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Award winner author of gardening humor books

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May Dreams Gardens

Garden Bloggers’ Bloom Day – May 2015

May 15, 2015 By Carol Michel 74 Comments

Clematis integrifolia

Welcome to Garden Bloggers’ Bloom Day for May 2015.

I hardly know where to start here in my USDA Hardiness Zone 6a garden in central Indiana.  We’ve had a wonderful spring, for the most part. There are flowers everywhere and lots of lush, green growth.

I’ll start with a new-to-me-this-year flower, Clematis integrifolia.  This is one of those clematis that isn’t a vine, and so far this one is standing up on its own, unlike dear ol’ Clematis integrifolia ‘Alba’, which is lying along the ground, calling out for some means of support.

Clematis integrifolia ‘Alba’

I have stated before my love of Clematis and there are several others blooming now about the garden.  They are competing for my affection with all the columbine, Aquilegia sp.

This little dwarf  columbine is only about six inches tall.

 I also have a dwarf pink columbine, but it is nearly bloomed out.

Nearby is this dark blue columbine.

It looks a bit like the Clematis, doesn’t it?  That’s because both Clematis and Aquilegia belong to the same plant family, Ranunculaceae.  I remember back when I was in college taking a class in Plant Taxonomy, which I loved by the way, I was not all that impressed with the Ranunculaceae family.  But we all change, and now I am in love with many flowers in this family.  I could do a whole post on my love for  the Ranunculaceae family, but this is bloom day, so let’s move on to this border of blooms.

In front, the Spanish bluebells,  Hyacinthoides hispanica, in white, blue and pink.  They are easy, reliable bulbs.   And yes, the pale flowers in the back are columbine. They are offspring of ‘Tower Blue’ and ‘Tower Pink’, two varieties I grew from seed back in the day.  I just scattered the seed and waited to see what would come up.

I never let columbine seed go to waste, and the self-sown columbine all over the garden are a testament to that fact.

Another bulb I planted last year for the first time also showed up for bloom day.

This one is a mouthful of Latin,  Ixiolirion tartaricum ssp pallasii, known by several common names including Lavender Mountain Lily.  It is supposed to be a good naturalizer.  Time will tell.

What else is blooming here at May Dreams Gardens?  Lilacs, of course. And daisies.

And gillyflowers.  Don’t forget the gillyflowers!

Dianthus ‘Bath’s Pink’

And salvia, geraniums, strawberries…

You get the idea.  It’s May in May Dreams Gardens.

What’s blooming in your garden today for Garden Bloggers’ Bloom Day? Show us! We’d love to see whatever you have blooming. Who knows, you might have something blooming that we must all get!

It’s easy to participate. Just post on your blog about what’s blooming in your garden and then leave a  comment here to tell us what you have for us to see, and then put a link to your post on the Mr. Linky widget.

Then say it with me, “We can have flowers nearly every month of the year.” ~ Elizabeth Lawrence


Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: garden bloggers bloom day

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Lee@A Guide to Northeastern Gardening says

    May 15, 2015 at 5:13 am

    I can see why May is your favorite month in the garden with all your wonderful blooms. Your Bluebells and Clematis are delightful! Thanks for hosting Carol and Happy Bloom Day!

    Reply
  2. Lea says

    May 15, 2015 at 6:16 am

    Thanks for hosting!
    Happy Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day!
    Lea

    Reply
  3. Anonymous says

    May 15, 2015 at 6:36 am

    Like you, I found it hard to get photos of all that was in bloom in my May garden — there's so much to see and the garden changes everyday this time of year! Everyone, keep your eyes open and enjoy it all! Happy GBBD!

    Reply
  4. Anonymous says

    May 15, 2015 at 7:12 am

    I love that Clematis integrifolia – both the color and the flower shape.

    Reply
  5. rusty duck says

    May 15, 2015 at 8:02 am

    Another fan of that clematis here. I have very few places in the garden for climbers, so that one is a must have! Happy Bloom Day Carol.

