. I read that variegated plants occur infrequently, and they are always unstable, producing regular offspring. They don't sell any variegated cultivars that I know of. The leaves could look that way for other reasons too, but it's probably just a mutation.

@KW PNW Z8 Yes the grape hyacinth spread invasively too. The deer seem to really enjoy eating the foliage because it is up in the winter when most everything else is gone. That keeps them some what in check here, but spread they do. Yes that is a dogwood in bloom. @Embothrium Bulb catalogs are the origin of all these bluebells. Bulbarella being who she is would look at the catalogs and go, "Oh, I don't have that one. I need that" and order away. There could be Spanish, English and the hybrid here all interbreeding now. There are some of them very distinctly twice the size of the others. To try and ID them correctly in this garden would be for crazy making. I have read an article or two over concern for the purity of English Bluebells in GB because of the invading Spanish hordes. @floral_uk z.8/9 SW UK The mother of one of my clients smuggled in what are supposed to be proper English Bluebells. I snapped a pic of them last week so she could send it back to England. If they are imposters, I am staying mum. @kitasei2 I keep the paths clear with a weed whacker and that means bluebells and anything else in them gets whacked. I had to get over any concern for that is a good plant. There are always plenty more. Walking the paths consistently also go a long way towards keeping them open. The deer and all the other varmints help with that too.

Um, I have very mixed feelings about bluebell woods, Floral. In beechwoods and other dense woodlands where nothing really thrives beneath a summer canopy, sure...and they are, in their season, lovely to look at and smell... but I would be dismayed to have such dense colonies in my wood (well, old, neglected plantation, tbf). I feel I am taking a risk with cowslips and oxslips - very successful coloniser in certain woodlands. My main woodland floor flower is red campion....which is everywhere but still allows a lot of other wildlings to inhbit the same space. It has been a very steep learning curve in the decade since buying a pocket wood. I am sure you recall my fervent (misguided) ideas to 'garden' in it. These days, I am limited to occasional flinging seed about and much strimming and path clearing. No actual gardening as such. The allotment though...is nothing like any of the other plots on my site - I do not envy the council or future allotment owner when I have cocked my clogs. Trees abound...and gigantic wild roses.