Saturday, May 14, 2011

May Bloom Day



It seems to be the refrain this spring . . . After an unseasonably warm few days last week, we're back to chilly, damp, rainy weather again.

The rain is welcome, as last week's extreme temperatures parched the soil. As for the chill . . . well . . . since I'm not a fan of extreme heat, the cooler temperatures are welcome too. 94 degrees in May, which we had last week, is just a bit much. If I got to choose, I'd pick sunshine and temperatures in the 60's, 70's, and 80's all. year. long, with rain only at night. I think that means I should be living in Maui, although even there it rains during the day.

In spite of the vagaries of this month's weather, our garden is blooming beautifully. In spite of how busy spring can get for me, I always remember to take time to stop and smell the flowers. Working in a client's garden last week, I thoroughly enjoyed the intoxicating scent of Korean Spice viburnums following me everywhere I went. I'm sure this weekend's weather has done them in. I find myself looking around our garden for space for one here.

Happy Bloom Day to all. For more Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day posts, please visit Carol at May Dreams Gardens.

32 comments:

  1. Lots of gorgeous blooms ... adored the flowers of the Chocolate Chip Ajuga and the Pulmonaria. The red Trillium and Mayapple blooms caught my eye, as did the colour of your Pelargonium. Great slideshow!

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  2. Hi Garden Girl
    I love the trillium although I haven't got them in my garden. Hey, when I'm hearing you talking about the weather it seems that we two aren't living so far away from each other. Since weeks the weather was warm and very dry until this weekend finally arrived the much needed rain.
    Have a nice day!
    Alex

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  3. Us, too. Unbearably hot and now, cold and rain. No fun at all...

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  4. Fantastic way to present your blooms!

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  5. Anonymous8:10 AM

    Love the slideshow and all the plants in it. Beautiful red trillium.

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  6. I have to agree with you on the weather. But each time it rains I am happy. I would take the rain and all its issues over drought and parched soil any day. Your garden looks like it is enjoying it too. Happy GBBD to you!

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  7. Thank you Bernie! I'm thrilled seeing the ajuga bloom. It's been here several years, struggling. It's finally getting established, and bloomed for the first time since it's been here.

    Hi Alex, I love the trillium too. It's another thing that has taken patience waiting for it to bloom. I'm glad you're getting that needed rain.

    I love how blogging brings us closer together - even if we are living on different continents!

    Definitely not fun Sissy! It's been a strange spring weather-wise.

    Thank you Diane!

    Glad you enjoyed it Carolyn!

    Me too Tina! That hot, dry weather and parched soil is really hard on everything. Happy Bloom Day!

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  8. Great idea on the slide show. The weather has been unusual everywhere this spring. I guess.....

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  9. Thank you Greggo - glad you enjoyed the slide show. The spring weather has definitely been eventful all over this year.

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  10. Great slide show! I love that red trillium. Your header photo made me smile because I caught a bumblebee nectaring in my bleeding heart just the other day.

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  11. I think your mystery plant might be veronica (speedwell)- one of the creeping kinds. There are also lots of spiky varieties!

    You reminded me that I need to look for some fuschia- love that stuff! Everything looks just beautiful there!

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  12. All your blooms are lovely, but that fuchsia blackie jumped out at me...such a contrast and so stunning! Happy GBBD Day!

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  13. Spring is such a fantastic time of year. I've been noticing great garden smells around too.
    I've also been planting my daughter's garden and that's been fun.
    I agree with you about the weather. I will take winter though, I need the break.

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  14. Glad you enjoyed it Rose. Right now the bumbles' favorites seem to be the bleeding hearts and the pulmonarias. Pulmonarias have bee really nice this year - blooming since March and keeping the bumbles very busy and very happy. I'm so happy at least one of the trilliums finally bloomed - sure took a long time!

    JGH, oh, thank you! Yes, that's what it is! I think it's 'Waterperry Blue.' I never knew there were creeping veronicas. I love the spikey ones. This little creeper has a very special spot in my heart, being on of my friend Meg's signature plants. (It's been just over a year since she left to help take care of that big garden in the sky.)

    Sage Butterfly, that's one of my favorites for containers. I'm so glad it survived winter in the basement. It's a hummingbird favorite here. The second day it was out, I saw a hummingbird for the first time this spring.

    I thoroughly agree Victoria! Sounds like you've got a lot keeping you busy. I too enjoy the winter break. There's something to love about every season.

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  15. Beautiful blooms, Linda! Your pulmonaria and columbines are especially gorgeous. I totally agree with you on the weather--we were gone during most of the hot weather, but I'd much rather have 60's in May than the 90's!

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  16. Many lovely blooms here... I am quite partial to brunnera and appreciate that it seeds about my shady areas quite well...L

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  17. All are pretty blooms! I love how you put the tags on the video. Theh font is lovely and neat. I have a similar yellow calla. Now blooming also ;-) Enjoy your day and I hope you will not be too busy.

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  18. Glad you enjoyed it Stephanie! Tagging them is a good exercise for me too, as it helps remind me of the botanical names. (I tend to prefer the common names - they seem more romantic, while the botanical names kind of bore me!)

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  19. Beautiful slide show, Linda. Are you in love with your red trillium as I am with mine!

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  20. Thank you Joey! Yep - I'm in love, after waiting for that bloom for five years!

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  21. Linda, 5 years~You are patient! I would love a red trillium and now it's on the list~Hoping your spring is shaping up to be fantastic~We have moved into summer! gail

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  22. I think I have that same unknown columbine in my garden. Well, looks like I have two more of them, wonder where they keep coming from.

    Lots of nice blooms, Linda!

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  23. This garden has taught me more patience than any other garden in my past Gail! I'm glad in this case patience was rewarded!

    It's been a strange spring weather-wise here. Looks like we're heading for another chilly period after the rain heading our way.

    I hope you're enjoying your (early) summer, and that you get enough rain for your wonderful garden. Have a great weekend!

    They are unusual colors MBT! Mine came from seeds - can't remember for sure if it was from the yellow or blue columbine seeds we were gifted at Spring Fling. Apparently columbines are fairly promiscuous and hybridize readily.

    I'm so happy the garden is finally looking mature - we have more blooms this spring than ever.

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  24. I love candytuft--mine's not quite as hardy as normal this year. Love all your other blooms, too, esp. the red trillium. I just got another columbine today, we'll see how long it takes for it to die. ;-)

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  25. I'm loving 'em too Monica! The candytuft was started from seed - took three years to bloom, and worth waiting for. They're so cheap at Home Despot, but more fun to start from seed. This spring I discovered they root very easily from cuttings too. I love the trillium too - wish the other two hadn't disappeared.

    I hope your columbine makes it. Cultivars haven't done well here, but canadensis and caerulea, (Rocky Mountain blue,) and one that's a deep blue/purple seem happy here. I have tons of self-sown seedlings. Next time I see you I'll share some if you like. (don't know what they'll end up looking like - columbines are notoriously promiscuous.;) Can't promise they'll thrive there, but at least being free, all you've got to lose is a few minutes of planting time.

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  26. haha... oh yes. For me, the botanical names are too difficult to remember.

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  27. Some are easier for me to remember than others Stephanie. Pronouncing some of them can be even more challenging! :O

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  28. A good mix of such beautiful blooms!

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  29. Thank you p3chandan!

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  30. aloha,

    beautiful collection, love the presentation.

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