    Reply
  6. Sharon B. says

    May 15, 2015 at 8:33 am

    I've never seen the clematis that are not on a vine. I especially liked the dark purple one.
    Gillyflowers, I'll have to remember that when I look at my Dianthus.

    Thank you for hosting GBBD. I took a LOT of photos, did some weeding and still had LOTS to post!

    Reply
  7. VP says

    May 15, 2015 at 9:15 am

    The aquilegias are out, but clematis are only in bud for Blooms Day Carol. I always think of this month as the one when your garden overtakes the blooms on our side of the pond!

    Reply
  8. Anonymous says

    May 15, 2015 at 9:38 am

    May Dreams is certainly living up to its name! You are way ahead of us in southeastern PA; we've had plenty of warmth but are gasping for rain. Thanks for sharing your beautiful blooms with us, Carol.

    Reply
  9. Anonymous says

    May 15, 2015 at 9:42 am

    Love the columbine. And I must get clematis – I thnk I've been put off because my parents never seemed to have much luck with them. I've got a new addition to the garden this month. It's not staying!Thank you for hosting, as ever.

    Reply
  10. Andrea says

    May 15, 2015 at 11:19 am

    Those blue clematis again reminds me of the differences between hot and cold climate, you have more blues while we have the reds!

    Reply
  11. bookworm says

    May 15, 2015 at 11:27 am

    Our spring in upstate New York has been fast and furious. I, too, have a miniature columbine blooming – my main columbines should be opening any day now. Like you, I let them self sow. But I have so many now I may have to, regretfully, recycle some of them. My yards are too small. Wish we could trade! Happy GBBD. Alana – ramblinwitham.blogspot.com

    Reply
  12. Donna says

    May 15, 2015 at 11:39 am

    Your May garden is certainly alive with so many blooms Carol….I have buds fattening on my clematis and columbine so I expect anytime now to see these lovely blooms too…I do love spring in my May garden. Happy Bloom Day to you!

    Reply
  13. Pauline says

    May 15, 2015 at 11:46 am

    Aquilegias are blooming here too, I agree, they are such beautiful flowers.Your clematis is also beautiful, I do love blue flowers, our clematis aren't quite out yet.

    Reply
  14. Kate @ Gardening and Gardens says

    May 15, 2015 at 12:23 pm

    Love your clematis! It's my first year growing these so I'm anxious to follow along and see how they do. My Claire de Lune just bloomed yesterday!

    Reply
  15. Covegirl says

    May 15, 2015 at 12:26 pm

    I love everything in your garden. I have clematis, columbine, geranium"cranesbill". and forget me not blooming.

    Reply
  16. Erica Smith says

    May 15, 2015 at 12:27 pm

    Love all your May flowers! Thanks for hosting!

    Reply
  17. Alan says

    May 15, 2015 at 12:35 pm

    Thanks for hosting as always!

    Reply
  18. Swimray says

    May 15, 2015 at 1:13 pm

    Your GBBD got me to post to my blog, something I have been neglecting recently. So, the woodpecker got me up this morning hammering on the rain gutter. Really like that dark blue columbine!
    Ray

    Reply
  19. LINDA from Each Little World says

    May 15, 2015 at 1:20 pm

    The gillyflowers are gorgeous. Read all about them on your earlier post. I had the bright ones growing in a rock garden but never tried any other ones. Those are so beautiful I may have to give them a go.

    Reply
  20. Eric Teske says

    May 15, 2015 at 1:34 pm

    Happy May! I'm also in central Indiana (Noblesville). I have a lot of things blooming that I just put in this year, so that's sort of cheating because they might not 'actually' be in bloom this time of the year if they grew from the ground. Nevertheless!

    Reply
  21. CommonWeeder says

    May 15, 2015 at 1:51 pm

    I'm so glad to be posting on Bloom Day again – and so glad to see what is coming up in everyone's gardens. Thank you for Bloom Day!

