Summer slipping away already—before it begins

Thank god all the pond trauma is over. It's in, it kind of does its own thing and I don't have to worry about wanting a pond and not having one anymore. Now that the problematic planting bed it now occupies is considerably reduced, I can enjoy the rest of the garden.

Two small hiccup: one of the fish died and I think the pond builders managed to squash the sweet autumn clematis to death. The other fish seems OK, but we'll wait a while before adding any more. We must have lost the knack of keeping fish; it's been a while since either of us had an aquarium.

Aside from the pond, it's amazing what a sunny May will do. All the annuals are much further along than usual, including this nicotiana, Crimson Bedder.



Even the small seedlings from my neighbor's basement are in bloom already, and I have more rosebuds than I've ever had before. As for perennials, not being a foxglove or iris person, I don't have too much, but the geraniums (phaem above) are going great guns, even the ones I pulled out of the bed. I'd love to know what variety geranium this (below) is; it's the sole survivor from a can of seeds for shade I threw down once in a fit of silliness.



Oops, guess I am an iris person now; here's my first pond plant getting ready to bloom.



I don't usually do these survey-of-the-garden posts, but I just have a feeling about this summer. It seems as if I don't document it I'll miss it. Too much going on in other areas.