I commented this weekend to my Mom that the weather around here for the last week or so has felt like Groundhog Day (a movie in which a weatherman lives the same day over and over). The temperature has been below average and it's been gray and rainy with a few sun breaks thrown in here and there. Today it's about 10 degrees cooler than average. No, it doesn't feel like Spring that's for sure.
Bearded Irises in the backyard are blooming early. These were given to me by my youngest sister when she and her husband redid their yard. I have no idea what their name is, any ideas? It has a really good scent.
I complained about Clematis 'Nelly Moser' and the dying/yellowing stems the other day. It's such a pretty one, so I'm going to try
Tina's suggestions about checking the soil and feeding it.
Rose 'Abraham Darby' doesn't seem to notice how cold it feels. I have noticed quite a bit of blackspot this year. I've been removing the affected areas and have sprayed with an organic rose spray. Even my Flower Carpet rose which never gets blackspot or powdery mildew has it. If it would stop raining I could spray it too.
The pear trees both have what looks like the beginnings of fruit! Last year the flowers all fell off so this looks promising.
Peony 'Festiva Maxima' buds are getting so big the flowers are beginning to show.
My unknown pink rose is already over 5 feet tall.
Hydrangea 'Preziosa' has lots of buds. This is one of my very favorite Hydrangeas (and I have lots to choose from in my yard ☺).
Foxgloves (
Digitalis puperea) have buds. Last year for some reason I had no flowers, just lots of seedlings. These have been reseeding in this garden since we moved here and I just love when they bloom. I've moved some to the backyard as well.
There are two types of Clematis here 'Piilu' and 'Alionushka'. Both have big buds close to opening. 'Piilu' has never bloomed for me because I pruned it at the wrong time the year before. Planting these two together was probably not a great idea since they have different pruning needs, but I'll just enjoy them for now.
The forecast looks like mostly more of the same weather for the rest of the week, but they are saying Friday should be a little warmer. I've got seeds to start, seedlings to plant and containers filled with fresh potting soil waiting to be planted, now I just need the weather to cooperate.
Bearded Irises in the backyard are blooming early. These were given to me by my youngest sister when she and her husband redid their yard. I have no idea what their name is, any ideas? It has a really good scent.
I complained about Clematis 'Nelly Moser' and the dying/yellowing stems the other day. It's such a pretty one, so I'm going to try Tina's suggestions about checking the soil and feeding it.
Rose 'Abraham Darby' doesn't seem to notice how cold it feels. I have noticed quite a bit of blackspot this year. I've been removing the affected areas and have sprayed with an organic rose spray. Even my Flower Carpet rose which never gets blackspot or powdery mildew has it. If it would stop raining I could spray it too.
The pear trees both have what looks like the beginnings of fruit! Last year the flowers all fell off so this looks promising.
Peony 'Festiva Maxima' buds are getting so big the flowers are beginning to show.
My unknown pink rose is already over 5 feet tall.
Hydrangea 'Preziosa' has lots of buds. This is one of my very favorite Hydrangeas (and I have lots to choose from in my yard ☺).
Foxgloves (Digitalis puperea) have buds. Last year for some reason I had no flowers, just lots of seedlings. These have been reseeding in this garden since we moved here and I just love when they bloom. I've moved some to the backyard as well.
There are two types of Clematis here 'Piilu' and 'Alionushka'. Both have big buds close to opening. 'Piilu' has never bloomed for me because I pruned it at the wrong time the year before. Planting these two together was probably not a great idea since they have different pruning needs, but I'll just enjoy them for now.
Things are looking good regardless!
ReplyDeleteIt's still early in the season. The weather is just starting to warm up here.
ReplyDeleteYou are going to have a lot of peonies. Love those!! Beautiful photos.
ReplyDeleteYou have many gorgeous plants; the pretty bearded iris and the peonies waiting to bloom, wow. I like the blue bird house too.
ReplyDeleteGlad to hear you're not giving up on Nelly. For the first time this spring we're having a run of truly glorious sunny warm weather! I do wish I could nudge the jet stream and send some of this weather in your direction. It has been a rather unpredictable spring this year weather-wise, even for us!
ReplyDeleteHi Catherine, You have pictured some of my favorites ~ peony, iris and foxglove. It's hard to have so much to do in the garden when the rain and temps don't cooperate. We were near 90* Sunday but we had heavy rain and wind. Many of my irises broke. I hope you get a few good days in before Friday!
ReplyDeleteAnother beautiful post Catherine, your Festiva Maxima is so impressive, I hope mine does as well in a few years. I hope the rains stop for you soon. Off to google preziosa, I haven't heard of it before. Your irises are spectacular!
ReplyDeleteAmazing photography. So clean and the colors. It might just be the difference between Louisiana in the heat and the pacific n.w.!! Love your birds!!
