Late May in the garden

May is such a beautiful time in our area. The backyard erupts with color and fragrance.

Philadelphus x virginalis Mock Orange are beautiful shrubs. The are easy to care for and bloom heavily in late May. They last about two to three weeks and are lightly fragrant. Full sun to light shade will get the best display but make sure you provide supplemental water in the scorching summer heat.

A close up of Philadelphus.

The flowers of Cotinus Grace Smoke Tree lit up in the morning sun. The tree is about 20 feet tall this year and we always look forward to this display.

Autumn Circus Iris has been a solid performer this season. It is still putting out blooms.

Vavoom Floribunda Rose from Weeks Roses has beautiful color and a light fragrance.

Red Peony glowing in the sun.

We lost our large Scotch Broom Cytisus Lena to the bitter winter so we planted a new one this spring. Not bad for the first year in the ground.

A Dusky Challenger Iris in the bright sun. These are usually very dark but the camera always lightens the image when taken in the sun.

Our Chinese Dogwood bloomed well this year. It has taken almost 8 years.

These are yellow Water Iris. They spread easily when happy and need no special care.

A large pink Peony.

A large white Peony.

A nice Gloxinia Incarvillea delavayi display.

Pink Pentas resembles asclepias tuberosa. I hope it attracts just as many butterflies. 

A dainty stem of Gaura lindheimeri Pink Lady.

The early foliage of Fallopia japonica Variegata.