Back in the Swing

 As those of us who have gotten vaccinated gradually resume a somewhat normal life, I'm painfully aware that there are many still at risk, whether here or around the globe. I can only hope that vaccines reach them asap.

My garden continues to flourish and would do so more if we actually got some decent May weather. Don't get me started. Still, it is most definitely a 'count one's blessings' in having a beautiful garden to nurture day in and day out. Okay, here are some photos.

 

Itoh peony. Though it hasn't bloomed yet, I still love the foliage.

Scabiosa Harlequin. My ground cover Scabiosa is back doing what it does best - bloom and attract bees and butterflies.

Physocarpus Lady in Red. A new ninebark, this one has outstanding coppery-red foliage.

Kudos to those who properly identified this as Clematis Roguchi. It's hard to find in the trade and its nodding urn shaped flowers aren't your typical clematis flower.

Neoregelia variety. One of my older ones, it has created a pup that's now the size of the mother plant.

Pelargonium Claire. A gift from a friend, it has prospered. I just love the super dark and bright red color combination.

Billbergia variety. Here's the dangling flower from one of my Billbergias. Though it's hard to see here, each tiny flower has reflexed petals.

Walkway. This shows our main walkway and gives an idea of densely I've planted both sides.

Berzelia lanuginosa. This South African shrub is finally opening its tiny round white flowers.

Salvia melissodora. This grape scented sage is especially popular with bees!

Lily Royal Kiss. A new lily in my garden, I love its darkish red tones.

Lily Night Flyer. Another new lily and one of the darkest I've ever grown.

Erysimum Poem Mirabelle. My favorite wallflower and one that rebounded from near death.

Calibrachoa Cabaret Orange. I learned last week that Calibrachoas are rightly classified as petunias. 

My Lonicera x americana went crazy blooming this year, much to the delight of the bees.

Lemon Balm. Goes semi-dormant but then flushed out in spring. Has a lovely lemony scent.

Salvia roemeriana. This new salvia has a hint of dark blush to its leaves and scarlet red flowers.

Neoregelia Green Apple x Vulcan. This cross is one of my favorite bromeliads.

Azalea Court Jester. I never know from one bloom season to the next how much purple speckling will appear on the flowers.

Campanula punctata purple. There is a red-flowering punctata as well but this purple one has colonized the area around our walkway.

My Begonia Gene Daniels always looks great backlit, where the sun can illuminate the rich red undersides.

Summer arrives

 It may not be the summer solstice for 6 weeks but our recent heat has brought us a bit of summer. Time to unearth the shorts and tees and sandals. My garden knows it's still early May but does like this new warmth.

On to the photos, this week a wide selection.

Philadelphus lewisii Covelo. A variety of our native mock orange. Not fragrant but prolific.

Iris ensata Galatea. A new Japanese iris added to my garden this year.

Monkey Puzzle tree. Looks innocent here but these babies can get big and the leaves are VERY spiny.

Four Neoregelias, a type of bromeliad related to Tillandsias (air plants).

Calceolaria Tiger Balloon. This perennial pocketbooks has bounced back and is looking good.

I can't remember the name of this Petunia but I love the splotches!

Nemesias are a great way to add color to the garden.

Bronze fennel. I'm hoping to attract some Anise swallowtail butterflies to lay eggs on it.

My Lonicera x americana has gone berserk this year, smothering my Magnolia tree.

Year 4 is the charm for my Berberis Orange Rocket, which is finally looking its best.

If this looks like a bottlebrush tree, you're 90% right. This is a lower growing bush type called Callistemon viminalis.

I almost chucked my Verbascum Cotswold King but at the end of year two it finally sprouted flowers. Now it's blooming its head off.

I have many Mimulus in my garden and this bright red one is called Valentine.

This unusual lily is called Apricot Fudge. It's a semi-double with an interesting petal arrangement.

Laburnum. This golden chain tree has proven to be sturdy and reliable and the bright yellow, pea-like flowers are so sweet.

My marmalade bush is back to the glorious blooming that always catches every passerby's attention.

Here are three new Pinus species. They're small I know but they already have new growth.

Snapdragons may be common but they're pretty and the bees love 'em.

Lily Night Flyer. One of many new lilies in my garden this year.

Here's more of a closeup of my bottlebrush bush. Hummers and bees love the flowers.

Nemophila 5 Spot. A cousin to the well known Baby Blue Eyes, 5 Spot has white flowers with purple spots on each of the 5 petals.

Lily Asiatic Mix. Though supposedly a mix, last year every flower came out as you see here - orange with red tips. I love the combo so wasn't disappointed.

Vitis coignetiae. Sometimes called Crimson glory vine, this grape relative produces huge leaves that will turn red in the fall.

Abutilon Tiger Eye. No flowering maple's flowers have such bold markings as do this popular variety.

Picea sitchensis Papoose. A lovely dwarf spruce I added to my garden this year.

Cryptomeria 'Spiraliter.' I love all the chartreuse new growth.

Sedum Xenox Orange. This tall purple sedum is getting ready to flower.

 

Common sweet peas but placed along the railing so all can enjoy their sweet scent.

Pelargonium 'Claire.' Love the color combo on this pelargonium.

Finally, a bit of art. Here are three new tiles I have along the cement ledge that borders our walkway.