Bloom Day: May 2015

Slightly belated bloom day posting due to work and travel. A few noteworthy blooms appropriate to May, starting with a staple of Northwest gardens, the hybrid rhododendron. This is Rhododendron 'Lee's Dark Purple,' but I find it to be only a medium purple:

 



It's the beginning of verbena season. Here are the first Verbena bonariensis blooms peeking through Brachyglottis greyi. The flowers will continue for several months until frost.

 



The interesting, tiny flowers of Helwingia chinensis 'Narrow Leaf Form' appear on the middle of the leaves. The adjective for this is epiphyllous.

 



Another May staple of Northwest gardens, Allium 'Purple Sensation'. I usually have a dozen or more stalks each spring, but this year I sadly only have one. The mild winter was strangely hard on most of my bulb and tuber plants.

 



More to come in June. Enjoy your spring!