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!