Tree Peony detail

Well it is Garden Blogger’s Bloom Day again and the general question is what’s blooming on our hillside.  The answer is almost everything!  We look around and see flowers everywhere.  There are still straggling daffodils showing up, even virginia bluebells still remain in the woods, and the first bearded Iris and roses are to be found.  But the focus in the yard right now is Peonies.  A smattering of species types have shown up however the Tree Peonies are dominant right now.  They are so gorgeous and artistic it takes the breath away.

White Tree Peony in the rain

Dark Red Tree Peony in the rain

The Itoh intersectional hybrid peonies are still a day or two from flowering but the first herbaceous is now in bloom.

Paeonia ‘Scarlet O’Hara’

Of course there are azaleas everywhere, but one would have to be half-blind not to notice the Exbury hybrid azaleas with their vivid colors.

Exbury Azalea ‘Gibraltar’

Exbury Hybrid Azalea ‘Klondyke’

A special favorite is always the Azalea visco sepala which has a powerful fragrance which covers a wide area.

Azalea visco sepala

One of the unexpected pleasures this May is a single Russell Hybrid Lupine that I planted last year.  It didn’t flower last year and often doesn’t really succeed in our muggy summer, but this extended cool spring has been perfect for the Lupine.

Lupine ‘Russell Hybrid’

Lupine ‘Russell Hybrid’

Lupine detail

Our Japanese roof Iris has put in an appearance.

Japanese Roof Iris (Iris tectorum)

and the Clematis at the front door is doing a good job in shielding the electricity meter.

Clematis ‘Nelly Moser’

At this point let me share some the more unusual flowers in our May garden.

Moraea ramossisima

This one came from Annies Annuals last January and it will not be hardy in our zone.  But it should be worth carrying over in the greenhouse.

We first grew the Lamium orvala last year but it remains a very unusual plant with exotic flowers.

Lamium orvala

This Mexican Shell Flower was the surprise in the greenhouse today.  I’ll have to move it outside tomorrow.

Tigridia chiapensis

This one can be grown like gladiolus.  The bulb should be dug at the end of the season.

On the other hand the following three exotics could winter over in our climate.

Glaucium grandiflorum

Calochortus clavatus var. clavatus

Dactylorhiza fuchsii ‘Bressingham Bonus’

It’s getting late to be technically publishing on Garden Blogger’s Bloom Day so let me close with this lovely little rock jasmine which is flowering at the full right now.

Androsace sarmentosa ‘Chumbyi’