ReplyDeleteThis is such crazy weather everywhere this year. Your flowers look like they are doing well. You're going to have so many peony blooms!
ReplyDeleteI am so dazzled by those irises...wow!! Gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteKiki~
Catherine-
ReplyDeleteSince I discovered your blog, I have a feeling I will be saying the same tings over and over...
Your garden is lovely.
Laura
White Spray Paint
Catherine--hope you haven't blown away today! It's blustery out there!
ReplyDeleteThat peony is going to be heaven on earth when it starts to bloom. Can't wait to see it!!
-Meg (who's being a wimp and staying inside, even though there's stuff to do outside, because it's COLD!)
The water droplets add to the beauty. It is not nice to be cold when it shouldn't. We got up to 66 degrees today, and it was warmer than usual. I really like all of your flower shots. Our peonies are at the very same stage as yours.
ReplyDeleteYup, sure looks like spring when peonies get real big fat buds and the bearded irises bloom. The rain drops also make it spring like, much the same as here. I do hope it warms up for you soon. Good luck with Nelly. Let us know how it goes on the sweetness of the soil. I added a 'Preziosa' last year and I so hope it gets big like yours. I've not had luck with it in the past. Your garden is most springlike-lots of lushness!
ReplyDeleteYour iris looks like some a friend from Maryland shared with me. They also smell wonderful, but I don't know their name. Sorry!
ReplyDeleteWell, I guess a little rain isn't going to stop your garden from flowering. The iris are lovely and I just love Abraham Darby when it is in bloom. I do hope drier weather is on it's way soon.
ReplyDeleteYour weather sounds the opposite of ours -- the temps shot up to above 95 with high humidity yesterday, and I'm hoping we will get some rain tonight. I have to say I'd rather have the dry and sun that we've been having to cool never-ending rain. I hope the sun comes out and it warms up for you soon.
ReplyDeleteNo ideas for a name for the iris but it's a beauty. I love the painting on the birdhouse.
To me the weather seems great, coz it's sweltering hot after a day's rain! I too noticed that many of my plants have started sending out buds after that rain.
ReplyDeleteLovely photos, Catherine!
Cheers.
Your garden definitely looks like spring alright. The clematis is gorgeous. I'd say our peonies are pretty well at the same stage. Can't wait for them to bloom.
ReplyDeletealoha,
ReplyDeleteit looks like things will be popping very quickly in your area, i'm very envious of all the buds in your peonies, thats going to be spectacular!
Looks like spring to me Catherine. We're having summer this week. It's suppose to be 93 today.
ReplyDeleteThe garden looks fresh and I think spring is in the air. I'm really looking forward to see peonies in full bloom.
ReplyDeleteWaiting on rain right now, it's so dark and dreary out at 9:35 a.m. everything looks great. Keep us updated on the Nelly Moser, I for one can use all of the info on Clematis growing that I can get..
ReplyDeleteIt's still cold and rainy here, and not a bud on a rose bush (although I'll go and look again when it warms up later this morning). Everything at your place is bursting open - love it!
ReplyDeleteHi Catherine~~ Your Preziosa is amazing and look at all the buds on your peony! Although I have and love 'Alionushka' I've never heard of 'Piilu' so I look forward to seeing your blooms. They look so healthy climbing towards the cute birdhouse. The dying clematis stems: if it's not The Wilt, it could be wind damage. This has been the case in my garden. The Digitalis are biennial so it makes sense that seedlings were all you saw last year. Will you ever have a floral show this year!!
ReplyDeleteYes the weather has been wacky but it seems like this is typical for May. A little cooler than normal, I agree. And I've got big time blackspot too but the bushes are so healthy and full of buds I don't even care. :)
Hi Catherine (Cookie and Gracie). Your garden looks wonderful. Spring has decided to peer through a chink in the doorway.
ReplyDeleteAh spring.
ReplyDeleteWhat fond memories.
Well, at least it's good transplanting weather! Interesting about your clematis problem, I hope you figure out how to fix it. Your plants are usually so happy, it seems like an anomaly when they are not! I have the same thing happen with my foxgloves - lots of seedlings, not so many bloom spikes, but I let them decide where to grow. Sometimes they are in a funny spot, but oh well! Hooray for your pears, I hope you get a big harvest this year. Yum!
ReplyDeleteCatherine,
ReplyDeleteI have Nelly Moser, but this is the first year I see blooms on it. I hope it will look as nice as yours.
Eileen
I hear you on the weather Catherine. We've had so much of the same I could swear we lived near each other! I hope it changes soon for both of us.
ReplyDeleteYour garden looks spectacular despite the adverse conditions. My favorite picture is the birdhouse with the clematis vines. So picturesque.