May 15, 2011

Bloom Day - Aloha Means Hello and Goodbye

This past week I had an unexpected and overdue opportunity to get some work done in the garden.  I weeded, pruned, pulled yellowing Narcissus foliage and tired Pansies, but left the Violas which seem unaffected by our warming weather, so far.  I also pulled up all my Brassicas including Red Bor Kale and Giant Red Mustard.  When I began gardening I was told to cut off the flowers on these plants, maybe it was to extend their lives, but in my garden the flowers stay, and when they are spent, the plant comes out.  I must make room for what's to come.

Giant Red Mustard (Brassica juncea var. rugosa)
Brassica juncea var. rugosa

Iris x 'Impersonator'
Iris x 'Impersonator'

Purple Smoke Baptisia (Baptisia 'Purple Smoke')
Baptisia 'Purple Smoke' (2)

Baptisia 'Purple Smoke'

Allium christophii
Allium christophii

May Night Salvia (Salvia x sylvestris 'May Night')
Salvia × sylvestris 'May Night'

French Hollyhock (Malva zebrina)
Malva zebrina 2

Malva zebrina

Rose 'Hot Cocoa'
Rose 'Hot Coccoa'

Rose 'Pat Austin'
Rose 'Pat Austin'

I do not know what species of Sedum this is, but I use it like green mulch.
Sedum

Jerusalem Sage (Phlomis fruticosa)
Phlomis fruticosa

The Confederate or Star Jasmine (Trachelospermum jasminoides) began blooming here this week, and I am writing this post under the influence of its heavy perfume.
Trachelospermum jasminoides

Trachelospermum jasminoides (2)

This is the first of my Hydrangeas to show any color, I was told it was Penny Mac (Hydrangea macrophylla 'Penny Mac') when it was given to me.
Hydrangea macrophylla

In the picture below are all the plants that have accumulated on my front porch over the past few weeks, waiting for me to get them planted.  Most are in pots or the ground now, and perhaps they will be seen in a future Bloom Day post.  If you would like to see what other people are sharing for this month's Garden Bloggers Bloom Day, then you should visit Carol at May Dreams Gardens, after all it is her month.

New Plants

25 comments:

  1. Interesting about Aloha meaning both hello and goodbye. That’s the same with Ciao in Italian and Salut in French. I could do with some of your warming weather: it’s 40’s and raining in Maine. I love your close up photos the best – your garden is gorgeous!

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  2. Happy Bloom Day Les, Being under the influence of the fragrance of Star Jasmine sounds delightful! Lovely photos~gail

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  3. Les, Happy GBBD. Your garden is so lush and colorful. So much in bloom for May. I like your perimeter fence planting. That is a stunning display. Here in the Falls, we are still behind everyone else, but FINALLY something in bloom. The bulbs are still blooming so you can see how far behind we are!

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  4. Your fence planting is beautiful. So is that hollyhock. And I had intended to replace my Pat Austin rose this year but haven't yet. I loved her so before she died.

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  5. Les,
    The jasmine is really something. I wish I could be there to take in the aroma. I know what you mean about being too busy.

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  6. Les, I grow that sedum as a green mulch and also don't know the name or where it came from. Your neighbors are very lucky to have such a beautiful sidewalk planting. Carolyn

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  7. So much glorious colour. I love that iris, and Rose 'Pat Austin' is glorious - does it have scent too? I always like to leave the flowers on my bolted salad leaves, until I am desperate for the room anyway. So pretty and the hoverflies adore them. Happy GBBD!

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  8. Like the border with Baptista. your photos are great. The climbing hydrangea is awesome. Can you recommend a variety for south kansas, zone 6a?

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  9. Les, I am envious!! Your garden and it's blooms are spectacular. My favourite is your Iris 'Impersonator' - too beautiful. Happy GBBD :)

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  10. Dear Les, Your hard work this week really paid off and your garden is looking amazing! The star jasmine is my favorite. Happy GBBD. P.

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  11. That's a handsome Castor Bean in your last photo! Try as I might to find one around here everyone just smiles and says "it's too cold"...maybe in a couple of weeks. I have a feeling they'll still be saying that in June.

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  12. Gorgeous series of shots, Les, but that rose is my favorite!

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  13. pretty Baptisia and Allium!

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  14. Glad you're getting some garden putter time, Les. Love the Purple Smoke baptisia, such amazing plants. And wish I could get an Allium chistophii to bloom like that!

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  15. Happy Bloom Day, beautiful photography!

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  16. That sidewalk garden is beautiful...so full and colorful. I also use my sedum as a green mulch. I love it...it just spreads and spreads. Happy GBBD Day!

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  17. Lovely blooms.
    If your sedum has pink-ish stems then it is Stringy Stonecrop--Sedum sarmentosum -- we had a ton of it in the Learning Garden.

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  18. Les, we have a number of plants in common - mine just aren't blooming yet! I love the shot of your "waiting to be planted" collection. A wonderful selection of color and texture there; I'll look for them in future posts!

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  19. As usual, stunning photos of inspiring plants. The Malva zebrina is new to me and looks well worth adding to our home for wayward plants...

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  20. These are such marvelous photographs and truly beautiful plants! I've really enjoyed my visit! Larry

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  21. The jasmine is magnificent. Your garden looks full to the brim of colorful flowers and foliage, the way a garden should be imo.

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  22. I bought seeds of the malva you call French hollyhock last summer and have been waiting for the weather to warm up to plant them. Was happy to see this pictures so I know what is to come. I had pictured them as being more pink than purple.

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  23. Hey - my Sage doesn't bloom like your Jerusalem Sage! The only use I have ever gotten out of my patch was to burn as incense in the barn when Don Carlos died.

    Loretta is quite fetching in her pose with the Jasmine.

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  24. Beautiful post, as always! I just planted a 'Purple Smoke' Baptisia this spring...and your photos are getting me really excited for the future!

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  25. Hi Les, I love the scent of jasmine! Some great shots and beautiful flowers. My favorite photo is the shot of the rose-very, very understated and nice. I have a blue baptisia and would like to add your purple variety to my own garden.

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