Note to Michele: Memorial Day Flowers

Dear Michele,

It's a quiet rainy Memorial day so I thought I'd take the opportunity to photography the blooming plants in my garden for you to see. Suddenly, blossoms have burst open with spring color.

 

This time of year I mostly have shades of pink and blue.

 

This is the first sweet William of the season.

Geranium...

 

The Rhododendrons just opened yesterday. I'll photograph the whole bush once it's covered with blossoms. I'm still waiting on my magenta bush to bloom.

 

These pansies were a Mother's Day gift from my mother. I also have some plants she gave me last year which surprisingly survived the winter in my garden. I was shocked to see them alive and well this spring.

 

The lilacs are starting to go by but had such a lovely perfume this year, especially at night. The whole yard smelled wonderful.

 

 

I love lilacs and look forward to lilac season all year.

I'm not sure what this wild flower below is. It is growing in large numbers in the forest behind my house. If any one of our readers know, please tell me in the comments. Whatever it is, it is very pretty and I am enjoying them.

That's all for now. I still have a few non-garden things to catch up on with you and will do so soon. I have some photos from a camping trip, a Renaissance Faire, and a country store I can't wait to show you.

Until next time...

Caroline

Photo Tour of my May Garden-Portland, OR

Here is a Hosta that I planted last year in a wine box

This peach climbing rose put on quite a show this year. Our roses were blooming in April this year.
Yes, that is very early for Oregon roses.

This year I sowed my seeds right on my patio instead of inside. They came up just as fast as if they were inside

 

Rhubarb, my first harvest of the year

My one Chamomile plant turned into at least 10 new plants this spring

Some of my drawer mini beds from last year planted with Lettuce, Peas and Gladiolas

Lettuce was part of my second harvest from my Community Garden

One of my community garden raised beds



My second community bed planted with Beets, Onions and Lettuce

Note to Michele: A Tour Through My May Garden

Dear Michele,

 

Blooms are now blooming in my garden. It seemed a slow process this spring with cool and rainy days, but I do believe the garden season is in full swing. I have seedlings in the greenhouse, a pile of 'super loam' in my driveway to be spread in the gardens, lettuce and peas sprouting, a new raised bed made from an old bookshelf, geraniums ready to go outside when all chance of frost has passed, a to-do list a mile long, and many hopes and dreams for a successful season.

 

Come along on a little tour of what is blooming right now-

 

 

Bleeding heart, Solomon's seal, and vinca make good co-plantings. The blossoms look so nice together.

 

A blueberry bush under-planted with oregano in my long raised bed. This wasn't planned but the plants seem happy so I'm leaving them in place.

 

 

Now let me tell you about these little beauties. I bought the seeds last year and sowed them directly into the soil. I forgot all about them until this morning. They didn't do anything last year, but look what greeted me today. Pretty blossoms! Honestly, it was so long ago, I am not certain what type of flower this is but if memory serves me, I think these are English Daisies. What do you think? Gardening is full of surprises, eh?

 

My little piggy is quite content under the lungwort. He was a gift many years ago from my great aunt. He'd lived in her garden for many years and now lives in mine.

 

 

My sweet kitty, Natalie, in the field of dandelions. Yes, they are many and the grass was long, but shortly after this photo was taken, my kids and I, after much frustration, queries to Google, and several trips to the hardware store, revived our nearly dead lawnmower. And my dear daughter mowed the yards. This lawnmower was giving us trouble for weeks, so this is the first mow of the season. I wish I'd taken a photo of the backyard with knee deep grass! Quite a site.

 

One of three rhubarb plants in the raised bed. It's about time for some rhubarb pie, I think!

What's happening in your Oregon garden?

~Caroline