May Garden
(Revised 26 Jan 2011)
Time to enjoy the arrival of waves of flowers and leaves flourishing, but this is also the time of the year to do all the garden making chores before the weather gets too hot in the coming months.
The vigorous signs of a northern garden awakening in spring are something very special to northern gardeners. You can see, hear, smell and feel the freshness and liveliness of spring in May (even in the rain).
May always has that renewed look of the year.
Looking out the kitchen window; can almost smell the spring outside.
The spring leaves of many maples are wonderfully ornamental, and usually have their best shows here starting early May…
Acer pal. 'Shigitasu sawa'
A few more maple examples….
(More Maples here)
In early May, many perennials beds can still look rather empty unless the compositions include the complement of maples, conifers, heathers, rhodos, primulas or spring bulbs etc.
A cool dog
Not many flowering trees are hardy to our area. We treasure the few that do. Many of them start blooming by mid-May.
View from the living room bay window - Cornus f. ‘Rubra’ with Acer pal. ‘Shindeshojo’, and Rhododendron ‘Karens’
Hostas were back to set the stage….
Hosta 'Sagae' with Acer pal. 'Peaches and Cream'
A couple more Hosta examples…
(More Hostas here)
Some gardeners have ‘issues’ with heucheras, but we consider them one of the most valuable ornamental plants. Their foliage colours can vary significantly depending on their sun exposure.
Heuchera among friends
A few more Heuchera examples…
(More Heucheras here)
Apart from maintaining a ‘four seasons’ look for the garden, the spring growth of some conifers are as attractive as any flowering plant (to us).
It is hard not to like the creamy new growth of this conifer
Although the flower buds of wisteria are not reliably hardy to our area, we are hopelessly attracted to it, and keep a few of them around, hoping to see their graceful flowers around May/June each year.
Pink wisteria time....
Wisteria ‘?’
Clematis that bloom here are tough and forgiving plants, since they manage to survive and bloom in spite of my neglect.
Clematis 'Clair de lune'
May is prime time for Rhododendrons here.
A young rhododendron
It would be hard not to notice the luxurious paeonies towards the end of May.
Paeonia suffruticosa ‘Kamata Nishiki’
May is also dwarf Iris time. I like these little forgiving and carefree beauties.
Iris 'Mariposa Skies'
Flowering quince is one of our favourite shrubs…
Mid May: Chaenomeles speciosa 'Crimson and Gold'
Aquilegias are looking their best starting mid-May…..
Mid May: Aquilegia c. ‘Corbett’, Sedum rupestre ‘Angelina’, Bergenia cordifolia, and various conifers
Always looking forwards to see the shooting star and Lewisia coming…
Mid May: Dodecatheon meadia ‘Giroselle’, Lewisia logipitala ‘Little Peach’, Iris ‘Eramosa Skies’, and Heuchera ‘Lime Ricky’
Towards the end of May, the garden bed were filled (except for spots where the plants did not return). Winter is forgotten.
May flowers
Many groundcovers have their show about this time of the year.
Veronica ‘Whitleyi’
Many people here only start their gardening activities after the Victoria long weekend (towards end of May). Why wait?
(Visit June Garden)
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We know too much and feel too little. At least we feel too little about those creative emotions from which a good life springs.
- Bertrand Russell