    Reply
  22. Rock rose says

    May 15, 2015 at 2:36 pm

    Wow! Those Bath's pinks are splendid. I used to have some but they never looked like that and then the pill bugs made mincemeat out of the. SO glad you are having a wonderful spring. We are having a very soggy one.

    Reply
  23. Lisa at Greenbow says

    May 15, 2015 at 2:53 pm

    I always love the clematis you show that the blooms look like little fairy hats. Happy GBBD.

    Reply
  24. Nic says

    May 15, 2015 at 3:04 pm

    Thank you for hosting! I am very intrigued by that Ixiolirion and jealous of the columbines!

    Reply
  25. outlawgardener says

    May 15, 2015 at 3:26 pm

    May is such a colorful month with our gardens full of blooms! I can smell your Gillyflowers from here! Thanks for hosting!

    Reply
  26. Big Jen says

    May 15, 2015 at 3:35 pm

    http://bigjenthepunisher.blogspot.com/2015/05/garden-bloggers-bloom-day-may-2015.html

    Reply
  27. kris says

    May 15, 2015 at 3:42 pm

    Carol, Happy May! Love love love your columbines!

    Reply
  28. HappyMouffetard says

    May 15, 2015 at 3:53 pm

    Columbines feature heavily in my garden, too. I love your Clematis.

    Reply
  29. danger garden says

    May 15, 2015 at 4:17 pm

    I first read "gillyflowers" as "girlyflowers"…which is a pretty fabulous name I think. Happy May Bloomday Carol!

    Reply
  30. Nina says

    May 15, 2015 at 5:04 pm

    Happy May to everyone – the most glorious month in the garden

    Reply
  31. Jean Campbell says

    May 15, 2015 at 5:04 pm

    It's that time of year: Winter Dreams come true and there is much to see and much to be done.

    Bath's Pinks are one of my early spring favorites, already finished here, a delight in your photo.

    Reply
  32. www.ravenscourtgardens. com says

    May 15, 2015 at 5:05 pm

    I look forward to GBBD each month. I even managed to have my pictures ready and do my post today. Your flowers are lovely, it has been a spring for blooms! I have been branching out in my own garden after seeing everyone's lovely plants. http://ravenscourtgardens.com/2015/05/15/garden-bloggers-bloom-day-may-2015/

    Reply
  33. Evan Bean says

    May 15, 2015 at 5:27 pm

    That blue Clematis integrifolia is beautiful! Thanks for hosting bloom day!

    Reply
  34. Kris Peterson says

    May 15, 2015 at 6:06 pm

    I love that blue Clematis. Your garden looks wonderful! Thanks for hosting Carol!

    Reply
  35. Dee Nash says

    May 15, 2015 at 6:19 pm

    You already have daisies? Mine haven't even produced bloom stalks yet. Wild. I love your border. Gorgeous!~~Dee

    Reply
  36. Modern Mia says

    May 15, 2015 at 6:21 pm

    I have never seen clematis like the ones you have posted. Now I'm going to need to find out if they'll survive my zone 9a garden. Those are gorgeous!

    Reply
  37. Anonymous says

    May 15, 2015 at 6:27 pm

    Thanks for hosting. What a glorious month – enjoy your blooms!

    Reply
  38. Anonymous says

    May 15, 2015 at 6:27 pm

    Thanks for hosting. What a glorious month – enjoy your blooms!

    Reply
  39. Angie says

    May 15, 2015 at 6:32 pm

    It's all very slow here but not so with you Carole. You've many lovely blooms this month of May. As usual, thanks for hosting.

    Reply
  40. Amy@SmallSunnyGarden says

    May 15, 2015 at 6:45 pm

    I love seeing all those columbines! I'm doing what I can with a desert-native variety… Happy May 🙂

    Reply
  41. WashingtonGardener says

    May 15, 2015 at 7:43 pm

    Oooh, I love those columbines — need to sleuth mine out from the rose bushes they disappeared into. I know they are there, just not easy to access any more… Happy bloom day!

    Reply
  42. Pam's English Garden says

    May 15, 2015 at 7:54 pm

    Your beautiful blooms are ahead of mine, Carol, although they changed our zone to 6 — it still acts like 5b here. My grandmother in England called both dianthus and wallflowers 'gillyflowers.'Sometimes she called dianthus 'pinks, so to me wallflowers are gillyflowers. I'm just so happy it's May at last. Thanks for hosting. P. x

    Reply
  43. Hannah says

    May 15, 2015 at 8:39 pm

    I like your bell-shaped clematis blooms, and I just love the Columbines blooming their hearts out each spring. Your May garden is looking very lovely!

    Reply
  44. Hetty says

    May 15, 2015 at 9:29 pm

    Thanks Carol for hosting. Groetjes, Hetty

    Reply
  45. Rose says

    May 15, 2015 at 9:56 pm

    I just love your combo of bluebells and columbine! I didn't think I had that much blooming, now that the spring bulbs are pretty well gone, but when I looked around, I was surprised. Happy Bloom Day, Carol!

    Reply
  46. Anna says

    May 15, 2015 at 10:21 pm

    May is my favourite month of the year Carol. I think that it's kind to all our gardens. Your clematises are both beauties but why does one stand upright and the other straggle? Another one of life's mysteries. Thanks as always for hosting.

    Reply
  47. Wendy says

    May 15, 2015 at 11:16 pm

    I always feel like columbine would be hard to grow – don't know why I have that perception – maybe I tried once and failed. It's one of my favorite flowers though! Yours is lovely.

    Reply
  48. Dig, Grow, Compost, Blog says

    May 15, 2015 at 11:32 pm

    Wow, what a glorious spring you've had indeed. All your blooms are screaming "Spring!!" We've have too much rain this season, so things are coming along slowly or not at all. We gardeners are never happy, are we? 😉

    Reply
  49. MulchMaid says

    May 15, 2015 at 11:48 pm

    Happy May Bloom Day, Carol. This is your month and your blooms, especially the clematis, are lovely. Looking forward to meeting you next month!

    Reply
  50. Wife, Mother, Gardener says

    May 15, 2015 at 11:49 pm

    Thanks Carol!

    Reply
  51. That Bloomin' Garden says

    May 16, 2015 at 12:36 am

    Love the Dianthus. It just shows how planting in mass has such an impact.

    Reply
  52. Toni W says

    May 16, 2015 at 1:48 am

    Thanks for hosting! I love seeing the gorgeous blooms out there!

    Reply
  53. Anonymous says

    May 16, 2015 at 2:44 am

    That is a gorgeous border of blooms!

    Reply
  54. Rainy Day Gardener says

    May 16, 2015 at 2:48 am

    Happy GBBD Carol! I learned something from you..I did not know that dianthus were called gillyflowers! Very cute name.

    Reply
  55. Amy Farrier says

    May 16, 2015 at 2:51 am

    The dark blue clematis is such a beautiful color! And the bluebell bed is lovely.

    Reply
  56. Anonymous says

    May 16, 2015 at 3:19 am

    Carol, It's always a thrill to see your May blooms because it reminds me of what I have to look forward to in June. But I am also thrilled that by mid-May, spring has finally arrived in my Maine garden. Thanks again for hosting. -Jean

    Reply
  57. Christopher C. NC says

    May 16, 2015 at 3:47 am

    I am intrigued by this Clematis integrifolia. I visited a new garden for Bloom Day. Mine has too many flowers. It would take a ton of pictures to post it all.

