May Bloom Day: Geums and snowballs

Welcome, Bloom Day friends!

I don't know about you, but my list of spring chores just keeps growing, while my time to do them stays about the same.

 

I love the month of May!

Everything is so green and beautiful flowers are bursting open every day.

 

Here's a peek at my garden:

 

Back flowerbed:

 

My geum 'Totally Tangerine' really sparkles this month.

In fact, it pretty much carries the bed between tulip die-off and rose bloom.

Every year I think I need to fit a few more in back there.

 

Do you see what I see?

Huge fuzzy poppy buds! I'm so excited!

I watched a little girl the other day who, unbeknownst to me, picked some off. No doubt she was also delighted with their fuzziness. I was very sad when I found the buds on the deck later.

I have not yet reached poppy abundance, where the loss of a few buds doesn't matter, but I hope to get there someday!

Dwarf iris 'Bubbles' just starting to bloom, with hardy geranium in front.

Back flowerbed, long view looking toward deck.

The lilies in the foreground were a Mother's Day gift.

I can't remember the name offhand.

I'll have to check the tag and get back to you.

This iris is not supposed to be in the back flowerbed.

They all got moved up front, except this one.

I have no memory of deciding to leave it or plant it here.

Ah well. Now that it's blooming I guess it can stay for a few more weeks, at least.

Fruits and Veggies:

 



Strawberry blossoms.

June is coming!!

 

 

(above and below)

Tulips on the back slope.

They're all bent over following a rainstorm we had.

 

 Front flowerbeds:

 

Sem False Spirea (Sorbaria sorbifolia) with columbine.

The colors echo so nicely, it almost looks planned!

Front tulips, lamb's ears, and candytuft in the background.

These flowerbeds face north, so the bulbs here are about 2 weeks later than in back.

I like it--I get to enjoy the tulips longer this way.

Snowballs in spring.

This shrub is quickly becoming a favorite.

I'm impressed with how heavily it blooms here in its second spring.

 

A few mini daffodils.

I'm not sure which variety this is, but it is the latest to bloom of all my daffodils, by at least 10 days.

Wide view of front beds.

Okay, I had to include this shot, because you can see the iris buds better.

So close to blooming!

Any day now...

Front bed, next to the house:

My dicentra is still going strong.

It's right next to the front porch, so I get to check in on it several times a day.

 

Lovely little heuchera ('Sweet Tart', I think), with oakleaf hydrangea, astilbe, and euonymous foliage in the background.

 

I didn't include the shade bed this time, but I may get out there to take pictures for a separate post.

I have a volunteer forget-me-not blooming right now, which is just delightful!

 

To see what else is blooming around the world right now, click over to

May Dreams Gardens.

 

Thanks for visiting! See you again soon! 

Beauty all around: Garden Blogger's Bloom Day

Welcome friends!

I garden and live in Eastern Washington state, zone 5b.

We are in the middle of a May heat wave this week, with weather in the '70's.

I am surrounded by beautiful flowers today, and loving every minute of it!

 

'Mariette' tulips and 'Prairie Smoke' geum

When I put the geum in last summer, I didn't realize they would bloom at the same time as the tulips. I am pleased--I think they complement each other well.

I don't have this labeled anywhere.

Anyone recognize it?

 

Geum 'Totally Tangerine'

One advantage of our lawn being under construction for the 2nd year is that I get to enjoy these dandelions as much as I want to. And, I'm not trying to brag or anything, but our dandelions are some of the best I've seen. They have huge, vibrant 2-3 inch blooms, packed tightly together.

Yay dandelions! (for now....)

 I put in these tulips along the top of the garden wall just last fall, thinking they would give me a boost while I was waiting for vegetables to grow and fill in.

I was right.

Our neighbor said they look fake--they're too perfect. Ha!

I'm loving them up there.

I hope they come back again next year.

 



Brunnera, in the shade bed.

Daphne 'Carol Mackie' and daffodils

Those tiny pink flowers smell heavenly.

 

 I discovered these tulips when I started pulling everything out of this bed under the windows. They didn't bloom last year; must have been too choked out by the weeds.

I am planning to move them to the front flowerbed.

More tulips and daffodils.

[sigh] I love spring.

Mini tulips, with corkscrew rush in the background.

English laurel with blooms just beginning to pop.

 

Creeping phlox, muscari, and a few more mini daffodils.

The phlox was an addition last fall.

Candytuft and daffodils, front flowerbed.

 Deep purple columbine with more of those 'Mariette' tulips in the background.

 



Apple blossoms!

My son counted 21 apple blossoms this year.

I'm hoping that far fewer blooms will mean that some apples will actually grow to maturity this year. I know. Hope springs eternal.

 

Speaking of eternal hope...we've got all kinds of construction projects about half-way done right now--deck, garden expansion, shed porch, etc. Here's hoping they all get done in the next few months!

 

Early May Flowerbeds: Front

So much in bloom, I had to do another flowerbed tour, even though I just finished the last one about 10 days ago! 

 

Top Terrace:

 

 

elderberry

 

Snowball bush forming buds!

I didn't expect it to bloom this year.

 

Middle Terrace:

 

tulips, hyacinths, and daffodils

  

 peony stalks shooting up add a vibrant color

 

Peony buds!

I can hardly wait for the show!

 

candytuft and more tulips

lamb's ear and columbine filling out



 

part-shade corner

 

One of three new columbines added to this corner of the terrace.



 

part-shade side tulips and daffodils

 

Sem False Spirea

I am loving this shrub!

The multi-colored foliage really brightens up this shady corner, and the fine texture is a great contrast to the spring bulbs' strappy leaves nearby.

 

Bottom terrace:

 



 In the bottom corner, grape hyacinths, iris foliage, and laurel provide a pleasing contrast.
 

daffodils behind the laurels

daffodils in the bottom terrace

 

by the mailbox