Gardening in Pennsylvania ~ GBBD May 2012

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 large-flowered Clematis, C. 'John Warren' on the flower trellis 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'.

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.

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.

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').

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'.

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.

...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.

A view of my iconic blue Clematis. (See my header.)  I have long ago lost its name, of course.

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.