One Bloomin' Season - Week Four

As I sit here preparing this post, it is raining - again.  And they say there is more to come.
Here's what's bloomin' this week.  First, the entrance to the North garden got a little more colorful.

This peony was labelled 'Red Charm' but it is more rose-pink than red, so I think it was mislabeled.  The patio furniture is out and for those of you who like eating your food covered with cottonwood seeds, be my guest.  Why do nice elms and ash trees get killed by insects and not these junky cottonwoods????  UGH!

I love this single white peony.  They remind me of eggs sunny-side up.  Like in this shot:

I don't grow coral bells for their flowers, but this old variety does put on a nice show.  This blooming 'Sweet Tea' (below) is grown for its pretty leaves.

I believe this next photo is Sedum selskianum, but not really sure, so if you know, let me know.

Unfortunately, the last two extreme winters managed to kill two of my old clematis.  This one up against a fence managed to survive, but it is struggling.  I need to use some fungicide on it.

This also was the first year that I had to cut all of my roses down to the ground.  I lost two of them, but this knockout rose is already blooming, probably because it spends the winter in a pot in the garage.

And last but by no means least, the flowers on the Kousa dogwood are opening, just not as large as some years.  It was another rough winter.  Oh, did I already mention that?

A few garden chores still remain.  I still have three more honeysuckle bushes to remove and a very old viburnum needs to have most of the old growth taken out.  Maybe by then the cottonwoods will be down spewing and I can just sit and enjoy the rest of the summer.

Oh What a Beautiful Morning...

Cold.  The sun is shining, but it is cold.  Is it supposed to be in the 40's in June? 

Well, it was a nice morning to walk in the garden, though much of it is still too wet to walk on.  Fortunately, I can maneuver on pathways and get around.

I am still trying to keep a bloom diary, but things are moving much slower than last year.  Still and all, I found some pleasant sights.

Last year I moved some irises that had not bloomed in like 'forever'.  Two varieties are doing well. 

A beautiful gold named 'Silence' and an almost pure white named 'Cup Race are doing well.  

My wisteria 'Amethyst Falls' has really taken off.  I am tempted to find a place to add a second one to the yard.  It would look even nicer if I ever stained my side of the neighbor's fence.

The Siberian iris are blooming in front of a nice ninebark.

The high bush cranberry viburnum are filling out across the back and provide a nice barrier to keep the deer out.  And the Kousa dogwood is nice this year, too.

 

 Off to plant a new hibiscus.  Mine are just emerging from the ground.  Weather here may be cool, but it is great for working outside.