 |
| Iris in the front yard |
It's been a crazy spring, with unseasonable heat spells in late March and early April, and two killing frosts in-between. The emerging flower buds and leaves of the trees were blasted by the first frost, only to be burned again as they were starting to recover and resume growth. The worst-hit were my Japanese maples and the Redbuds, which are still looking very sad. Many other trees too--the lack of rain hasn't helped.
My iris blooms are much reduced this spring--the patch of yellow bearded iris on the left of the driveway was brimming with flower spikes getting ready to open, even the Dutch iris. The other varieties in the back yard--'Victoria Falls,' 'Blatant,' and the old-fashioned iris from my mother's garden were just putting out their flowering spikes when the second frost hit, and were all blighted--I cut off the pathetic-looking, desiccated stalks. The only flowers to survive were in this small patch right in front of the house.
 |
| Bicolor iris |
 |
| Yellow iris |
 |
| White iris |
A small patch of mom's old-fashioned iris growing under the stairs to the deck was protected enough to survive--not exactly a scenic setting, but the scent is lovely.
 |
| Mom's old-fashioned iris under the back stairs |
At this time of the year, the east woodland garden is usually remarkably beautiful, with the Virginia Fringe tree in bloom against the pinkish-yellow of the Full Moon maple, 'Blue Barlow' columbines, and the Pagoda Dogwood getting ready to bloom. The 'Berry Poppins' hollies in this bed also got blasted, it may take them the rest of the season to recover enough to put out some leaves. This year, with the fringe tree denuded of its buds, and the burnt foliage of the Japanese maples, only the columbines are blooming, making for a much diminished display.
 |
| 'Blue Barlow' Columbines |
 |
| Dwarf Colorado Blue Spruce |
In all, I have fewer flowers than usual for this time of the year, when my garden normally looks its best. One Rhododendron in the woodland garden had a few buds, but it's doubtful that they'll open--they seem to be damaged.
 |
| Salvia 'May Night' |
There are some Salvias and a yellow flower whose name I forget blooming on the west side of the house.
My 'Coral Charm' Peony put out four blossoms a week or so back, but their glory was short-lived, and the blooms are now gone. I hope my other peonies, which bloom later, will put on a better display, but who knows?
 |
| Peony 'Coral Charm' |
I hope we'll get a good tropical rainstorm soon, so that my garden can begin to recover from this very cruel spring!
