I saw the first Dragonfly of the year a couple of days ago and am still waiting to see some butterflies other than the Cabbage Whites. Hopefully the flowers that are blooming will draw in some more butterflies as well as hummingbirds. We've had a Spotted Towhee that seems to be spending most of the day in our backyard. I've started recognizing his call, although no one seems to be responding to him. I guess our yard is his bachelor pad. There had been a pair of them for quite awhile so either the female is sitting on the nest while he hangs out in the birdbath or something has happened to her.
Now, here are some of the flowers blooming outside today:
The Snowball bush (Viburnum opulus) has more flowers than ever this year. Since getting rid of our old shed that was on the back side of the fence we can enjoy this bush from both sides of the yard.
This Jacob's Ladder (Polemonium) has tiny light blue flowers.
Lots of Columbines (Aquiligea) are blooming.
I started 'Yellow Spotlight' last year with wintersowing. These will get about 3 feet tall, I have others of this same type I started years ago and they are very tall, bloom for a long time and reseed very easily.
Clematis 'Miss Bateman'
Lilac (Syringa x prestoniae) 'Miss Canada', these don't have much of a fragrance. It's supposed to be attractive to both butterflies and hummingbirds.
Catmint (Nepeta) is attractive to our neighbors cats. Luckily they seem to prefer just one of the plants, and it grows back very easily.
Ladies Mantle (Alchemilla mollis) grows well in both sun and shade in my garden.
Knautia macedoniaAlso blooming are Clematis 'Nelly Moser', Rhododendrons, Bearded Irises, Golden Mock Orange, Bleeding Hearts, Bunchberry, Red Valerian and a few others. Next month I hope more Clematises and roses will be blooming, I'm really getting anxious to see some roses!
On the 15th of each month Bloom Day is hosted by Carol of May Dreams Gardens. Visit her to see what she and other gardeners from around the world have blooming today.
Hi Catherine
ReplyDeleteThe temperatures you have are what we are lucky to get during the summer months. I saw my first damselfly of the year just after lunch at my pond - it was too quick for the camera.
You certainly have loads and loads of columbines - I have some but they don't multiply like that in my garden.
I dug out quite a bit of ladies mantle today - It has seeded all over the place - hope yours is better behaved than mine.
Have a lovely weekend :) Rosie
That snowball bush and Miss Bateman are amazing! Just a beautiful post, Catherine!
ReplyDeleteTwo things occurred to me on reading this post - that I need a snowball bush and that I should transplant my ladies mantle - two years in the same spot and it hasn't done a thing. Perhaps it's a bit too shady and damp.
ReplyDeleteHappy Garden Bloom Day! the photos are beautiful..I love the Big white Clematis "Miss Bateman' It's Gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteAh....Lady's Mantle. What I wouldn't give to be able to grow this. Unfortunately, it just doesn't like our dry, California climate! Beautiful photos - thanks for the tour!
ReplyDeleteSo that is what Ladies Mantle looks like. I do not have it then it must be a wild heuchera. I am in love with your Miss Bateman clematis. So pretty.And all of your columbines look so pretty together. I do not think my Jacobs Ladder is going to bloom. Do you think I need to move it where it catches a little sun? It may be too shady where I have it.
ReplyDeleteHave a wonderful weekend.
Hello
ReplyDeletenice fotos.....Green Greetings Sandra
Hi Catherine,
ReplyDeleteI think I blew all my blooms on Fertilizer Friday. I will have to remember to save some for next month.
I am looking at my so called Miss Bateman and it doesn't look like it did last year. Did yours start out a very pale orchid color?
That blue columbine is stunning!
Eileen
Hiya Catherine
ReplyDeleteI don't really know what makes a good year for a snowball bush. 3 years ago, mine just looked fabulous, it's not bad now but ah, 3 years ago!
If you put a mini tripod of small canes in the centre of the catmint it'll deter the cat(s) from jumping in it (no harm done) and you're right, they recover well.
Everything looks beautiful over there in your corner of the states
Rob
I love the yellow columbine, thanks for showing us what's blooming in your garden.
ReplyDeleteThat is the pinkist lilac I've ever seen. Beautiful. I also love your snowball bush. There are several planted outside where I work but the last couple of years, the "landscape crew" has pruned them in March taking all their blooms! I talked to our general manager about it and he said, "this year, when you see them, tell them if I don't get to them first to leave those unpruned." Well, they came to our business on a Saturday this year when no one was there to stop them. Sigh. We have just a few puny clusters. Next year, I may just tie signs on them. :-)
ReplyDeleteHi Catherine, I just love visiting your blog/garden. You always have such a beautiful and interesting array of plants. I have not heard of either this clematis or lilac, both are stunning. The colombines are so very beautiful, I don't know why I always pass them by when shopping.
