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Stepping Into May

Rhododendron 'Klondyke' and Geranium maculatum May is already here and the garden suddenly explodes with growth. We spent the weekend watering (already?) because there hasn't been significant rainfall in a while. We don't have a sprinkler system so it is all manpower, dragging hoses and sprinklers. It takes two days - one for the back and one for the front - to water everything. It is possible to get it all in one day if we start really early. The rhododendrons are beginning now - 'Mandarin Lights' 'Jean Marie De Montague' 'Percy Wiseman' - beautiful but suffers from lacebug. I'm considering replacing it or maybe I will try and treat it. A favorite right now is the Chilean Potato Vine ( Solanum crispum 'Glasnevin'). This plant is hardier than you might imagine. Some sources list it as a "9", others an "8".  It is going on its third year in our garden, having been moved once. It is sheltered somewhat by a fence but ...
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March Bloom Day

We've had a rainy weekend, getting around 3" - it started raining on Friday and didn't stop until late Saturday night. It was a long slow rain, the kind that is great for the garden. It was wet today but I managed to get out and take some photos (although I should have been weeding!)

Saucer Magnolia (Magnolia x soulangiana) is still a young tree but the blooms are increasing year by year.



Star Magnolia (Magnolia stellata) has bloomed the longest that I've ever seen. It blooms so early that the frost usually gets it.



Alabama Snow Wreath (Neviusia alabamensis) is a great shrub.



Another great shrub, Winter Honeysuckle (Lonicera fragrantissima) - it is hard to see the blooms in the photo. Fantastic fragrance!



Right now, the star of the show is the camellia. There are so many blooming that I plan to do a post on them later in the week. The following photo is of the oldest camellia in our garden. This is 'C.M. Wilson' and the pink blooms are the true color. The red mysteriously started appearing last year. I'm wondering if the growth is coming from the rootstock, like roses sometimes do?



An unidentified camellia that I rescued from the Unitarian Church. It was dying there and I think it was planted too close to the foundation of the building and the extreme alkalinity was killing it. When I dug the plant up, there were chunks of powdered concrete all in the ground. Camellias do not like this! It seems to be on the rebound.



Chinese Witch Hazel (Loropetalum chinense) - I hope I can get a full shot of the entire plant later - it is massive.




Epimedium (aka Fairy Wings) (Epimedium versicolor 'Sulphureum') is a great plant for dry shade.



Euphorbia Despina




Carolina Jessamine (Gelsemium sempervirens)




Last, but not least, the hellebores are still going strong.





Carol at May Dreams blog invites us to show what is blooming in our gardens on the 15th of every month. Visit her blog for links to more blooms.
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  1. Lisa at GreenbowMarch 15, 2009 at 5:55 PM

    Wow Phillip, you have some beauties showing off this spring. It looks like that garden man is screaming his displeasure at the rose that is blooming red. Ha... We saw lots of that Jessemine Vine blooming when we were driving through the southern states toward TX. I just love it. I wish I could grow it. Great photos.

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  2. Catherine@AGardenerinProgressMarch 15, 2009 at 6:48 PM

    You have a lot of beautiful flowers. Love the magnolias and camellias. Both of those have awhile before they bloom here! I think I'm going to try the epimedium under my trees.

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  3. F CameronMarch 15, 2009 at 7:35 PM

    You really have a lot of blooms already!

    We're still getting rain. Three days so far. Two more to go.

    Cameron

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  4. sweetbayMarch 15, 2009 at 8:18 PM

    Beautiful photos Phillip. You have a lot blooming in the garden so early in the year.

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  5. AnonymousMarch 15, 2009 at 8:54 PM

    Ahhh, the hellebores are taking center stage in many photos but your camellias are beautiful and a plant I can appreciate but not grow. Love the shiny foliage.

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  6. lostlandscapeMarch 15, 2009 at 9:04 PM

    Some very cool plants, several that I don't know at all. Your Alabama snow wreath looks remarkably like one of our west coast clematis species, though the plants are totally different--I'm not sure what ours would do with three inches of rain in a weekend. Enjoy the green.

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  7. Rob (ourfrenchgarden)March 16, 2009 at 1:00 AM

    Those camellias look really something.

    I'm guessing your soil is slightly acid. Yor roses obviously love it.

    Lovely photos.

    Rob

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  8. Roses and LilacsMarch 16, 2009 at 7:09 AM

    Your yard must smell heavenly. Love the camellia and the honeysuckle.
    Marnie

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  9. Annie in AustinMarch 16, 2009 at 7:31 AM

    Your plants are always lovely Phillip! My eye was also caught be the Alabama Snow wreath, such a delicate looking native shrub!

    Your Loropetalum is green! With creamy white flowers? All the Loropetalums that I've seen here were burgundy/pink so had to go look yours up...are the white flowers fragrant? |

    Happy GBBD!

    Annie at the Transplantable Rose

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  10. Dig, Grow, Compost, BlogMarch 16, 2009 at 11:30 AM

    Wow, you've got a lot going on! I love that you saved the camellia. And now I know what has been blooming around the neighborhoods here - Star Magnolia (although they're almost over their bloom period). Thanks for the great tour as usual!

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  11. WayneMarch 16, 2009 at 1:57 PM

    My Hellebores are just starting to send up buds. Your pics make me anxious!

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  12. LesMarch 16, 2009 at 2:24 PM

    Not only did you get good rain, but the soft light made for great photos, and your garden looks great too. Bless you for rescuing the camellia, I would have thought Unitarians to be more compassionate. Your CM Wilson is sporting a red branch, I don't think it is coming from the roots, and if you don't want it just cut that branch off.

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  13. Phillip OliverMarch 16, 2009 at 3:14 PM

    Thanks Les!

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  14. Phillip OliverMarch 16, 2009 at 3:15 PM

    Lostlandscape, welcome! Thank you for visiting!

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  15. Monica the Garden FaerieMarch 17, 2009 at 7:52 AM

    Ooh, ahh! What a glorious show! The honeysuckle blossoms put me vaguely in mind of fothergilla flowers... oh I'm impatient for spring here!

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  16. UnknownMarch 17, 2009 at 6:34 PM

    Your photos are a great testament to what is so wonderful about spring in the South! I'm originally from New England and am clear there are great things about spring in every region, but it's hard to beat the look and fragrance of March in the South!

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  17. Digital Flower PicturesMarch 18, 2009 at 3:43 PM

    You are so far ahead of us. Alabama Snow Wreath looks coll. Hadn't seen that before.

    ReplyDelete

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