With the crazy fluctuating weather this spring, and the many diversions provided by Facebook, we have not spent very much time in the gardens so far this year. Fortunately, the shade garden is filled with perennials. So we have blooms and foliage -– all with little or no effort on our part!
The centerpiece of the shade garden is the old-fashioned bleeding heart (Dicentra spectabilis). Previous gardeners planted it, but we have enjoyed it for years now.
Another beauty (and source of pride and joy) is our Hellebore ‘Mardi Gras Black.’
Lily of the Valley (Convallaria majalis) is blooming much earlier this year. I wonder if we will still have some for May 1st for Curmudgeon’s French class?
In another part of the shade garden, the dainty white flowered anemones (Anemone nemorosa) continue to spread and bloom beautifully against a backdrop of Heuchera ‘Plum Pudding’ and an evergreen fern.
Here’s a little texture and form to go with the blooms in the shade garden.
Overhead in the shade garden, the lilacs are blooming. Sigh…
The sunny patio also has beautiful blooms now. The golden leopard’s bane (Doronicum) explodes from its pot.
The irises beside the house look so much healthier and happier since Curmudgeon divided them last fall.
Here is a new iris waiting to be planted. As soon as I unloaded it from the truck, I knew one would come home with me.
Since it’s purple, Curmudgeon approved of this new addition. :-)
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10 comments:
Very nice! I am green from envy: Lily of the Valley? Already? Where are mine???
Yes, thank goodness for perennials. I haven't planted any veggies yet either, so we are similarly behind. There's still time yet, right???
Bleeding heart flowers are so pretty and last a while compared to many of the spring perennials. They also make such a nice background to show off the other shade plants. Those dark Hellebores look so nice in the dappled light in front of the stone work. I love irises with dark bluish purple falls and light standard, and had one come up on its own in my garden last year. A surprise self seeded one that turned out the perfect colour combination. Between the lily of the valley, and the lilacs, your garden must be heavily perfumed now.
You've got to love spring time in the garden. So beautiful and without much work or worry.
Everything looks lovely and yes, thank goodness for perennials!
I just LOVE lily of the valley, my favourite perfume in the whole flower kingdom! You've given me some good ideas for my shady garden too, thanks!
Wow, all blooming at once!!! Our bleeding hearts are still at peak now (we have the traditional classic, a white-flowered one, and a showstopper with chartreuse foliage), hellebores are mostly past (though of course the sepals remain showy for such a long time), lilies-of-the-valley are in bud, and irises are still distantly dreaming of bloom. Hostas and ferns coming into their own here as well. We'd been wondering where you all were, and now we know: Facebook. Thanks for the update!
Great site, I think we can all learn something from your idea.this is fantastic looking blog..and I love the way you write!
I just adore lilly of the valley. It is my favourite scent. It was also Christian Dior's favourite flower and scent too!
Absolutely love the Leopards Bane, I have always wanted one. You have yours in a pot?? Hmm, that just might work here on the Island. Now if the dang rain would just stop already!! After all, it IS June.
Great pictures - I am so envious of the riot of color.
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