I'm joining in with Garden Ruminations' Six on Saturday meme: highlighting six things of note in the garden. We're having a beautiful May, with many plants blooming synchronously and holding their blooms because of cool (but not cold) nighttime temperatures.
With this post, I'm highlighting shrubs, shrub-like plants, and climbers.
1. The Highbush Cranberries (Viburnum trilobum) are in full bloom. These broad, tall native shrubs are great understory anchors at the edge of the woods.
2. Clematis 'Nelly Moser' climbs trellises at the back corners of the house. In full bloom, it's quite dramatic and welcomes hummingbirds and other pollinators.
3. Helleborus 'Sandy Shores' is setting seed, but it's still lovely. With broad, evergreen foliage, it adds a pleasant foundation structure to a very shady spot on the north side of the house.
4. The Bleeding Hearts (Lamprocapnos spectabilis) form small, shrub-like patches in several spots in the garden. Each clump is about three feet tall and four feet wide. They've been blooming for several weeks now.
1. The Highbush Cranberries (Viburnum trilobum) are in full bloom. These broad, tall native shrubs are great understory anchors at the edge of the woods.
2. Clematis 'Nelly Moser' climbs trellises at the back corners of the house. In full bloom, it's quite dramatic and welcomes hummingbirds and other pollinators.
3. Helleborus 'Sandy Shores' is setting seed, but it's still lovely. With broad, evergreen foliage, it adds a pleasant foundation structure to a very shady spot on the north side of the house.
4. The Bleeding Hearts (Lamprocapnos spectabilis) form small, shrub-like patches in several spots in the garden. Each clump is about three feet tall and four feet wide. They've been blooming for several weeks now.
5. Fred's 'Sweet Mary' Rose is preparing to bloom. In this photo, some Cottonwood (Populus deltoides) fluff is captured around the bud. This Rose cultivar was created by my paternal great-grandfather, as described in this post.
'Sweet Mary' isn't blooming yet this year, but when it does it looks like this, and the scent is intoxicating! It's a healthy shrub-like rose that takes little care other than annual pruning.
6. Finally, the Korean Lilacs (Syringa meyeri) are fabulous this year (also shown in the first photo of this post). Apparently, weather conditions and the previous year's pruning combined to bring out their best.
Best wishes for Americans celebrating Memorial Day, and happy new season transitions to all!
Lovely blooms! We are too warm for the Cranberry Viburnum, sure love it in other's gardens. Likewise with the lilacs, Miss Kim is marginally suited for here but nothing like yours!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Janet. Pros and cons of various climates, I guess. I'd trade a slightly warmer winter to still be able to grow the Viburnums and Lilacs.
DeleteGorgeous blooms, Beth. I just love the photo of the bleeding hearts! Simple and really effective example of why they are named so. The clematis is also a stunner! Tina
ReplyDeleteHi Tina: The Bleeding Hearts have been reliable bunch perennials since we moved in more than 20 years ago. The Clematises were here, too. Both have been moved and adjusted a bit, but they are certainly reliable. :)
DeleteI just read the story behind your 'Sweet Mary' rose. I'm not overly fussed about roses but I do like a back story about a plant. It's great that neither the rose nor the story have been lost in such a long time.
ReplyDeleteHi Jim: Yes, it is a treasure that Grandpa developed the rose and that we've continued its growth and its story through the years. This reminds me that I need to make sure my children have starts for their gardens. :)
DeleteDefinitely want to keep that thriving into the next generation.
DeleteDiana: My son will be planting it soon. Maybe someday my daughter will, too. :)
DeleteI love the scent of the Korean lilac too. How lovely to be able to grow a rose created by your great grandfather.
ReplyDeleteIt is wonderful to have Grandpa's rose, and to smell it every year. The Lilacs are sweet, too. :)
DeleteYou're in full-spring mode now, Beth! All your featured plants are lovely but I fell to sighing over the Clematis. Your great-grandfather's rose is a treasure.
