GBBD: New Additions

After months of waiting, the day has finally come--May 15, the last frost date in my Zone 5 garden!  Time to safely plant annuals . . . now if I could just find the time to buy some, let alone plant them.  It's also time for Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day, the day to showcase what is blooming in our gardens.  Here's a quick look at what is blooming in my garden, but please keep your eyes focused on the blooms only--between being gone for a week and intermittent rain, there has been very little time for weeding. 

May in my garden is more a time of promise, with buds and lots of green growth, but few blooms.  However, the clematis 'Nelly Moser' enjoys May and is the most prolific bloomer here.  She would probably look even better if  I had pruned her earlier, but the warm weather in early April caught me by surprise.  In addition to 'Nelly,' other early bloomers include Nepeta 'Walker's Low," Salvia 'May Night,' Salvia 'Eveline,' and a few blossoms on the red Knockout roses.  There are also some "hangers-on" from the April Bloom Day, most notable Brunnera, 'Jack Frost.'

Instead of showing everything that is blooming today, I wanted to focus on some new additions to the garden this spring.  The new lily garden is slowly filling in, including two new Knockouts 'Radsunny.'  Since this is still a fairly new cultivar, it's much more expensive than the reds or pinks that have been around for awhile.  I splurged on one gallon plant and then decided to buy a less expensive and smaller quart size.  The larger 'Radsunny' was blooming by the time I returned from Portland, but wouldn't you know it, I didn't get a photo of it till its yellow blooms had faded to white.

But more yellow buds promise I'll get another chance soon to capture its true appearance.

One of the unexpected benefits of working in the Master Gardeners' Idea Garden has been the chance to get plants at next-to-nothing prices.  Part of the spring clean-up process is to divide up overgrown plants or remove some altogether to make room for something new; these extra divisions are set aside for anyone to take for a small donation to the garden fund.  Two weeks ago I came home with several starts, including this plant that wasn't labelled but looked intriguing.  I soon found out it was a Thalictrum or Meadow Rue.

I was really excited, though, to see the label on this plant, Amsonia 'Blue Star.'  I've been wanting an Amsonia ever since I saw it in Chicago at the Lurie Garden last year.  It was quite small when I brought it home and I really didn't expect to see it bloom this year, but if you look very closely, you'll see some blue clusters--I think I may have blooms after all this spring!  Other new additions brought home from the Idea Garden include several starts of a 'Becky' daisy and a cranesbill, neither of which is blooming yet.  I also received some yellow irises from the garden of another Master Gardener--I love free plants!

Speaking of the Lurie Garden, the Baptisia is in full bloom!  I am really happy with this plant--I planted it just last summer, and it's already two feet tall and covered in vivid purple blooms.

It's no wonder this plant was named the 2010 Perennial of the Year.

Another addition inspired by last year's Spring Fling in Chicago are these alliums.  My notes are in disarray at the moment, so I don't remember the particular variety of bulb I planted, but these are the larger alliums, reaching around 3 feet high.

I have a feeling there will lots of alliums featured this spring in the gardens of those who attended Spring Fling last year.

And finally, I've saved what may be the best for last--the renowned Practically Perfect Pink Phlox, Phlox Pilosa, brought home last October from the generous gardener at Clay and Limestone.  Thanks, Gail!

For a look at more blooms from around the world, be sure to visit our hostess, the Queen of May, Carol at May Dreams Gardens.  Also, if you missed my last post, take a quick look at the photos below of some gorgeous blooms in Portland, Oregon where azaleas and rhododendrons rule!