What's Been Blooming Lately

Here are some photos showing some May blooms around the garden.  Above are fragrant 'Asao' clematis flowers surrounded by buds on a 'Francine Austine' rose.  I don't think there will be any clematis blooms left by the time the miniature white flowers of this rose open, or they'd make a nice combo. 



'Absolute Amethyst' candytuft is a vividly colored alternative to the common white form of this plant.  The color will be great next to the lime heuchera and spirea leaves in this part of the garden, as soon as the other plants grow big enough to make it into a photo.



'Evening Tidings' iris are blooming on the west of the house, tying the lavender blooms of 'Walker's Low' catmint together with the deep violet flowers of 'May Night' salvia. 



'Pure as Gold' iris are vibrant next to deep violet 'May Night' salvia flowers.  This photo was taken a week or two ago, and by now the salvia flowers have opened enough to make a really strong color statement.  Love the drama!



The reddish leaves of 'Lady Emma Hamilton' rose make a nice backdrop for the iris.  The leaves are so showy that I'd grow this rose even if it didn't bloom . . . but soon it will start putting out loads of fragrant rosy-orange flowers that keep coming all summer.  LEH is a great rose.  I wish you could smell it by blog.



'Foxtrot' tulips and another darker variety whose name I can't remember have been blooming next to the back patio.  My friends keep exclaiming in surprise when I tell them these are tulips.  The masses of petals make them look more like peonies. 



Here's another shot of 'Foxtrot' with a new 'Tuff Stuff' hydrangea ready to start blooming in the background.  There will be lots of first-time bloomers in the garden this year.  It's fun to look forward to the show.