GBBD: May 2009

Welcome fellow bloggers to another Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day, the brainchild of Carol, the Queen of May Dreams. Someone recently said that this is "almost" time in their garden, and that is an apt description of my garden right now. The daffodils and hyacinths are long gone, the last of the tulips have dropped their petals, and the main color in the garden right now is green.





There are many plants almost ready to bloom, like this clematis, believed to be a Nelly Moser.

The few irises I have, all unnamed passalongs, are showing buds

with this one almost ready to open.

Looking back at last year's post, I found that I posted only one photo for GBBD May 08--a picture of all my new purchases lined up ready for the rain to end so they could be planted. I could show you a similar photo this year, since on and off-again rains have made it difficult to plant anything, but I will spare you. Suffice it to say, that the area in front of my garage door is awash in colorful blooms! Above is one of the few containers I've managed to plant, this one with a favorite of recent years, Supertunia "Raspberry Blast." If you're looking for a trailing petunia, this one is a great performer.

Two hanging baskets of ivy geraniums also add a little color to an otherwise green landscape.

In the main garden two of the most dependables are already showing some blooms: Nepeta, "Walker's Low" above . . .

. . . and Salvia, "May Night" here. It won't be long

before the bees find these, two of their favorite plants.

In the shade garden, some newer plantings are also beginning to bloom. I am so excited to have my first bleeding heart! These teeny tiny heart-shaped blossoms refused to stop swaying in the wind for the camera woman. But I had to show them anyway--I have had no luck with bleeding hearts in the past, so I'm thrilled to see even the tiniest of blooms this year.

These heucheras, the old-fashioned coral bells, were also tiny plants when I planted them last year. But they are quickly catching up to the fancier hybrids in the garden and showing off with the coral blossoms for which they're named.

One of many plants on my "wish list," this Brunnera "Jack Frost," was finally purchased a few weeks ago. It seems to have settled in nicely here and is still showing its delicate blue flowers.

But here's my new favorite for May--a columbine! Oh, for a better camera to capture this sweet little bloom! Three small columbines were added to the shade garden last year, and two of them resisted Tarzan's best efforts to transplant them all summer long, so I am really excited to see them bloom.

That is it for the blooms here at the Prairie, but more are almost ready and should be all decked out in time for June. Check out more Bloom Day posts from around the world at Carol's.

. . . . . . . .But wait! I had to take the dogs out before I finished this post, and look at what has appeared this morning . . .

. . . the first iris of the season has decided it is ready to bloom Now!

Rainy Days are Here Again!

If you are like me and have forgotten what rain looks like, click on the video. (This is my first attempt at uploading a video, so I hope it works!)

I know it's hard to tell from the video, but we have had a steady rain since late morning today. I don't even need to search through my archive of labels to know that every other time I have discussed the rain it's been to complain about it. But not today--after weeks, it seems, of dry weather, I welcome it with open arms. Right now it is falling gently, and the trees and flowers are soaking it up eagerly.

The coral bells are enjoying their shower (click on the picture to enlarge to see the raindrops), along with the other flowers in the shade garden. Watering with a hose just doesn't feel the same to them.

Besides knowing the plants are getting some much needed moisture, I am happy the ground is going to be soft and easy to work with once again. I have a few new plants to put in the ground yet before the cold hits us, including this bargain "Limelight" hydrangea I bought last week. (Yes, I had to go back to buy this one . . .it was too good a deal to pass up.)

I know it's not a very good picture, but I was getting drenched by this time and didn't have the patience to check my camera. I intended to plant it Saturday, but the ground was so hard, I was afraid I would break my spade! Besides this hydrangea and a few other plants, I have so many bulbs to plant. After two different shopping trips to buy bulbs, my first order came in the mail over the weekend and another one is on its way. More rain is in the forecast for tomorrow, which means by the time I have time to plant, the soil should be perfect, I hope.

I hope you are having a beautiful rainy day, too!

Let the rain kiss you.
Let the rain beat upon your head with silver liquid drops.
Let the rain sing you a lullaby.
- Langston Hughes, April Rain Song


Rain is grace; rain is the sky condescending to the earth;
without rain, there would be no life.
--John Updike