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Tuesday, May 15, 2012

Gardening in Pennsylvania ~ GBBD May 2012

Our picket fence covered in a red Clematis 'Earnest Markham' and heavenly-scented phlox. Allium 'Purple Sensation' on the steps.
Our picket fence covered in a red Clematis 'Earnest Markham' and heavenly-scented dame's rocket (Hesperis matronalis). Potted Allium 'Purple Sensation' on the steps.
There are tons of late spring blooms for Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day in our Pennsylvania, Zone 5 garden. We are at least three weeks ahead of schedule, with many plants blooming now that usually do not have their day well into June. Most of the tulips are gone as of about a week ago, though the late single Tulip 'Cum Laude' is just dropping its petals this week. The phlox scents the whole yard right now.
One of my favorite Clematis, C. 'John Warren' on the flower trellis in the Driveway Garden.
One of my favorite large-flowered Clematis, C. 'John Warren' on the flower trellis in the Driveway Garden.


Pretty pair: purple phlox and little Oso Easy Rose 'Paprika', also in the Driveway Garden.
Pretty pair: purple phlox and orange little Oso Easy Rose 'Paprika', also in the Driveway Garden.
Euphorbia amygdaloides robbiae in the Front Woodland, also known as Wood Spurge or 'Mrs. Robb's Bonnet'
Euphorbia amygdaloides robbiae in the Front Woodland, also known as Wood Spurge or 'Mrs. Robb's Bonnet'.
The blue and chartreuse haze that is the Front Woodland right now. Wood spurge on the right, blue forget-me-nots in the middle and Sedum 'Acre' just getting ready to bloom around the edges.
The blue and chartreuse haze that is the Front Woodland right now. Wood spurge on the right, blue forget-me-nots in the middle and Sedum 'Acre' just getting ready to bloom around the edges.
Allium 'Purple Sensation' contrasting with Spirea 'Goldflame' and blue forget-me-nots in the Front Walk. This succession follows from the orange and purple tulips last month.
Allium 'Purple Sensation' contrasting with Spirea 'Goldflame' and blue forget-me-nots in the Front Walk. This succession follows from the orange and purple tulips last month.
Oriental poppies (Papaver orientalis) are just getting started in Cherry Corner Garden, and all along the Front Walk. They will bloom alongside the purple allium for another bright combination. (This shot looking from the corner towards the Front Walk.)
Oriental poppies (Papaver orientalis) are just getting started in Cherry Corner Garden, and all along the Front Walk. They will bloom alongside the purple allium for another bright combination. (This shot looking from the corner towards the Front Walk.)
Tulip 'China Town' are still going strong along the edge of Cherry Corner.  Dark purple columbine (Aquilegia) hovers over them.
Tulip 'China Town' are still going strong along the edge of Cherry Corner.  Dark purple columbine (Aquilegia) hovers over them.
The petals of Tulip 'China Town' get more creamy than pink as they mature. The seed heads of grape hyacinths, Muscari armenicum, are at their feet, along with dark-leaved Heuchera 'Palace Purple.'
The petals of Tulip 'China Town' get more creamy than pink as they mature. The seed heads of grape hyacinths, Muscari armenicum, are at their feet, along with dark-leaved Heuchera 'Palace Purple.'
One of the few mature shrubs we inherited: light pink Rhododendron at the front of the house, echoing the color of the above tulips.
View to the Circle Lawn and the Shade Path Garden, which is covered in forget-me-nots (Myosotis) and columbine (Aquilegia 'Nora Barlow').
View to the Circle Lawn and the Shade Path Garden, which is covered in forget-me-nots (Myosotis) and columbine (Aquilegia 'Nora Barlow').
One of the three trellises around the Circle Lawn. This one is covered in Clematis 'Nelly Moser', which took a journey across PA to arrive here.
One of the three trellises around the Circle Lawn. This one is covered in Clematis 'Nelly Moser', which took a journey across PA to arrive here with its bags in hand. View here from the sidewalk looking toward the Front Walk garden.
Oh, so pretty. Pink-striped Clematis 'Nelly Moser'.
Oh, so pretty. Pink-striped Clematis 'Nelly Moser'.
The Shade Path Garden this week: blue forget-me-nots (Myosotis), chartreuse wood spurge of a more delicate variety and various shades of columbine (Aquilegia in 'Nora Barlow' and granny's bonnet styles).
The Shade Path Garden this week: blue forget-me-nots (Myosotis), chartreuse wood spurge of a more delicate variety and various shades of columbine (Aquilegia in 'Nora Barlow' and granny's bonnet styles).
My favorite columbine this year... a medium pink bonnet.
My favorite columbine this year... a medium pink bonnet.
My favorite columbine this year... a medium pink bonnet. My favorite columbine this year... a medium pink bonnet. ...Here it is by the fence with white-variegated hostas and Clematis 'Lil' Nell' growing like crazy up behind.
...Here it is by the fence with white-variegated hostas and Clematis 'Lil' Nell' growing like crazy up behind.
Columbine (Aquilegia 'Nora Barlow') in a vivid pink.
Columbine (Aquilegia 'Nora Barlow') in a vivid pink.
A view of my iconic blue Clematis. (See my header.)  I have long ago lost its name, of course.
A view of my iconic blue Clematis. (See my header.)  I have long ago lost its name, of course.
And a view to finish facing from the fence toward the front corner again. We are just feet from the road on all sides of our gardens. Red, light pink and blue seem to have evolved as the themes this month.
And a view to finish from the backyard fence to the Shade Path. We are just feet from the road on all sides of our gardens. Red, light pink and blue seem to have evolved as the themes this month.
Thanks for stopping by for the tour this month! Hope you got a color-fix... at least for the moment.
Thanks to Carol at May Dreams for hosting GBBD May this month for garden bloggers around the world.

15 comments:

  1. Your garden is so serene! I feel such a sense of calm and relaxation when I view photos of your garden! Lovely blooms and colors...I love all the Clematis! I just got some forget-me-not seeds and am going to see how they do in my zone.

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  2. I love your garden, and have enjoyed following your blog. Your shade path is a constant source of inspiration for me!

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  3. Your garden always has me drooling - and today is no exception. Absolutely beautiful and inspiring.

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  4. Julie I just love the columbines and those clematis...mine have lots of buds but none blooming...we are at least a week or 2 behind you at this point...your gardens are dripping with gorgeous blooms and I am drooling too! Happy GBBD!

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  5. You have so many clematis flowering very early! All lovely, all impossible for me to grow. Your borders are all very full already and looking spectacular. I particularly love the way you use acid green to such great effect. I have the pink aquilegea too; I have some seedlings from it growing in the green house so I hope for a drift next year. Christina

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  6. Your garden looks like an Impressionist painting! I love your soft swathes of color. And that red clematis!

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  7. Your garden is beautiful. I only have one blossom on my clemetis and was happy and everything is soo much slower coming here in Wisconsin. Thanks for pictures. Sheila

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  8. I love the way your gardens are planned out. The colors are stunning.

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  9. Your garden always has so many plants flowering and looking gorgeous, a real treat!

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  10. Oh everything is just so lush and despite there being so much packed into the beds nothing looks too cluttered. I gotta get some of that sedum acre now that I've seen that photo for a 2nd time.

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  11. absolutely beautiful, just breathtaking,
    Elaine S.

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  12. All is beautiful! You have some impressive Clematis plants!

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  13. Bonjour Julie ! Je visite votre jardin à travers votre blog depuis quelques mois. Je l'ai parcouru dans tous les sens ! Il est magnifique, plein de fraîcheur et de naturel. Les associations de plantes sont toujours très réussies et j'admire votre talent pour faire se succéder les floraisons. Votre jardin m'inspire beaucoup pour mon propre jardin.
    Peut-être votre clématite rose est Nelly Moser ? Elle lui ressemble beaucoup. Merci pour le partage et à bientôt ! Marie

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    1. Comment in English:
      Hi Julie! I visit your garden through your blog for some months. I have traveled all over the place! It is beautiful, full of freshness and naturalness. The plant associations are always very successful and I admire your talent to make a succession of blooms. Your garden inspires me for my own garden.
      Maybe your Clematis Nelly Moser is pink? She looks great. Thank you for sharing and see you soon! Mary
      ~~~~

      Thanks Marie!
      You are perfectly right about the Clematis. Thank you for the ID! I am so glad that you have been enjoying our garden through this blog. One of my greatest goals in blog and garden must be to help inspire others, so I am happy to hear that you find garden ideas that you like.
      Thanks for your comment,
      Julie

      French reply:
      Merci Marie!
      Vous avez parfaitement raison au sujet de la clématite. Je vous remercie pour l'ID! Je suis tellement heureux que vous ayez été en profitant de notre jardin à travers ce blog. Un de mes plus grands objectifs dans le blog et le jardin doit être pour aider à inspirer d'autres, donc je suis content d'entendre que vous trouverez des idées de jardin que vous aimez.
      Merci pour votre commentaire, de
      Julie

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  14. Beautiful. I love your picket fence with the red clematis and phlox.

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