May Bloom Day

Tree Peony-about four years old, second time blooming with one flower

closeup

Verbascum

Not exactly blooms but love these birds that congregated at the feeders one afternoon last week-they do add color to the garden

Not a bloom either but my mother's day gift from my son-an  airplant  in a sphere

Tiny primrose flowers in clay planter that sits outside year around

Veronica G. Varigatum

Columbine

Polemonium 'Stairway to Heaven' 

Violet 'Freckles'

Columbine

a few new things from my mom

a few more new additions

Alpine Aster in dish garden

Lilac 'Tinkerbelle'

Tinkerbelle

Phlox 'Redwing' (and grass that needs removing)

Weigela 'Java Red'

blue woodland phlox

Weigelas going up back side of garage

Dish garden with alpine aster and baby's breath

When I went outside tonight to water a few things I discovered a couple more blooms to share. This is  an ornamental strawberry 'Pink Panda'

Baptisia 'Starlite Prairie Blues'

Baptisia 'Starlite Prairie Blues'

I am disappointed to say I'm still holding(see previous post) but this is where I am. Despite my lack of care things still continue to grow and bloom. It has been so nice outside too that it's killing me not to be out in the gardens where there's so much to be done. No word back from the Dr. on test last week so I continue to wait. My mom has bought me some annuals and a couple of hanging baskets. now I need to be strong enough to get out and plant them. I hope everyone is enjoying their May gardens!

On Hold

 While the gardens outside are busy bursting forth and getting more colorful every day I'm kind of hold right now. I have spent the past two weeks experiencing some intense abdominal pain that can't be figured out by the doctors yet. After scans, Dr.visits and a trip to the ER last week we only know what is not causing the pain and not what is.Anyway my health has put my spring gardening chores on hold. I feel sad to look at all that needs to be done but I can't get out and do it.
 This is also the first year in many that my mom and I have not started shopping the first weekend of garden center spring openings. We did have plans to go last Sunday but neither of us were up to it. This is something I have loved doing with my gardening mentor and supporter, my dear Mom, for many years now. Her age is starting to slow her down and making it harder for her to continue her gardening passions. She's actually hired her teenage neighbor boy to assist her in the garden this summer. I will miss these special times exploring our favorite places looking for what's new each spring.
 I did go outside yesterday before the storm last night and took a few pictures of few blooms that are adding color to the gardens right now. Things continue to pop up and bloom even if last year's leftovers are still there along with new grass and weeds.

Lilac 'Beauty of Moscow'-my faovrite

front of house- a lot more green than last year at this time

Dwarf Iris 'What Again'

Jack in the Pulpit

Bleeding Hearts still going strong

Hellebore blossoms

Phlox 'Candy Stripes' and 'Millstream Daphne' along with some  variation of color(the almost white flowers  in lower center)

variegated Solomon's Seal

Peppers and a tomato my husband picked up for $1.50 each at work(blue big box home improvement store)

Clematis 'Pamela Jackman'

'Pamela Jackman'

Dwarf Iris 'Sarah Taylor'

hillside with much work to do again

 Hopefully my holding pattern is only temporary and I will be outside in the gardens soon.

April Bloom Day

I know it's not pretty but this is the result of three freezing nights just as my lovely 'Ann' Magnolia blossoms were opening. Usually this isn't blooming until mid May.

Frost touched Star Magnolia flower

Pasque flowers

Grape hyacinth

Hellebore 'Pink Frost'

 Not a lot to share but also check out past posts for more blooms. Growing here in Minnesota is about a month early compared to the past couple of years. It's been interesting to compare the dates on my photos and compare how far along things are now.

Brrrrr!

Rhododendron 'PJM'

Grape Muscari

ornamental Cherry blossoms

Red Maple 

early Bleeding Hearts

Tree Peony with flower bud

Pasque flower

blue Siberian Squills

After an unusually warm spring we are experiencing a couple of freezing nights. I'm hoping and praying that all the unopened blossoms that are on the flowering shrubs and trees will still be okay. There's also a lot of tender new shoots on many perennials that I hope don't freeze away to nothing. At least it's early in the growing season so the plants should continue to grow after this chilly setback.

Spring has Sprung!

Forsythia in full bloom over a month early!

'Pink Frost' Hellebores which spent the winter in the garage as it's  a zone 5  variety

Autumn fern that I stashed in garage over winter

pot of mini hostas also stored in garage-doesn't look like much now but happy there's signs of green  there

pasque flowers showing color amidst dried foliage leftovers

the bad! must do something this year about underground vermin! enough is enough! any suggestions?

new Bloomering lilac that was planted last fall

gardens before cleaning

front yard before cleaning

Star magnolia-earliest ever blooming- about a month or more early

first blossom of Star magnolia

Magnolia 'Ann'

bud of Magnolia 'Ann'

Dappled Willow next to pool

first crocus spotted among the leaves

dish garden coming to life again after winter storage in deck box under deck

Spring seems to have come suddenly and very early this year after our very wimpy winter. This is the earliest month that spring blossoms have opened in my gardens. I really enjoy the flowering shrubs of spring that I have planted the past few years. It's so great to see color in the garden after our long winters here in Minnesota. I'm not sure if we'll see more white stuff in the next month or so but we're enjoying our early spring and all that comes with it. With this warmth I feel like I really need to get out and start working on things but the experts are saying to wait a bit before we get too carried away with the yard and garden work. There will be plenty to do soon enough so I think I'll just enjoy the unfolding colors popping up for awhile. Hope you're enjoying spring in your gardens too!