ReplyDeleteYes, for sure...actually summer weather (high 80s) next week. It happens fast. The Clematis was here when we moved in, and I love it. We are fortunate that the rose is still going strong in several family gardens. :)
DeleteHow nice to have a rose with a sentimental attachment! And it's such a pretty one, too! My Nelly Moser is blooming, too, but it's quite a bit darker than yours. It does lighten up as time goes by. Thanks for sharing these with us!
ReplyDeleteYes, the 'Sweet Mary' is a joy. It doesn't bloom long, but it has an amazing scent. 'Nelly Moser' does start out a little darker, and then lightens over its bloom time. Love it. :)
DeleteLovely lilac and clematis! <3
ReplyDeleteThe previous anonymous was me!
ReplyDeleteThanks for letting me know, Sarah. I want to include comments, but I wish there was a way to block anonymous comments...so people could comment, but they'd need to at least include their names. The Lilacs are starting to fade, but they still smell amazing! :)
DeleteLovely selection, your lilac is beautiful and I like that you have your grandpa's rose. I wish my Bleeding heart grew as well as yours!
ReplyDeleteHi Pauline: Thank you. I can't take much credit for the Bleeding Hearts, since they were here when we moved in. They seem to like the surroundings. :)
DeleteSpring perfection
ReplyDeleteIt has been an amazing May, hasn't it? We just need a little rain...especially with all the heat in the forecast. Fingers crossed.
DeleteHello, I enjoyed your photos and Fred's "Sweet Mary" Rose... that is very special indeed.
ReplyDeleteBeth, when you have time, could you share more about pruning lilac? Thank you.
Thanks, Carla. And thanks for the question about pruning the Lilac. To be honest, we simply trim the front one back away from the front walk, and then make sure it's evenly distributed. I should probably trim both the front and the back shrubs more heavily than I do. I've been trying to make them more rounded, with more trimming at the bottom, to encourage more new growth.
DeleteYour late May looks beautiful--like other commenters have mentioned, what a treasure to have a rose your ggf created! He would be pleased his descendants think of it as a family heirloom.
ReplyDeleteMy 'Nelly Moser' did not survive, but it left a seedling that has done pretty well. :)
I think you're right--that Grandpa would be pleased. I wish I'd had a chance to meet him. Oh, I hope the 'Nelly Moser' seedling will be healthy and grow fast for you!
DeleteOh what a beautiful lilac! I could almost smell the intoxicating scent through my computer screen! Whatever you did when you pruned it, do it again because it was a success.
ReplyDeleteJeannie@GetMeToTheCountry
Yes, the Lilac has a lovely smell. I wish it would last a bit longer; it's now done for the season. Wish me luck for pruning in the days ahead. ;-)
DeleteI wish you good luck but can give no advice about pruning. I just snip off what doesn't look right.
DeleteJeannie
I think that is the brightest Nelly Moser I've ever seen! And what a gift your rose is, how fantastic.
ReplyDelete'Nelly Moser' is definitely a star in the garden this time of year. The rose is just about ready to bloom...
DeleteYour post reminds me that bleeding hearts are no longer in the genus Dicentra. You captured dreamy lighting on that viburnum!
ReplyDeleteThanks! I know; I need to keep reminding myself about the new names/classifications. :)
DeleteHow lovely to have your own family rose and it is so pretty. I loved reading the story about its history. Your Nelly Moser is gorgeous, do you grow it in the sun or in the shade? I believe it does well in the shade.
ReplyDelete'Sweet Mary' is wonderful; I wish I'd been able to meet my great-grandfather and great-grandmother. We have two 'Nelly Moser' patches growing on trellises at the corners of the sunroom, at the back of the house. They get loads of sun in winter and early spring before the Oaks leaf out. Shade at the base year-round with screening, and partial shade throughout the summer.
DeleteOh Beth I just love all the beautiful blooms coming on now!
ReplyDeleteMe, too. Sorry for the delay. I should have responded earlier. Wow, I can't believe it's been a month since this was posted.
Delete