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| Peony 'Coral Charm' |
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| Herb's bed with Peonies |
The weather had been atrociously hot for this time of the year, and our region still in severe drought. Last week we finally got a bit of rain and the temperatures dropped to more normal levels. My garden had offered some blooms, and is now offering more. The peony 'Coral Charm' had three flowers this year, though with the drying winds, they only lasted a few days. I moved it to its present location two yeas ago and it seems to be recovering strength. Behind it 'Duchesse de Nemours' is full of buds that are starting to open.
My Rhodendron 'Brandywine' was not as full as on other years--some of
the trusses were blighted and had only a few flowers, probably because of the drought. My other
Rhododendron 'Anna Rose Whitney'. which I transplanted last fall hoping
that it would prosper in a shadier area where the soil is more moist,
suffered so much I regretted having moved it--but it's now showing some promising new growth.
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| Rhododendron 'Brandywine' |
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| Rhododendron 'Anna Rose Whitney' |
My Virginia Fringe tree in the east woodland garden didn't put forth a lot of bloom this year, and neither did the Pagoda Dogwood, but they seem to be gaining some height--all to the good.
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| Virginia Fringe Tree (Chionanthus virginicum) |
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| Pagoda Dogwood (Swida alternifolia) |
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| Pagoda Dogwood |
The pale lilac Dutch iris were lovely last week and the bearded irises made a decent show as well. The yellow irises produced only one flower stalk, but the white and bicolors in the front garden and the blue 'Victoria Falls' were quite impressive.
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| Pale Dutch irises |
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| Iris bed in front of house. |
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| 'Victoria Falls' iris. |
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| Iris 'Blatant' |
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| Iris 'Pink Attraction' |
Back in Herb's bed, last fall I planted a row of the charming Allium 'Christophii' (I think that's what it is, not sure) which is starting to bloom.
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| Allium 'Christophii' |
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| Allium 'Christophii'? |
In the back bed the Verbascum 'Southern Charm' is putting on a lovely show along with some red Columbines and a small pink Salvia.
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| Verbascum 'Southern Charm' |
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| Salvia 'Pink Profusion' |
A couple of other Salvias, the deep purple "May Night' and a light blue are also blooming. I hope most of these will still be in bloom for the month's "Bloom Day."
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| Salvia 'May Night' |
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| Light blue Salvia. |
Lastly, here's some photos of the spring harvest from my home veggie garden: lettuce and Cherry Belle radishes, with an arrangement of irises in a vase for a backdrop.
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| Spring harvest |
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| Irises in vase with spring harvest. | |
