My plan to have a twice a month bloom record is off to a slow start, but the tree peonies are right on time, beginning to bloom on the first of June. This is Guan Yin Mian. Guan Yin is the Goddess of Mercy, and the work ‘mian’ is face. Not hard to see the face of a goddess in this beautiful and hardy plant. Next to her is a deeper pink tree peony, name lost, that was more damaged by the heavy rains the other night.
The camera lies. This tree peony blossom is a bright red. I do have the names of the tree peonies somewhere. I will have to search through my records. The herbaceous peonies are budding up, but it will be a little while before they bloom.
This native columbine, Aguilegia canadensis, is still blooming after 2 weeks. I love the red and yellow and the delicacy of the flower.
These columbines, from friends’ gardens, have just started to bloom in the shade of the Mothlight hydrangea. Another camera lie – the dark columbines are purple, not blue.
The hard winter hasn’t seemed to have affected the rhododendrons at all. This is the white Boule de Neige and red Rangoon. The rhodie on the right is Goldbusch (I think) and is not yet blooming.
‘Calsap’ is a younger rhodie, and is wonderfully dependable.
Most of the other lilacs are going by but the heavily fragrant ‘Miss Willmott’ is looking very good.
What a picture of spring sunshine. Trollius. I bought the original plant at the Bridge of Flowers plant sale a couple of years ago.
The bleeding hear, also bought a couple of years ago at the BOF plant sale, is just beginning to go by.
This is a complicated and not very lovely area yet. The heuchera (coral bells) is just coming into bloom, and the cranesbill to the right will also be blooming soon. The pansies are all volunteers, and very strong and cheery they are.
And, just for the early June bloom record, the funny plants growing in the lawn, nearly a foot tall, with a white bud have finally opened. I have identified this wildflower as a fleabane, but I am not sure which one. Of course, the annuals that I bought in mid-May are blooming, mostly in pots, but I am looking forward to the day they look a bit more settled.