Saturday, May 22, 2010

Mid-May Garden Stroll

In some ways this is a relatively quiet time in my gardens; the rabid flurry of blooming that characterizes April, gives way to a more subtle and transitional period.

Yet it's not devoid of things to see, and these lovely volunteer Siberian Iris, Iris sibirca, which are in their second year of forming a clump on the left side of my driveway in the front are a great example. Spawned from the original by way of seeds, they are only just beginning to form the traditional circle of glassy leaves and intense blue fleur-de-les of the species. The original colony located on the right side of the driveway, eventually expanded to two large circles, but hasn't offered a blossom in the past two years. Still the rings of leaf-blades, but no flowers.

In the back in the circle garden I have two plants of interest blooming. First, is this trio of Jacob's Ladders, Polemonium caeruleum, with their powder blue flowers that open in clusters to the delight of the huge Carpenter Bee in this case. (Can you see him in the center upper portion of the photo?)They are fighting to hold their own in a neighborhood with both hostas and loosestrife. They are among the brand new arrivals to my gardens this year. I'm presently feeling really good about their prospects to remain and continue to form a place in the larger bed. The weather this Spring as been both good in its rain amounts and its temperatures in helping new arrivals to take root and flourish.

Near by are several stalks from a cluster of Foxglove, Digitalis purpurea x. et. al., that are offering their trumpet-like flowers to the world of pollinators. I like these flowers a lot and so go to extra lengths to pamper them, for truth be told, the gardens don't get the kind of light that is preferred by these fascinating biennials.

Finally, there is this planter. One of many, and for all my love of the natural wild garden, I am also very happy to arrange planters with odd, thematic combinations of plants. This one contains begonias, an allegator geranium, choleus, and Japanese striped grass. A little United Nations of plants, as well as, sea shells and coral and found stones from special adventures over the years.

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