May 15, 2017

Mid May Flowers - GBBD 2017


The backyard is slowly starting to show color.  I read in a recent article that Washington is the only state in the nation to have a cooler than average spring.  But the 'Millstream Daphne' creeping phlox and 'Gloria' aubrieta groundcovers are finally in full bloom above.

In this photo one of the 'Royal Raindrops' crabapple trees echoes the blooms of a 'Velvet Lips' hellebore below.

From this angle you can see the almost finished addition on the back of our home.  Eight months into our 2.5 month project, we're nearly done!  And yes, it went over budget as well.  That's just construction, I guess.

This photo shows the three 'Royal Raindrops' crabapple trees with buds fully open.  Green leaves are filling in the garden below.

A shot of the southeast corner of the backyard reveals a 'Spring Snow' crabapple that has dropped most of its petals by this point.  The 'Katherine Havemeyer' lilacs don't have as many blooms this year as last year, but there have been plenty for me to cut and share with neighbors.

The path directly east of the house features chartreuse leaves against mauve and sky blue flowers.  The crabapple petals cover the ground like snow.

Last summer I transplanted several 'Jack Frost' and 'King's Ransom' brunnera plants to this area, and their true blue blooms are a welcome addition to the color palate.  Brunnera is one of my favorite plants for shade with beautiful leaves that sparkle after the flowers fade.  A few 'Negrita' tulips are reblooming this spring after being planted a couple of years ago, and a 'June' hosta is colorful at bottom left.


A final shot of the east path includes 'Lime Rickey' heuchera, 'Red Sensation' aubrieta and a mauve creeping phlox whose name is forgotten.  It's an exciting time of year in the garden, as many more flowers will open in the next few weeks.  Thanks to Carol at May Dreams Gardens for hosting Garden Bloggers Bloom Day to help us document our flowers each month.

9 comments:

  1. Beautiful!
    Happy Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day!

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  2. Hi VW, long time no see. Your garden's looking beautiful. And your addition too - I mean house AND family.

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    1. sue, good to hear from you! Thanks for stopping by and for your kind words. The addition has been a headache to create but we're really enjoying the space indoors and out.

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  3. Lovely shades of pink, fuchsia, magenta in your spring garden. I especially love your winding pathway.

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  4. What a tidy garden. I only dream of that. You should look for Brunnera Mr Morse which is like Jack Frost but with white flowers.

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    1. Thanks for the plant suggestion, Steve. Mr. Morse sounds great! I'm working on filling in the edges of the pathway, so another brunnera will be a welcome addition. I'll keep my eyes out for it.

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  5. Your gardens are beautiful!! There's something about gardens in areas where it rains a lot......so green and lush! I love the crabapples.....what a pop of color.

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    1. Sally, it's cold (in the 40's F) and rainy today, and I have to remind myself that this is why we have water for the garden in the summer instead of drought. Spokane doesn't get as much summer rain as Seattle, but we have an aquifer that catches the winter rain and provides for summer sprinklers.

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  6. Beautiful.
    I loved meeting you.
    Janicce.

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