Garden Blogger's Bloom Day for May 2019

Happy Bloom Day for May 2019! It is truly a awesome time in the garden with new blooms popping up every day (or sometimes every minute, it seems). 

We have already had a heat wave which is unheard of here in May. It got up into the 80s for several days in a row but this week we are back to 60 degree temperatures, clouds and some rain today. The heat ruined some of the early blooming peonies. But others are  just beginning.

I am starting out with a delphinium. It is one of those plants that was hard, if not impossible, to grow in the South because they don't like the heat and humidity. I think they are just hard to grow period because I am having difficulties growing them here too. People tell me that they like tons of manure and lots of moisture. I don't think I baby them enough but I am trying to do better. I even have a little wire fence around this one because I suspected that something was eating them. I still am not certain but forge ahead. 

Gardener's Bloom Day is hosted by May Dreams Gardens. You can go there to see what is blooming in other gardens across the country. 

More blooms from my garden (and sorry this is a long one!) -

An Iris that was given to me by a fellow blogger. I don't know the name.

 

Another star plant for this region is the rhododendron. I have planted a few but did not get any good photos. 'Jean Marie de Montague' is a vibrant red but I find it impossible to capture the color on a digital camera. The above rhododendron came with the house. I have no idea which cultivar it is but it seems to be happy despite being planted on the western side of the house! Good irrigation to the key in situations like this.

Spanish Lavender, Barberry 'Orange Rocket' and Ceanothus 'Black Diamond'

And speaking of Ceanothus ("California Lilac"), here is a last look at 'Julia Phelps' which is just amazing. I noticed today that the color is beginning to wane, perhaps due to the inferno last week.

Ceanothus 'Black Diamond' is really nice this year and the blooms are outstanding. I have said in the past that the blooms take a back seat to the variegated foliage but this year proves me wrong. 

You can see how 'Julia' is encroaching on her neighbors. Poor Mugo Pine!

Dogwood (Cornus 'Celestial Shadow')

Baptisia 'Purple Smoke'

Alliums are just starting to bloom

Kneeling down on the street to get a different view of Clematis montana 'Freda'. It has been pretty for weeks now.

A Cistus that I forget the name of

The runner-up prize for slowest growing plant goes to Enkianthus 'Showy Lantern' (the Embothrium (Chilean Flame Tree)  would be #1) but I forgive that for its subtle loveliness.

Geranium cantabrigense 'Jans'

A new lupine called "Redrum" that of course turns out to be deep pink. 

A Pacific Coast hybrid iris that we got at Adelman's has incredibly beautiful blooms but it is a very stingy bloomer. Only one bloom last year and so far, only one this year. 

Itoh peony 'Garden Treasure'

'Shima Nishiki' was the first peony to bloom and had over ten blooms in its first year. 

Saxifrage 'London Pride'

Sweet Woodruff

Lilac 'Sensation'

I leave you with an image of the monstrous photinias. There is a line of these that stretches all along our back fence. They give us privacy and some shade but they are also a pain in the neck. They have never been pruned properly so they have basically turned into trees. I am uncertain what to do about them. I would like to gradually replace them with more desirable evergreens but for now, we can't bear the thought of cutting them down and losing privacy and shade.

Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy