Welcome to Garden Bloggers’ Bloom Day for May 2010.
May. I’ve waited all year for it.
Not only is the sky blue, the grass green, and the garden all new again, but the blooms are big here in my USDA hardiness zone 5b garden.
Big like these peonies.
I dug these up about ten years ago from my Dad’s stand of peonies that grew on the south side of our house. That probably explains why I used them as a foundation planting at my house, and didn’t think to put them out in to the perennial border somewhere. This fall, I will carefully move some of them to the new perennial gardens being made now. I won’t move all of them, though, just in case the ones that I move don’t make it. I don’t want to risk not having them at all.
Big like Baptisia.
Or rather big like the overall effect of the Baptisia australis, which lures you back for a closer look. I want more Baptisia. I read somewhere that if you cut off the fading blooms, it may rebloom a bit. I think I’ll try that this year.
Big like iris.
Well, big like some people’s bearded irises, sometimes call “flags”, which I don’t have blooming in my garden. Instead I have these medium big Japanese-type irises.
Big like swaths of daisies.
Even if these are plain ol’ weedy ox-eye daisies (Leucanthemum vulgare), I still like having a few of them blooming in the garden.
Big like roses.
These are the Knockout® Rose, Radsunny. The blooms start out yellow and then fade to a creamy white.
Big like alliums
I planted these last fall and already I can’t remember which variety it is.
Big.
… like the last fading lilac blooms still perfuming the air with their heavy, sweet scent,
… like the double flowering columbine flowers still hanging on, held high above the other plants of the garden,
… like the nodding bell-shaped flowers of Clematis integrifolia ‘Alba’, pictured above
… like the blue of the Amsonia tabernaemontana, blue dogbane, a shade of blue that reflects the sky,
… like the strawberry blooms promising hundreds of sweet strawberries in a few weeks.
Big.
But amidst all the “bigness” of May blooms, out back in the shade of the locust tree, is a small bloom, one I’ve been waiting for, checking each day to see if the buds had opened, hoping it would bloom by today. And when I went out to take a round of pictures for bloom day, there it was… the first bloom of the hardy orchid, Bletilla striata.
Many people are surprised that orchids actually grow outdoors and survive our winters here in Indiana. I believe, based on some online research, that there are actually about 43 species of orchid that are native in Indiana.
This particular orchid in my garden, Bletilla striata, is not a native orchid, it comes from China. It is easy to grow, is hardy to Zone 5 but should be given a little extra mulch in the fall and planted where it won’t stay wet all winter. In the spring, it should be protected from late freezes.
Most of my little stand of these hardy orchids have been through two winters now. I’m hoping they spread a bit and form a nice clump here, so that all the blooms together can one day join the ranks of “Big” in my garden in May.
What’s blooming in your garden on this beautiful mid-May day?
We’d love to have you share your blooms with us on the 15th of each month by joining us with your own Garden Bloggers’ Bloom Day post. Just post on your blog about what is blooming this month in your garden and then come back here and leave a link to your blog post in the Mr. Linky widget below along with a brief comment to entice us to virtually visit your garden.
The rules for Garden Blogger’s Bloom Day are simple… no rules! You can include pictures, lists, no lists, common names, botanical names, whatever you’d like to do to showcase your blooms. You can post early, you can post late. We are grateful for whatever you share with us. Thank you, and all are welcome!
“We can have flowers nearly every month of the year.” ~ Elizabeth Lawrence
You do have some Big news in your garden, but you are right that orchid is the show stopper. Something different among all the "ordinary" Beauty. Your garden seems to be a bit ahead of mine. Most of the ones you mention are just tight buds waiting to burst, hopefully this week. Thanks for hosting this fun day.
Ha, I've so looked forward to this bloom day. And I'm almost first! And now I'm actually going to read your post — kind of weird how ones priorities start to shift in May…
Carol, I'm very happy for you, having such a bountiful May to dream about. Ours is a little behind-hand this year, but my guest blogger found some things to write about. You must be very excited for your new garden to arrive. What fun!
Hi,Carol, This is my first time, so I kept the post very simple with some nice pictures and few words. I hope it is OK. Your post is stunning! Thanks for doing this. Pam
Happy Bloom Day! I love the color of your iris! Very soft but vibrant
Big things in your garden..how fun and I'm jealous your daisy's are up!! We are a little behind here in the Pac NW..hoping to catch up soon!
I'm working on my small—not big—Bloom Day post. May is not a big flowery month in my garden, under the shade of live oaks. But I pulled out the microscope to find a few flowers to show off.
I'll cross my fingers that your dad's peonies make the move safely. Sorry about the double link listing, but the first link didn't work for some reason.
I love the white peony. We share that in our gardens, mine being deep burgundy and just starting to bloom. One of the big bonuses of May for me. Love your alliums and that little orchid is wonderful.
Yey! My very first Bloggers Bloom Day, and what a bloom day to choose. Big is such a little word but it certainly sums up your Blooms. My word would be "damp." But that is only temporary, thankfully!
I really like the Baptisia. I've never seen it before. And congrats on your orchid blooming just in time. It's nice when the plants go along with our plans.
Oh my golly, it was so much fun posting photos of what flowers I have blooming today…I have more that are blooming but haven't taken the photos..I may add to my blog this afternoon..it will still be the 15th!!
This is my first time and I will be back in June that's for sure!!
Happy May Bloom Day Carol! I'm sure enjoying your new garden adventures, and envy you that incredible peony; hope it works well in those big new garden beds!
Wish there were more days in May.
Halfway through your favourite month already
This time it was a difficult post to make: having to decide what to leave out. I was tempted just to show my 15 Amaryllis, which are so profuse that they block out all else. I went back to your NewYear post to have a look at yours. Have you put yours outside for the summer? Such glorious flowers. My first attempt was a success for a change.
Thank your for inviting us to the "garden party".
Add me to the list of people surprised that there are so many orchids in Indiana. Your garden is looking great. Beautiful photos. Thanks for hosting bloom day.
Hi, Carol, HOW funny! Last night I wrote my Bloom Day post about my small flowers and you wrote yours about your big flowers and then we both ended our posts with the same flower!
Your May flowers are beautiful. Thanks again for Bloom Day!
Hi Carol – your blooms are great -was reading about your new flowerbeds a few days ago too. I used to grow Baptista but it never grew anything like yours – its beautiful. Pop over to my place if you would like to see whats blooming in a scottish garden just now – loads of photos today…….. maybe too many lol
Rosie
Bountiful May, when new blooms open every day. Thank you for being such a gracious host for another Bloom Day.
Lovely blooms Carol! How wonderful to have your hardy orchid blooming!!
The wait was worth it Carol. Beautiful blooms and so wonderful to catch a glimpse of flowers we are unable to grow here. I can only just remember the smell of lilacs in the garden and the bountiful peonies.
I envy your beautiful peonies. All of our neighbor's peonies are blooming but ours are still in bud.
Thanks for the "big" tip of deadheading the Baptisia, I had never heard of or thought of trying it. My only complaint with this perennial is its short bloom period, so any possibility that it will rebloom is worth the effort. I hope you will continue to enjoy your favorite month in the garden, and thank you for bringing us all along.
Carol, Happy Bloom Day! You will love having the peonies in the perennial beds…and I have found they move easily. Wow on getting the baptisia to rebloom! I will try that. Have a great day. gail
Carol, this is obviously YOUR month! Looking awesome there.
Loving the abundance!
I'm celebrating the start of blooming in the garden, but June is our big month when the roses begin. Still, we have lilacs!
Thank you for giving us Gardeners an opportunity to crow about our favourite flowers in the garden. I see that your plants are way ahead of ours here. I was very interested in your little orchid. We have several orchids that will grow here too. Thanks again. Valerie
Thanks for the link up:-)
Am enjoying reading about the new perennial beds. And your Dad's peonies are some of the most beautiful I've seen.
You have way more flowers than I have! Still struggling in the cold in north west England, but I've added my little offering to the list.
Well it's your favourite month and your garden's doing you proud. It's strange to see how you're ahead of us in England in some respects, but we're neck and neck with you in others.
Happy Bloom Day, and happy, happy May to you Carol. I've found peonies easy to move. As long as they're planted at the correct depth, which I'm sure you already know, they will bloom happily in your new beds.
I love those peonies! You think like I do, in moving part of a plant to make sure it survives. How exciting to have a new planting area!
Your blooms a few days ahead of mine. My baptisias are teasing me this year, showing color, but only one has open blooms. Still, I have lots blooming, and had to keep some of the photos smaller than others so the post wouldn't take up too much space.
Happy Bloom Day to you, Carol! No wonder May is a special month for you with all these big blooms–your peonies are lovely! I see we have some similar tastes, such as the Baptisia and the alliums, and I just added two 'Radsunnys' to my garden. I'm glad you showed yours fading to white, because I wondered if that was normal. But I've never heard of orchids growing outdoors in Indiana–the things you learn on Bloom Day!
last month you had similar flowers to me, but now you are way ahead, my paeonys are still tight in bud, but I do have iris. thanks for hosting
I just love your garden. For a brief time I lived in Zone 5 and I had peonies too. I miss them. My baptisia is all of 6 inches tall! But yours is so pretty that it gives me hope. Thank you and Happy Bloom Day!
Happy GBBD! You can add my name to the list of people who did not know you can grow orchids outside. They seem much too delicate for regular garden bed planting. Baptisia are a favorite plant of mine too and I deadheaded last year hoping for rebloom and nothing happened. And of course I didn't get the interesting seed pods in the fall. I may try again this year but with selective stems rather than th entire plant.
Those peonies are gorgeous, like lush tissue pom-poms (don't really see them around Austin). And your allium make a nice impact. Thanks for hosting, and happy May GBBD!
I am so excited to finally make it to Bloom Day! Thank you for hosting and posting your beautiful May blooms. I experience a lot of smiles and inspiration as I view your lovely photos. And orchids! Well, my word.
Love the Baptisia! I've been wanting to add it to our garden but haven't found any locally yet. May is great isn't it!
Beautiful peonies!
Beautiful blooms you have here. Thank you for hosting GBBD. It is fun to participate. Happy GBBD to everyone!
More like "seed day" this month, since I've been planting, but pictures of my May 15 blooms are on flickr:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/8416387@N08/sets/72157621374803949/ (last pictures in set)
Beautiful pictures! I just got some Baptisia and cannot wait to get it in the ground. I hope mine looks as good as yours.
Lovely blog and a great idea – I'm glad I found your site and can join in with Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day.
I'll certainly be back to read more.
Unfortunately all of my beautiful peonies are almost finished blooming now but I've taken and posted some photos of things nature has provided in my garden
Not much is blooming here in May; it always pops in June.
Wow! Another Bloom Day!
Sorry 'bout the two links, I put my own name and not my blog's name. Not trying to be greedy.
Love the idea of Bloom Day, this is my third, I think. My blog is still new, but always fresh, come visit!
Coral those peonies are absolutely beautiful!
I don't blame you for being a little anxious about disturbing them, I think that's a wise move just taking a small portion.. I would not want to loss those beauties either!
I like BIG, too! Bigger the better (I should be living in Texas!). I love your photos and your flowers, especially the common Shasta Daisy – I have them all over and completely agree – they always make a BIG impact planted in drifts!
Mine's bigger – my Tree Peony flower, anyway. Isn't May wonderful? Your dad's Peony is ethereally beautiful, I think they'll make a great focal point for your new border.
May in your garden really is a big one! You've got Peonies and roses blooming already, mine will probably be ready for June bloom day.
It's interesting how orchids are native to so many places. I always used to think of them as something that grew in tropical places.
Yes, I definitely understand the "May Dreams"! Can't wait to devote some time tonight to see what's blooiming in the world. Thanks for hosting this awesome monthly event. Even my sister, who does not blog, and barely gardens, said, "oh yay, it's GBBD" today.
Hi Carol, I just love the peony. My post is up – it's such a wonderful month in the garden, isn't it? Thanks for hosting GBBD.
This is my first link, and it's minimal, but satisfying, as well.
Hi, Carol;
We have a wild orchid native in Utah, as well. They're hard to find though a real joy when we discover one along a hiking trail. Your garden is gorgeous.
big blooms! yay! must be May…
Love that Baptisia – I've always struggled to get them going in my garden. And your alliums are way ahead of mine – still in bud in this crazy cold spring.
Happy GBBD Carol!
Happy May Bloomday! So glad it's finally here…
The Bloom Day hostess' garden is looking fine. Oh, for allium to grow like yours! As for the baptisia, words fail…
Carol, I can see why you dream of May! May is more a time of anticipation here, even in a year like this with an early spring. Many of the plants you have blooming in May will be blooming in my more northerly garden in June. But, whenever it comes, isn't spring wonderful! -Jean
So many lovely white flowers. And the allium is amazing. I love those big flower heads.
What a beautiful time of year in the garden! Thanks for sharing your garden and inspiring others, Carol.
Just taking a break from the garden and discovered this site! Can't wait until after dark to explore it more… Larry
Carol, I so enjoyed being in your garden with you on this bloom day. Your Radsunny rose looks great as does everything else. I wonder if your father's peony is Festiva Maxima? Look like Festiva and fits in the time frame. Thanks for hosting Bloom Day for us once again.~~Dee
I imagine I could appreciate May more if I had a garden, and not just a balcony, where I have to start pulling up plants to make room for other plants *sigh* So jealous.
This is my first celebration of Bloom Day. How wonderful to discover that there is such a thing!
Alliums and peonies–gorgeous! Thanks for hosting.
I've just posted my very wet Bloom Day pictures – and a glorious day it is. That rain we were waiting for finally arrived. Happy Bloom Day, everybody!
I think you feel about May the way I feel about April. By May, I'm saying goodbye to gardening for the summer. But your garden is full of hellos.
I wish I lived where peonies grew…I'd have a garden full of them. They are so delicate and lovely. They are just the kind of flower I lose my heart to. I'm fond of your ox-eye daisy too. I need to introduce it into my garden of weeds and see if it will be happy with the others.
Carol you are ahead of me again with blooming peonies, ox-eye daisy and roses. But I have so many things going on my may Bloom Day post is in two parts.
Your blooms are stunning Carol! I love the peonies you were able to bring from your dad's garden. And those daisies just make me think of my childhood – lovely. If I try a knock out rose this year, I think it will be rad-sunny. I just love the yellow blooms.
This is my second time participating in bloom day–I was looking forward to it!
Carol, your orchid IS beautiful. I had no idea they could grow outside in IN! But my fave pic is of your peony, my favorite flower besides hydrangeas. What a beautiful garden you have!
You are just that little bit ahead of us here in wales – and your garden is looking lovely (and big.
I do like your peony, and the fact that it come from your Dad's house – always nice to have plants with a sense of history.
Your Baptisia is also looking very fine.
K
I'm so jealous of your peonies! My grandmother has always had them in her garden, and they are probably my favorite flower. Yours are beautiful, and I bet they smell amazing!
Your garden is just lovely in May, Carol. I am a fan of peonies and yours is charming. Love the baptisia and orchids, too.
So glad to be participating in this explosion of flowers! We're trying to do edible flowers/flowers of edibles at our Grow It Eat It blog – we'll see how it goes through the season. Thanks for the opportunity to join in.
Boy is this monthly tradition growing!!! Am very late for dinner, so must run, but can't wait to see everyone else's posts. Happy Spring!
That peony is having a wonderful May, Carol – the whole palette of your bloom post is so delicious! Right now that old saying about 'better to have loved and lost than never loved at all' is swirling in my head like a mantra… reminding me that I once got to grow peonies and baptisia and the memories are sweet.
Happy Blooming Day and Happy May Dreams..
Annie at the Transplantable Rose
My post Bloom Day & Genealogy is up.
I'm running late, but it's worth it – my Missouri primrose opened its first bloom this evening, just in time! I love your Baptisia, I can't wait for mine to fill in like that. I'm excited I finally have seedpods this year. I'm hopeful for some reseeding.
I think your May is my June. No peonies yet and frost still a threat. <a href="http://www.coldclimategardening.com/2010/05/15/garden-bloggers-bloom-day-may-2010/>What's blooming in my cold climate</a>
Well, it's such a busy time of the year, it's hard to keep track of what is in bloom. Every post I see reminds me of something more to post or plant. But in this case we weren't even home so I decided to share my son's beautiful blue poppies. Enjoy!
