Well here we are in mid-May for Garden Blogger’s Bloom Day in what will be a memorable year for everyone.  Gardening supplies are selling out everywhere as people to turn to something they can do at home.  At the same time the season has numerous variable weather days ranging from a very early springtime to an actual freeze on May 9th, something I’ve never seen here before.

We covered the raised bed with tarps and when it rained overnight we found sheets of ice on the tarps in the morning.  Oddly enough not a single plant was harmed in the process.

There are so many flowers everywhere it is hard to know where to start.  The front circle bed abounds with allium that have been spreading all around the garden in between penstemon and centaurea.

Also in the front yard we have a self-expanding garden of wood poppies.

And near by are their white-colored friends.

Both are willing to spread everywhere but I try to limit them to the front yard where the deer will occasionally browse.

In the back yard the tree peonies have been magnificent.

Even one of the species peonies is still blooming.

We are beginning to see the first of the Itoh and herbaceous peonies.

In addition to the bearded Iris at the beginning of this post there is the regular blooming of the Japanese Roof Iris and a delightful new small yellow Pacific Coast Hybrid that I got this year from Sequim Rare Plants.

The Rhododendrons are making their annual appearance.

This last one is a particular favorite.  The glorious scent wafts onto the deck all day long.  It has a wonderful history going back to the mid-1800’s (see this detailed write-up from the American Rhododendron Society.

This is also the time of year when the various podophyllums are putting out their flowers.

Then there are various treasures to be found around the yard.  These are things I would be sure to point out if we touring together.

Normally this Scilla is very iffy for us outside but we had such a mild winter it has come out flowering as if were at home in the mediterranean.

Looking back through the monument bed we see a fully flowering Delaware Valley White

and a special aquilegia

Ending back at the Alpine bed we see a very robust flowering of one of the clumps of dianthus

Finally I will close with a new Edraianthus in a trough at the end of the greenhouse.

Stay healthy and garden well…