The Labyrinth in May

 

Doesn't it all look spectacular in May, with peonies, iris, penstemon, false indigo and smokebush in full bloom?  I need to update the photo at the top of the blog.  Things have grown a lot larger!

May Flowers

So many flowers to see and enjoy, they clamor for attention at this busy time of year.  Now that I have time to go out and enjoy them all, and take pictures, you will see a lot more of them.

The Karl Rosenfield Peony on the right has spectacular flowers, and if you look closely you can see the bright yellow anthers covered with pollen.  I have two of these bushes, but each has only a few blossoms this year.  One was moved to its current home just two years ago, and peonies don't like change, so that may be the issue.  What it lacks in quantity is well balanced by these huge double blossoms.

On a smaller scale is the Coppertina Ninebark with its clusters of small pink flowers.  Again, this bush is still settling into its site after 3 years, so it has not grown to its full size.  This is the first year it has flowered, so finding them was a nice surprise yesterday.  Eventually it will grow up to provide both a dramatic color near the front of the house.  In addition, it will screen the view into the sun porch from the road, making it more private without having to put up curtains or shades. 

The Shadblow Serviceberry growing next to the shed also provides a visual screen for the sun porch.  When looking toward the house from the road, it is almost directly behind the ninebark.  Now that it has topped out to its full height, branches are filling in the middle.  Since it is directly in front of the window over the kitchen sink, it provides an alternative view when washing the dishes. Since we don't have a dishwasher, I see it a lot!  Surprisingly the berries have not been eaten by birds.  However, there is a mockingbird nest about 20 feet away, with newly hatched nestlings. It is very protective of its young and may be keeping away any other birds. Several years ago, another mockingbird drove away a black snake that was approaching the tree holding its nest.  I have tried to get a picture of the young birds, but so far nothing worth showing.  Every time I get near, even using a telephoto, the parent bird makes loud noises, trying to get me to go away.

In the North Garden is the Japanese Snowbell tree, 'Snowcone.'  Here you can see the large clusters of flowers that hang down below the branches.  They are also fragrant, and in that small enclosed space, the perfume collects and permeates the air, coming into the bedroom window.  A quirky tree, it  seems to randomly let different branches die over the winter.  Each spring it needs a careful prune to get rid all of the dead twigs.  But wonderful in bloom!

Peonys, foxgloves, and Iris, oh my!

May is my favorite month for the garden.  The temperatures are just right for working anytime of the day.  All of the plants are growing strongly, with new buds showing up each week.  Everything has the potential to be wonderful throughout the summer, before any drought, strong wind, heavy rain or invasion of insects can do their damage.

Most importantly the peonies and iris are blooming, flowers that were so much a part of my childhood and bring back all the joy of that time of life. 

I tried again to identify what the name for the white peony on the left.  It should be an heirloom variety since the original bushes date back before the 1960's, and the closest I can find that matches it are descriptions of 'Avalanche."  Whatever its origin, the fragrance is strong and spicy, and makes me happy, whatever else is going on in my life. 

This little gem is a Digitalis obscura, or Narrow Leaf Foxglove.  I thought I had lost the label after planting it a few years ago.  As we were mulching this spring, there was still enough of the label in the soil to track it down.  These are small foxgloves, and some people describe them as being very much like penstemons in shape.  Reading online cultivation information, I will plan on letting some of the flowers go to seed. I have been dead heading it, but if allowed, it is supposed to be a prolific self seeder.  I am willing to risk shortening the life of this plant since I might get many new plants.  I can picture large clump of these filling in this part of the bed.

The Siberian Iris are beginning to bloom, first with 'Jeweled Crown.'  This variety was introduced in 1985 and won an award from the American Iris Society.  It is a strong grower, with a large number of blooms and the color is distinctive.  Enjoy.

Close-ups

With the cool weather continuing, only a few flowers have opened up.  Without competition from dozens of other blooms, there is a special draw to savor each one.  This Paeonia 'Kopper Kettle' has been a strong performer after taking a few years to settle into the spot.  Each flower shifts color from a pink with magenta tone into the salmon range as the petals age. 

The name of this iris, which came from my mother's garden in Ohio, is unknown to me.  It is a shame, since the complex mix of light blue is stunning.  What else can be said?

New Growth

One of the advantages of a long cool spring like we have had this year is the slow-motion growth of new foliage.  Only seeing the garden on weekends, whole stages of growth have passed and gone away between my leaving on Sunday and returning on Friday.  But not this year. 

For example, on the left are the new tops of the Purple Milkweed, Asclepias purpurascens.  My mental image of milkweed is a lanky stem with large coarse leaves.  I have set them in a place where those awkward features get hidden by everything growing up around them.  But at this stage, these are the only plants showing above ground, and they are delightful.  The stems are flushed with maroon,the leaves held up at an angle, showing the short fuzz on the bottom side. 

Soon the nearby hardy hibiscus will grow up, and out shine these more humble, native species. 

But not yet.

Then there is the dwarf smoke bush, Cotinus coggygria 'Young Lady' which has made remarkable improvement after being moved only 20 feet.  I was ready to throw it away because it was so disappointing.  It was front and center, and looked bad most of the year.

In the new location, the flower buds are already showing at the top, all a bright, clean green.  You can see there will be actual flowers, long before the long thin threads that will soon cover the bush, creating that smoke effect. 

But not yet.

Finally, here are the emerging tips of Pheasant Berry,  Leycesteria formosa 'Golden Lanterns.'  The overly dramatic red frosting on the acid yellow-green leaves is so energizing after a long, cold, dreary winter.  Later in the season it will fade back, tone down a bit, against all of the other color.  But not yet.