ReplyDeleteIt's looking wonderful Catherine. I love that Miss Bateman clematis, such a perfect bloom.
ReplyDeleteAfter seeing yours, I must try Ladies Mantle. And that first pic is just fantastic! I stared at it for quite some time.
ReplyDeleteBrenda
Your columbines are beautiful! I love the Lady's Mantle.
ReplyDeleteCatherine, Your snowball bush is so lovely and I too have Miss Canada and do find that butterflies and the hummer love it. Mine are just barely beginning to bloom. We are ahead here too. Your garden looks so beautiful and lush with blooms. Miss Bateman is exquisite!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful flowers! Love the snowball bush! Your pics are gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteYour flowers are beautiful!
ReplyDeleteI love reading your posts and seeing what will be blooming in our garden in a few weeks! :-)
ReplyDeleteYours is looking great! It's a gorgeous time of year isn't it?
You have some lovely blooms Catherine!
ReplyDeleteI found your blog today via ablog in Chile where you made a comment. I have added you to my Beautiful Garden Links! I so enjoyed my visit here!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful! I adore Clematis and have planted a few, but not 'Miss Bateman'. I'll have to look for that one, perhaps to replace the 'Nelly Moser' I accidentally ripped it out while wildly weeding with abandon after being pelted with shotweed seeds.
ReplyDeleteHope you're enjoying this perfect gardening weather and a very Happy GBBD to you too!
You have some of my favorite blooms. I love the yellow columbine, as well as the blue ones. And the snowball bush! Mine has finished blooming. It's great to see yours.
ReplyDeleteThis is so lovely! I wish I have a garden, I just worked with some Viburnum centerpieces... I'll post those pictures soon. Do you arrange flowers as well?
ReplyDelete~Pat
http://annapatriciadesigns.blogspot.com/
The Polemonium and bleeding heart look great together. I particularly like your white and blue columbines. they have so many flowers, and make a super display.
ReplyDeleteHi Catherine, I always enjoy your gorgeous flowers. The snowball has to be my all time favorite. I hope you all have had a nice weekend.
ReplyDeleteLovely flowers! The viburnum looks like a ball of snow!
ReplyDeleteSuch a succulent feast for the eyes. Wow, everything looks stunning.
ReplyDeleteWhat beauty.
Jen
I spotted that beautiful pink ruffled columbine on your sidebar! So glad I can see it now every time I visit. 75 degrees sounds delightful. I'm hoping we can get to that this week ~ we'll see.
ReplyDeleteI had no idea Lady's Mantle would do well in the sun? Interesting. Happy belated bloom day!
White Flowers is really awesome..
ReplyDeleteBeautiful photos - thanks for the tour!
Hi Catherine,
ReplyDeleteWow! I just love your Snowball Bush. The flowers are just amazing and it is easy to see where they get their name from :-)
The snowball bush is so adorable and of course the clematis is fantastic. They are THE MOST gorgeous flowers.
ReplyDeleteCatherine, I just love stopping by your blog and seeing what lovely new pictures you have posted. I am so impressed by the bright pink Lilac..wow! And the yellow spotlight, I have never seen that before! So cool! Wishing you a great week!
ReplyDeleteAs ever Catherine, your garden blooms are beautiful, and I still love the look of the Clematis 'Miss Bateman'...it really is gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteCatherine I enjoyed looking back at my old posts too. I haven't done a bloom day post in a long time. Since fall I guess. Weird, it doesn't really seem like it's been that long...
ReplyDeleteso so pretty!! I would love to be your neighbor...I would learn so much!
ReplyDeleteWe finished our fairy garden if you want to take a peek.
How funny, Catherine, almost all of my roses have started blooming and most of my large flowered Clematis but your Knautia, Alchemilla and Nepeta are all way ahead of mine.
ReplyDeleteLots of gorgeous photos, as usual. Have a great week.
Catherine girl ! You have so many beautiful plants blooming right now !
ReplyDeleteI have not seen this lilac though ! Miss Canada ? and in that hot colour too .. but no scent ? that is like the roses that have no scent .. it drives me wacky ! what is the point without a wonderful smell ? LOL
As the season progresses we will have more and more in bloom .. lots to look forward to !
Joy : )
Whoa! Your garden seems to be boasting - Look at how lovely I am. It definitely deserves the attention!
ReplyDeleteI *need* Clematis 'Miss Bateman'. You didn't get that plant from a catalog by chance, did you?
ReplyDeleteChuck - No, I didn't order it, jut lucked out and found it at a nursery. It's definitely been worth the 2 year wait for a bloom.
ReplyDeleteYour collection of flowers is Really Beautiful.
ReplyDelete