Bloom Day - Maychance

Like last month's Bloom Day, this one finds me with little free time.  However, I can see light at the end of the tunnel.  Two days off per week, kayaking, day trips, vacation time and summer are coming into view.  The little bit of time I have spent in the garden has shown me what a mild winter and recent rains can do.  Things that have languished for years have taken on new vigor, to the point I see some serious editing in my future. Until then let's see what May has to offer.

Will start with a given for May, roses.  This is a little groundcover called 'Sun Runner'.



'Hot Cocoa'



'Red Cascade' is being overrun with a wild passion vine.


Another given for May is Confederate or Star Jasmine (Trachelospermum jasminoides).



It may be heard to tell from the picture, but this oak is cloaked in the jasmine, one I brought home from work that a customer returned claiming it was dead.  I told her it wasn't dead and planted it out of spite.  The vine is now close to three stories tall and perfumes a good part of the neighborhood.


I have a different jasmine growing by the front porch, this is a gold version of common jasmine, (Jasminum officinale 'Aureum').



Competing with the jasmines for nasal attention is Ligustrum.  Personally, I think they stink, but my wife loves the fragrance.  We differ on boxwood too.



One of my favorite May blooms is Allium christophii, Star of Persia.



The blooms on elephant garlic (Allium ampeloprasum var. ampeloprasum) are not as showy, but I still enjoy them.


My Tradescantia x 'Blue and Gold' shown in April is still going strong.



Ice plant (Delosperma cooperii) has been a great addition to my garden.  It blooms its short little head off and laughs at heat and drought.



This French hollyhock's days are numbered, as my corner garden is about to be torn up.  They are replacing my neighborhood's 100 year old granite curbing with ADA mandated ramps.  I am sorry, but of all the things this city needs to spend money on, ramps at the end of perfectly good sidewalks are at the top of the list?


This spiral ginger (Costus barbatus) is a recent addition to the garden given to me from a friend.  I will either have to dig it up in the fall or say good bye.  It is only hardy to zone 9.


This year is the first one in several that I am going to have blooms on Acanthus mollis.


Creeping raspberry (Rubus calycinoides) is also blooming more than in previous years.



I bought this little Japanese maple (Acer shirasawanum 'Aureum') over 10 years ago, and it was about 15" tall then.  Now it has reached a staggering height of 24".  They are not supposed to like conditions in zone 8, so maybe its slow growth is a form of passive/aggressive behavior.



Another plant I don't necessarily grow for the flowers is plume poppy (Macleaya cordata).



We will leave with a hint of Bloom Day future.  This is my first hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla 'Kiyosumi') to bloom, and there will be more to come.



If you would like to see what other gardeners are offering for Garden Bloggers Bloom Day, please visit Carol at May Dreams Garden, after all, this is her month.