blackspot on one rose

is the only bleary thing out there on this day in late May. And even that is kind of pretty.

I came home from a weekend away to roses in full bloom, seeds sprouted and campanula opening out back. My favorite time in the garden.









This red climber gets a little too much shade and runoff from our neighbor's garage, but it still blooms each year before blackspot claims all of its foliage.


Digitalis 'candy mountain'


Siberian iris 'caesar's brother'


Climbing rose 'garden sun'

















front garden today


White Siberian iris, given to me by a stranger driving by during my first year in this garden, along with these peonies:








Campanula persicifolia 'white bell'

I am remembering my Aunt

today. A pure white iris is blooming, as it once did in her yard, all the way across the country.


She is gone now. But this small part of her garden, which I watch over for my mother, lives on. Thinking of you Aunt Sis.

peonies and other May flowers

The pink ones I divided and moved two falls ago, now in their second summer, are blooming. Also, last week I was invited to dig up some white and red heirloom varieties from a house renovation a block away. I stuck 10 tubers in wherever I could find room...so I may be swimming in peony blooms this time, two seasons from now. They really make lovely cut flowers, and are enormously fragrant.








Lobelia 'regatta marine blue' blooming in he front wall. My annual blue addition, next year I will try to start them from seeds. They need a two month head start.


Lady's mantle, which will finally bloom this year after 2 seasons of growth.


Digitalis 'candy mountain' a biennial in it's second year out back.


Snow-in-the-summer coming back this spring after wet weather last season weakened it's aggressive hold on the front border.


Allium


Coral bells blooming this week, allium and hydrangea in the background.


The common iris, my least favorite in the garden but lovely in this photograph.


Yellow iris of unknown variety.


English bluebells keep cropping up In surprising locations.

strawberries, lettuce, watermelon

spinach, peas, lemon thyme, spearmint, tomatoes (brandywine, yellow pear, green zebra, mexican) basil, beets, cucumbers...alll growing in the vegetable beds today.

roses unfurling

The 'garden sun' climbing roses have mostly shaken off the aphids and early signs of powdery mildew this year. Perhaps the ladybugs imported via my mother's efforts are helping. I've seen a few of them enjoying a green, wiggly lunch on the budding ends this week. I also tried to catch things early with a spray of baking soda, horticultural oil and water as they just broke dormancy. With some luck they'll stay healthy for a bit...



The clematis are sharing bloom time with them this season, for the first time.

Snow-in-the-summer, lobelia, peonies and roses all blooming this week. And in the background, the Nantucket rambling roses and 'super dorothy' companions are up on the roof, over the arch and budding.