My first Bloom Day ever – May, 2013

For a while now, I’ve seen friends posting blogs referring to “Bloom Day”, but never known what it was. I finally learned! It was started by Carol at May Dreams Gardens. She hosts a number of garden bloggers for a monthly update of what is growing in their gardens. I haven’t gone through them all yet, but it seems the contributors come from all corners of the US – at least. Probably from around the world, actually… If your eyes are starving for a feast – check out what she and all the others have to offer. Beautiful stuff indeed!

A close-up of my Viburnum opulus. They were here when we moved in, and provides me with shade from the hot sun, and the birds with both shelter and food when the red berries develop in fall.

Other than the shady reading spot, my favorite part is when the flowers start falling – like little snowflakes on my Bamboo Sasa veitchii. So pretty…

My Enkianthus chinensis ‘Showy Lanterns’ glistening after the rain. I just moved it – hopefully it will take off now that it is no longer smothered by other plants.

No garden is complete without a few freaks. Here is the half-opened face of the biggest Allium I have ever seen – no contest. Can’t remember its name, but who needs it. This one has star power!

Another weird one for the weary – a Mouse plant. The tiny blossoms hide among the foliage, and look just like little newborn mice. Maybe catnip would be a good companion plant?

Sunkissed foliage of Podophyllum pleianthum.

…. and its flowers.

Another Mayapple – Podophyllum peltatum – in bloom. I’m so excited to see it. Thought for sure I killed it last year, but apparently not! 🙂

Trillium erectum – except Wakerobin is a much prettier name.

Red bleeding hearts – Dicentra ‘Valentine’ blooming for the first time.

My favorite part about Alliums is that they self-seed wherever they want to. This sometimes makes for some interesting combinations. Here it’s shooting through the dissected foliage of a Japanese maple.

More Alliums, but of a smaller variety. Love their little green eyes!

One of my absolute favorites – Iris confusa, or Bamboo iris. I devoted an entire post to it last week.

One of the cutest ground-covers ever – Alchemilla alpina. Silvery edges, and hairy silver undersides. Best of all – it takes abuse and is not picky. Sun, shade, drought… whatever! Love it!

Did you know that during the Victorian era, Columbines were the flowers of promiscuity. To be given a bouquet containing Columbines was not a good thing… I suppose it is because it so freely crossbreeds with all its cousins. This year, a little of this….

…plus a little of this…

…equalled THIS! How about that for a beautiful love child?

Outgoing Wisteria, and incoming Clematis on my arch.

What was a cloud of blue in March and April is now these silvery little muppets. Clematis alpina ‘Blue Dancer’.

The center of ‘Huldine’ – I think….

The mystery rose that reaches far above my gutters. I think I finally figured out what it is thanks to Heirloom Roses’ website. I’m awaiting confirmation, but I think it is an Etoile de Hollande.

Really interesting leaf coloration on a Rhododendron ‘Fireball’. Not sure what to attribute it to – but probably abuse… It sat above ground all winter. 😦

The beautiful iris which was a gift from a friend. Behind it is a Schizophragma hydrangeoides ‘Moonlight’, which with a bit of luck will bloom soon. It has a lot more buds this year than in years past. Fingers crossed!

Lastly – a big thank you to Jane and all my other Garden Blogger friends who let me in on this secret. You can probably find most of them at the May Dreams Gardens. So fun!