A Hodegepodge

Here is a hodgepodge of what's been blooming here for the last couple of weeks.

The Polyantha 'Caldwell Pink'

A seedling; not tagged, so it could be a combination of anything: Gallica, Alba, Moss... maybe
I need to search harder for that label.. The seeds were sent by a lady with a zone 4 garden.

Louisiana iris 'Sinfonietta'

'Hippolyte', planted in the wild end of the big perennial bed.
'Hippolyte' starts with pink buds, opens to a vivid deep fuchsia color

and then darkens to shades of purple and slate as it ages.

A view of the neighbor's pasture and horses. Those brown skeletons
on the neighbor's side belong to some yellow-flowering legume.

Rosa palustris scandens, foxglove beardtongue, spiderworts
that just finished their first round of bloom, Japanese iris that
haven't bloomed yet, a Knockout rose, and behind that a witch hazel.

Carolina Bush Pea, now almost finished, was in its prime about 10 days ago.

A mecca for bees.

Larkspur next to the vegetable garden

Hardy amarylis, also next to the vegetable garden

Iris japonica by the hay shelter.

Bee resting on Penstemon 'Midnight'

I hope you are enjoying the weekend.

Wildflower Wednesday ~ Carolina Rose

Carolina rose has been in full bloom for the last 2 weeks and it's lovely.

The bees love it. The whole shrub is abuzz with bumblebees.

While trying to focus on a flower

a bee would invariably appear. Even if you're not a bug person you have
to admit they're adorable. They were buzzing around so fast -- literally
rolling in the pollen -- that I could not get a sharp focus on them.

Rosa virginiana is a lot like Carolina Rose but the stems
are a deep burgundy and I can't detect the lemon-and-rose fragrance
that Carolina has. The fall color may turn out to be better though.

It's also time for Carolina Bush Pea (Thermopsis villosa). It's large, larger than the Baptisias, which gives it a stately quality. I've heard people complain about short bloom time but I haven't had that problem here. I love the yellow spires.

I'm trying to encourage Carolina Rose to stretch itself over the back part of the big perennial bed, as the only thing besides the rose that doesn't seem to mind the pine tree roots is the lush carpet of Bermudagrass that has established itself there. Carolina Rose likes to sucker.

Thank you gail for hosting Wildflower Wednesday.

The big bed in May

The look of the big bed has changed a lot over the last month.

R. palustris scandens, on May 13th 2010

May 19th 2010

A beauty like this needs to be seen from all sides.

One of the very last bearded iris. Looks like 'Earl of Essex'.

In their place Iris virginica are blooming. Not the best display, since
it was very dry in April and the first half of May, but any are welcome.

Carolina rose

Another view of R. palustris with Carolina Bush Pea and Carolina rose in the foreground.

The Baptisia are finished and the spiderworts have started.

With 'Hansa' and R. rugosa alba