You had me a Peony. I have several peonies that I dug from my Dad's patch….every year they make me think of him….
Thanks for hosting! I love making my little piece of Seattle yard part of this big happy family…
…now come see my columbines!!
I love the peonies!
Thank you for hosting!
Phew, I made it! Late again, but there you are.
I'm amazed at how far ahead of upstate NY your zone 5b garden is. My peonies are quite a long way from blooming yet and the lilacs just began a few days ago.
That BIG stand of Baptisia is glorious! Everything is!
Happy Bloom Day, Carol!
Quite a miscellaneous collection I've got blooming right now. Thought I wasn't going to have anything new blooming this month but I actually did have a lot.
You are having a stellar Bloom Day! Thank you for starting this…I'm so glad to be back!
Thank for hosting GBBD! Your peonies are amazing. Interesting about the orchids. Maine is finally blooming.
Hi Carol,
Your garden is looking wonderful – as ever. Wish I could say the same about my balcony – we've had dreadfully cold wet weather all month, and we're now way behind. Oh well …
Glad I'm not the only one to plants things and forgets to make a note of the varietes
We have some of the same things blooming Carol. Your yellow rose is one of my favorites of your blooms. Happy GBBD.
Love the Bletilla~ I would like to grow it some day:)
Enjoy your beautiful May Garden!
Yay for May!
Thanks for hosting GBBD and posting some great photos of what's blooming where you are.
Wow Carol – it's a BIG Bloom Day all right. Have you set a record for participants this month?!
Nice to see the peonies doing so well- I love that pale, pale pink some of them have. Also love the baptisia, knockout roses and how cool that you have a hardy orchid!!
A belated Happy GBBD! I didn't get a chance to post yesterday but I finally got to it today.
Late for the dance. Sorry. Thanks as usual for hosting. http://remarc.com/craig/?p=983
Wow! You are way ahead of me! My garden is still lingering in tulips. Some of my early irises have just started to bloom and I have one peony – my fern peony.
Love that Japanese iris and all that baptisia!
Carol, it looks like all of your May dreams have come true, in a really BIG way.
Lovely, all of them.
Beautiful peonies. There are peonies here at my new house and I can't wait to see what they look like later this month.
Hi Carol, thank you so much for hosting GBBD! What a wonderful opportunity! I have been following your blog for a few months now, you are truly an inspiration!
I'm only a day late with my GBBD post this month. Gosh I sort of make that sound like it's a good thing, don't I? LOL.
Thanks again for hosting, Carol!
Love the Knockout roses! The Peonies! I always look forward to their appearance in the spring. Thanks for hosting this garden party!
Kathy
oops and oops! I posted early for May bloom day but seem determined to be always among the very last to link up here! Add to that, my mr. linky linked to an old post! oops. But what's important is that it's the May we've all (but mostly you) have been dreaming about! Cheers, Carol and thanks! It does seem to me that blooms are bigger and more exuberant this May! Love your peonies!
You have so much more going on in your yard — such beautiful flowers!
I'm looking forward to what blooms June brings.
I should send my husband here to read this – I'm always accusing him of wanting only BIG flowers.
If you want more Baptisia, I say don't deadhead it. I didn't get around to cutting them back until early spring this past year and now I have a few million seedlings.
Apologies for joining in so late, but better later than never! Your peonies are wonderful, I am very interested you moved them and they still flowered as I always thought that if peonies were moved they got grumpy and didn't flower for years – maybe this is an old wives tale afterall! Your alliums are way ahead of ours….can't wait-I love them!
thank you for hosting a garden party! I was hoping for an opportunity to share the joy I feel as I walk through my garden this spring. I posted earlier about my Peonies! Yours is marvelous!
Kathy
yay for may! what a bloomin' good party this month!
What beautiful gardens you all have.
As you can see I didn't slay the Jupiter's Beard before it started blooming.
My intention is to get the photos labeled so that you know what varieties you're looking at.
p.s. We're having rain again in Napa.
first time I did this, if I had taken photos at work, I too would have had a lovely white peony in my collection
Phew! I finally posted a GBBD. Never let it be said that I missed one.
Love your peonies, Indy!
We both have 'Radsunny' roses blooming in our gardens this May, Carol. I like that. Love your big, white peonies too.