It's hard to believe that June starts tomorrow. It took so long for the month of May to get rolling enough to actually feel like spring, but now it's over already. Once it truly warmed up, it was a banner month. You see, even though the winter tried to knock us down, the spring rains tried to build us right back up. Despite the losses, the surviving plants look better than ever.
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| Chinese Fringe Tree |
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As with most gardeners, I have been hard at work this month. I can't believe how many plants I have put into the ground! Some were replacements for those done in by winter, and some were new perennials. But most of the hard work involved the summer annuals and vegetables. I don't really mind all the work, really. It would just be so much easier if I could neglect all my other obligations when this was going on.
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| Amsonia Hubrichtii |
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| Amsonia Blue Ice |
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And even though I enjoy the work, that doesn't mean that I'm not exhausted! I work and I work, but I never seem to get done. Plant, prune, fertilize, deadhead, water, mulch, weed, and on and on it goes. Funny, but most avid gardeners seem to be from the older generations, like me. But for the energy it takes, you'd think it would be more for the younger folks.
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| Columbine Winky Double |
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| Cornus kousa Heart Throb |
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And before you think that I don't take time to enjoy the fruits of my labors, I need to clarify. Every evening after dinner, I go out to sit on the "veranda" and admire it all. My camera is always close at hand, in case I see something that begs to be captured.
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| Dragonwing begonia |
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| Shade container with Reiger begonias and other fillers |
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| Container with begonias, fiber optic grass, and other fillers |
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Still, it will be nice when summer wears on, and I don't have so much work staring me in the face all the time. That's when I do more fun projects like making garden art, or less fun projects like cleaning out my garden mess in the garage.
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| Yarrow Tutti Frutti Apricot Delight |
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| Bearded iris Blue Suede Shoes or Best Bet |
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| Allium Mediterranean Bells |
May is usually the month of the roses, but not quite this year. I'm just happy some of them showed up at all, even though it was May 28 by the time the first one bloomed. This is about a month behind schedule. I'm just glad they are here at all.
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| Sunny Knockout Rose |
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| Funny Face rose |
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| Zepherine Drouhin rose | |
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May also seems to be incredibly busy in the non garden world too. Graduations, proms, year end parties, Mother's Day, you name it, there's always a special occasion to celebrate. I say, let's celebrate the fact that it's time to garden again.
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| Moonshine Yarrow |
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| Peony unknown |
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| Celosia |
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| Sunny container featuring Petunia Crazytunia Pulse |
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| Glamoflauge Grape petunia |
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| Violet tubeflower |
So onward to June, may it be just as lovely as the fair month of May!
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| Heuchera Circus |
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| Heuchera Coral bells |
In the South, the Chinese Fringe tree can often be found in the woods and most people dig it up to take home to put in their yard. It is known as "Grancey Gray Beard" here. I didn't realize it had any other name until reading your blog! I love the Sunny Knockout rose. I have one which are few and far between here in our area for some reason and just love it. It is truly a lovely yellow rose.
ReplyDeleteGrancey Gray Beard, that's pretty funny! I like it better as Chinese Fringe Tree. You'd like my yellow Knockout rose even better if you smelled it, it's actually fragrant!
DeleteLovely! Robin, you have many lovely flowers that didn't make their way into my garden yet. The columbine is amazing!!! I haven't seen this variety before. Have happy June!
ReplyDeleteMy purple double columbine is lovely, but the bad part is that it stays fairly small, and when it's done blooming, it's done for the summer. I always admire pink and yellow columbines, but I've never seen them for sale.
DeleteYour containers are so pretty this year Robin. I adore that Fringe Tree. The first one I ever saw was at the local Lily Festival and it was large and smelled divine. I know how you are feeling. I seem not to be able to catch up this year for some reason. Maybe it is because I just cannot get at it as hard as I use to. I may get done before Fall. LOL!
ReplyDeleteI didn't even know my Fringe Tree was fragrant at first. It almost smells like a cross between a magnolia and jasmine. We just can't work so long and hard anymore girl, so take it easy and enjoy your garden now and then!
DeleteYou've lots of lovely interest and colour in the garden. My roses are only starting to flower now and some with buds soon to be flowering.
ReplyDeleteMy roses were about a month behind because of the harsh winter we had. The new replacements are still quite small, I hope they will do much better next year.
DeleteI love seeing all your plants and flowers...they are just gorgeous! I have never seen that Columbine Winky Double...is that not absolutely amazing and beautiful?!
ReplyDeleteI do love that double purple columbine, I planted it years ago. It doesn't seed though, it's sterile. Darn it, because I'd like a lot more of it!
DeleteI really enjoyed your flowers they are so pretty. I am working on my yard and only wish I had as many plants as you do.
ReplyDeleteMarissa, it takes years to build up a garden, plus it's hard to do with little ones still at home. See, my kids are grown, and I'm not working. So give yourself a break!
DeleteYour garden is looking just beautiful. Love all the pictures.
ReplyDeleteDebra
Thank you so much Debra, my garden means a lot to me!
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