Today is Garden Blogger’s Bloom Day, a wonderful idea created by Carol at May Dreams Gardens who invites us to share what is blooming in our gardens once a month on the 15th. I am happy to share with her some of the most colorful blossoms that are showing in my garden this day.
This is my last iris. I had thought this bunch had finished for the season, but two sturdy scapes just appeared, each with three or four buds, and this is the result. I think this is ‘Clarence,’ but I am not absolutely sure. Whatever its name, I am quite captivated by it, and I am looking forward to seeing it bloom again in the fall.
Clematis ‘General Sikorski’ and ‘Comptesse de Bouchard’ are in full bloom. In past years I have cut them back about half after they finish blooming, and they have reliably rebloomed later in the summer.
Scabiosa columbaria ‘Butterfly Blue’ has been a mainstay in my gardens for many years. In some years I have had it in bloom every day of the year. Not this year because of our particularly cold winter, but it plays a nice role now at the edge of a border.
Alas, the peonies are about to be finished. They have been wonderful this year and I will miss them the rest of the season. Why doesn’t a genius breeder develop a reblooming peony?
This is the first time I’ve tried Gerbera and African daisies in pots, and I am quite pleased with the color they are adding. The Persian Starflower keeps coming back each year; it is a great allium.
The annual snapdragons, ‘Anthony Waterer’ spirea, and gold lantana with mercadonia are all adding color to the garden now.
A Walk in the Garden 
Pretty clematis and the iris is beautiful too – just shot an iris nursery for my agency this week and was completely mesmerized by the colours.
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Thanks, Annette. I can never get enough clematis and iris. Their colors are so delightful.
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May is a wonderful time in the garden with everything trying to flower at once. You are a bit ahead of us with your peonies almost over, ours are just starting. and our alliums will soon be out. You have lots of lovely colour, your garden must be looking beautiful at the moment.
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The garden is in a period of transition right now. I will miss the peonies especially, but other things are starting to come in.
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‘Clarence’ is beautiful! My irises are just about ready to bloom and I cannot wait! Lovely photos!
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Will look forward to seeing your irises.
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Your Peonies are wonderful. A flower of my childhood, they do not thrive here because of the lack of adequate chill. We do have gold Lantana in common, a great attraction for butterflies.
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Thanks. I’m sorry that you cannot grow them there.
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Lovely peonies and clematis
Happy Garden Bloggers’ Bloom Day!
Lea
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Thanks, Lea. And the same Happy Day to you.
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Great collection of blooms John. Summer seems to be imminent. I’m intrigued by your success with Scabiosa. It dies out in my garden–obviously I am not giving it the right conditions.
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Thank you, Susie. Scabiosa is a small plant, but I have had really good luck with it, both here and in Chapel Hill.
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Your garden is like a preview of my own in a month! I love your Clematis and Peonies!
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Thanks, Kimberley. I will look forward to seeing your peonies.
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Yes, that is Clarence iris. I have Clarence in my garden and have written about it. Now it its third year, my only peony is about to have its first bloom. I don’t know what it is — I got it in a plant swap.
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Thanks, Ray. I appreciate the confirmation.
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Love your peonies and ‘General Sikorski’!
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Thank you, Jason. I’m confident yours will be coming in soon.
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