    Reply
  58. Cerberus German shepherds says

    May 16, 2015 at 4:07 am

    Happy Bloom Day, thanks for hosting

    Reply
  59. Cerberus German shepherds says

    May 16, 2015 at 4:07 am

    Happy Bloom Day, thanks for hosting

    Reply
  60. Karin M. says

    May 16, 2015 at 4:57 pm

    Such wonderful flowers and photos of them. …. The colors of spring ..
    Greetings, Karin

    Reply
  61. Lady of LaMancha says

    May 16, 2015 at 7:03 pm

    Late again! Love the color of your clematis. Mine is in bloom, as well as my Austins.

    Thanks for hosting! http://ladyoflamancha.blogspot.com.es/2015/05/bloom-day-may-2015.html

    Reply
  62. Juliet says

    May 16, 2015 at 9:19 pm

    Like everyone else, I love your Clematis integrifolia – gorgeous colour and shape.

    I am a day late posting my blooms this month, but I had so many photos, I didn't know what to do with them all! In the end I decided that I'm going to have to do a separate post for all the Aqulegias. I think I'll have to just pick one flower and photo that next month, instead of trying to post all of them.

    Reply
  63. Crafty Garden Gal (find me at PlayingInCatnip.com or HomeGardenDiggers.com) says

    May 16, 2015 at 10:24 pm

    It's been awhile, but glad to be here this May GBBD. Thanks for hostessing.

    Yael from HomeGardenDiggers blog

    Reply
  64. Anna K says

    May 17, 2015 at 1:46 am

    I had no idea that Clematis and Columbines were part of the same family! Learned something new, and with that realized that it's not all that strange that I like them both so much. Happy belated Bloom Day!

    Reply
  65. John says

    May 17, 2015 at 4:27 am

    Wow, I am so late this time…

    The Lavender Mountain lily is a new one on me. I'll have to check that one out. So far, I've made even the spreading clematis climb. Just doesn't seem right otherwise…

    Reply
  66. Karin / Southern Meadows says

    May 17, 2015 at 1:31 pm

    It's hard to go wrong with clematis and columbine. So many great blooms available. I'm not familiar with the non-vining clematis but it I like the look of the blooms. Glad to see my link posted. I hope I didn't cause a problem with my link. I couldn't figure out why it wasn't showing up right away. Thank you so much for hosting!

    Reply
  67. Kelli says

    May 17, 2015 at 8:14 pm

    Lovely blooms!

    Reply
  68. Anonymous says

    May 18, 2015 at 1:12 am

    Hi, I'm new here, linked by a friend. I hope you enjoy my flowers as much as I've enjoyed yours.

    Reply
  69. Linnae says

    May 18, 2015 at 7:08 am

    Oh, isn't May the best?! Such loveliness all around. My columbine collection is slowly growing, and I'm enjoying every bit along the way.

    I plan to put in at least one clematis this spring, as well, so I guess we're on the same wavelength! I didn't know they were in the same family. I think someday I may have to go take a few horticulture classes, just for fun. 🙂
    Take care!

    Reply
  70. ShellE says

    May 18, 2015 at 4:39 pm

    I really like your Columbines. I am missing them in my gardens. I just can't seem to pull the trigger and pick only a few colors!! Thanks for sharing

    Reply
  71. Danielle Bedics-Arizala, The Magic Garden says

    May 24, 2015 at 3:57 am

    Everyone has such wonderful gardens going strong! Thank you for hosting.

    Reply
  72. Danielle Bedics-Arizala, The Magic Garden says

    May 24, 2015 at 3:57 am

    Thank you for hosting. I enjoyed reading the blogs of other passionate gardeners.

    Reply
  73. Kathy says

    May 30, 2015 at 3:52 am

    Sad to say I lost most of my first half of May photos in a technological glitch. I was too dispirited to take more pictures.

    Reply
  74. RobinL says

    May 31, 2015 at 11:48 pm

    May really is simply marvelous, isn't it? It's so exciting, because every day something new pops up. I sure do love the merry month of May!

    Reply

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