Opening acts

Though my garden is primed to peak in mid–late July, just in time for Garden Walk, I do have a few noteworthy happenings before then. Not that many, because aside from spring bulbs, ephemerals, and early-blooming perennials, gardens are just getting going in June when you live around here.


I think the viburnum blooms are the first sign that things are really beginning to happen. Then the hardy geraniums and dicentra. And then the climbing hydrangea blooms. This plant has really performed splendidly here; in nearly-full shade it now almost covers 3 trellis panels and is covered in blooms. There may be a cultivar that blooms longer—I think Christopher Lloyd mentions it, but I hadn’t heard of it when I bought this one. Sorry the image is a bit blurry.


And the roses. These are definitely the days of prosecco, Veuve Cliquot, and roses around here. The falsely named totally bogus Gloire de Dijons, the real, completely awesome Abraham Darbys, the wonderful old Louise Odiers, the unknown red climber, the yellow Charlotte I have almost pulled out twice—they are delighting all comers now.


Soon, the yellow and purple perennials I’ve tried to introduce and make dominant will bloom forth, as well as all the lilies, but I’m enjoying these bursts of color in what is still largely a green garden. This is by way of being a Bloom Day post, a tradition started by Carol/May Dreams Gardens.