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! 

Tulip Dilemmas

Dilemma #1:

 

Red tulips!

They're bright, and well, they're bright.

Also, red just doesn't have a place in any of my flowerbeds right now.

Granted, these are growing rogue near the steps (planted by previous homeowners), but that just means they will get mown down. Assuming the grass actually grows at some point.

 

I might see if I can pawn them off on my neighbor.

If she doesn't want them, I don't know.

There's got to be a place somewhere....

other neighbor?

 

Dilemma #2:

These lovely tulips along the top of the garden wall.

Along with all the tulips on the slope, in general.

Only about half of these came back this year.

I know it's a clay death trap for tulips up there.

I don't want to lose them entirely, but on the other hand, they're so pretty and cheerful peeking out amongst all the weedy grass.

 

So I go back and forth.

Dig them all up and put them in actual flowerbeds with decent soil?

Or just leave them and enjoy them as long as they last?

 

Still haven't decided for sure.

In the meantime, they sure are pretty up there.

Maybe I need to research spring flowers for clay soil and get something in to replace them that will love it. Then move them all down where they'll be happy in my flowerbeds.

Almost Bloom Day flowers

I just couldn't seem to make it out there this month to take pictures for Bloom Day (the 15th of every month). These were taken 3 days later, on April 18.

 

Yes, they are quite bright. Sorry!

 

back flowerbed, looking toward deck

 

I like this flowerbed a little more every year!

 

 

My flowering almond bloomed again!

Last year it hardly did anything--it was probably sulking due to being transplanted.

I just love the tiny pink pom-poms all up and down every branch!

 

These next two pictures are to show off the varieties of muscari that came in the mixed bag I bought from John Scheepers last fall. I hope all the unusual ones multiply quickly like the regular ones do.

I looked back through their catalog to name the varieties.

Pale blue: Muscari Valerie Finnis

ombre, dark blue and light blue: Muscari latifolium

pure white: Muscari botryoides album

Peonies a' coming!

Also, those Mariette tulips are just about to bloom.

They have really multiplied in that spot. It's going to be so beautiful in another week or two!

The 'Festival Pink' hyacinths have multiplied, as well.

They look so delicate and airy.

I've got them planted all along the bottom terrace out front, as well.

Tulips over on the East side, plus a few more white muscari in front.

 

Flowerbed Tour: Front

These front beds make me so happy.

I like to walk along the walls often to see what's blooming.

 

These were taken on May 23:

 

Overview, right side

I can hardly believe how tall the peonies have grown this year! (middle terrace)

They are twice the height they were last year, and all three loaded with buds!

 

Overview, middle

I like the contrast of the barberry on the bottom and the elderberry on top.

 

Overview, left (part-shade) side

I need to add compost to all the shrubs up front.

That little barberry is just a nub!

A pretty little nub, but still...

 

top terrace, looking toward driveway

 

I'm so tickled with this snowball bush!

Covered with blooms in its first year!

 

top terrace, looking toward elderberry

 

This was actually from May 16, I think.

Back when these tulips were blooming.

 

Middle terrace, May 23

Everything filling in, a few tulips.

 

Lamb's ears getting huge!

Plus, tulips, salvia, and columbine.

The tulips on this corner must get the most shade: they are last to open and last to be done.

 

middle terrace, part-shade side

I had to cut the 'Burgundy Iceberg' rose way back this spring.

I was afraid I had lost it at first.

I hope once the rest of the pine tree gets cut down up top, it will get enough sun to really thrive on this corner.

 

Bottom terrace, corner view

 

 A few more mini daffodils blooming at the same time as the English laurel. 

 

 closeup of the potentilla

I don't remember it even blooming last year.

I think it must be much happier in this new location.

Flowerbed Tour: Back

May 5:

 

Those tulips are so beautiful.

{sigh}

 

Overview from the deck-side.

...and from the gate towards the deck, complete with dead rose bush on the left.

 

Mockorange, surrounded by tulips.

 

May 23:

 

Overview

End of May is a lag time for this bed, without the big purple irises.

Tulips are done, mockorange and rose have yet to bloom.

I may have to do something about that.

 

'Yellow Topaz' rose.

Lots of buds--it should be gorgeous in another week or so.

Plus, see that one random iris in front?

I swear I did not plant that there.

It will have to be moved. 

 

Geum 'Totally Tangerine' is picking up the slack down on the far end of the bed.

Plus, poppy buds! (right side)

This dwarf pink iris 'Bubbles' has been a welcome addition.

 

The lipstick pink penstemon is going crazy this year!

I have 2 varieties planted, and they are both covered in blossoms.

 

Overview from the gate-side down.

Full, just not much blooming at the moment.

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