May Bloom Day

The big day has finally arrived--the bags are packed and the car has been vacuumed and filled up with gas.  Just a last minute watering of the seedlings on the back porch, and we're good to go--Asheville, here we come!  But it's the fifteenth of the month, meaning today is also Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day, an event I don't think I've missed since I started blogging.  So here's a quick look at what's blooming in my garden in the middle of May:

Byzantine gladiolus--the best kind of glads, because you plant them in the fall instead of having to dig them up every year!

Allium 'Graceful' isn't as bold as the much larger globe alliums, but is just what its name implies.

Nepeta 'Walker's Low' was buzzing with activity of all kinds of bees Monday morning.  A fuzzy photo, I know, but I didn't have time to wait for them to slow down and take a break.

'May Night' Salvia everywhere.

Even more ubiquitous are the blooms of yarrow.

The "Sea of Lamium" in the shade garden.  Purple and pink seems to be the predominant color scheme this Bloom Day.

Penstemon X has returned for another year in the butterfly garden.  A passalong from friend Gail, you can check out the proper name of this native by visiting her.

The small Spireas are just beginning to bloom--the 'Magic Carpet' series, I think.

Also blooming, much to my delight, is the new Viburnum 'Cardinal Candy.'  Planted last year, it didn't look too happy by the end of the dry summer, so I'm excited to see these blooms.

The yellow Knockout roses 'Radsunny' are also putting out their first blooms of the year.

Nearly hidden from view, I was excited to find this bloom on my climbing rose as well.  I was sure 'Zephirine Drouhin' didn't survive last summer, but this gives me hope.

While I'm away, the garden will be under the watchful eyes of my two garden buddies, Sophie and Coconut.  I just wish we would get some rain while I'm gone, because they haven't mastered turning on the spigot for the hose yet:)  

Have a great week, and see you all soon.  In the meantime, why not drop by May Dreams Gardens, home of  our Bloom Day hostess, Carol.