May Flowers

 

Once upon a time I bought a "Christmas" Hippeastrum bulb, which are intended for indoor forcing in a pot, for floral cheer in December.  Results were poor.  The pot tipped over multiple times and the flower stem flopped and eventually snapped.  For a couple of years after that I kept the bulb in a large and very heavy pot outdoors, where the bulb survived but languished.  I even bought a couple more bulbs at after Christmas prices (90% off).  After a few more years of watching them languish, I planted the bulbs in the ground, where every year since they put on a big April show and have multiplied.  A bigger and longer show than fridge-chilled tulips, and so much easier. 

Hey shouldn't you be social distancing?  

The 'Emperor I' Acer palmatum suddenly seems to be a tree, albeit a small tree, rather than a slim stick with a few pretty leaves on it.  We did have a couple of rainy years within the past three--that must have done it. A taller Acer also nicely screens out the uphill neighbor's house from the pergola.

The Acer is now finally taller than the 'Golden Celebration' rose, which is no more than 7 or 8 feet tall this May.  The scene is further altered this year by the increasing height of the 'Icee Blue' Podocarpus. 

The older, larger Acer, 'Oshio Bene' is behind the wall.  'Emperor I' is said to be a better performer in our climate, an iffy one for Acer palmatum.  In its location the roots are completely shaded, surely beneficial. 

Getting a good photo of 'Golden Celebration' is tricky--the backgrounds, which mostly include the neighbor's junk and weed-tree collection, are hard to omit.  I did my best.

Ah.  That's better:



The usual roses, beautiful at the moment.  'Bishops Castle' first few flowers are opening, initiating her massive spring flush. 


'The Prince'

'Earth Angel'

'Munstead Wood'

While we're on the subject of roses,  the local Red Tail Hawk made a meal of one of the rabbits eating mine, in one of her favorite dining locations:

A quick weekend jaunt to a local nursery provided some small temporary filler plants for the empty area around the two new 'Golden Celebrations'.  When the roses grow larger, the fillers will either be moved, or if short-lived, will already be gone. 

Another Garvinea Gerbera:


A Leucophytum 'Silver Stone' and Cuphea purpurea 'Firecracker'

Re-learned a lesson after a brand new Calylophus got eaten to the ground:  provide rabbit guards for brand-new plants.  The Red Tail has not eaten all the rabbits quite yet.

The Leucophytum planted in the gap between the screened rose and the salvia. 
 Out on the front slope, another surprise besides the Boophone.  Not only does the very reluctant Hesperaloe have a flower stem, it now actually has four flower stems.  The effort to better irrigate it produced results. 

Flowers begin to open on Aloe camperi

 First flowers, small and starry-white, on Crassula arborescens (Silver Dollar Jade).  A slow growing, tough, tidy plant.  It lives on rainfall alone, and rabbits won't eat it. 

 Flowers on the recently planted Didelta.  I was not expecting any.

Back among the roses, Clematis are starting to flower.   'Angelique'

'Wisley'

Jackmanii peeking through a wall window.

Not much in the way of April showers this year, but we did get May flowers anyway.  



Comments

  1. I've got Hesperaloe blooms spikes coming up too, which seems a lot earlier than usual. Maybe the higher temperatures have convinced them that summer's already here. All your blooms are impressive but your Hippeastrum and peony flowers have me green with envy. The Hippeastrums were so good about blooming and multiplying in my former garden but they're much more reluctant about doing that here. I moved some earlier this year so maybe they're just settling in (I hope).

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    1. Since my Hesperaloe has bloomed like once in 6 or 7 years I have no idea when it is supposed to.

      I have some Hippeastrum in another area that get no irrigation at all and the flower stems are coming up--so maybe its not a matter of water? Maybe as you say they just need more time.

      I think the Peonies need their own shade structure--they always seem to flower just when we get weather too hot for them. A brief novelty, though the foliage is very attractive also.

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  2. Your Japanese maples are beautiful. I've admired 'Emperor' at the nursery and I've been meaning to learn the difference between it and 'Bloodgood'. They look alike to me but there has to be a difference. My 'Golden Celebration' is looking great and it is covered with buds.

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    1. 'Emperor I' is a little smaller at maturity than 'Bloodgood' and the foliage is slightly redder. Its supposedly also more heat-tolerant (necessary here) and it leafs out 2 weeks later than 'Bloodgood', which, for those who get late frosts, is helpful.

      Enjoy that GC! :)

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    2. Thank you - I need to remember this!

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  3. Hello dear Hoover Boo,
    How happy your days must be having so many beautiful things growing in your garden. Fantastic looking roses and beautiful roses!!
    Have a wonderful month of May.
    Rosehugs Marijke

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    1. Thank you Marijke! I wish you a beautiful May, filled with flowers.

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  4. So many gorgeous blooms, well fit for the joys of May! And the Hippeastrum certainly is showing its appreciation for being planted out now.

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    1. I think the Hippeastrums intend to take over. I didn't expect them to be that happy.

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  5. The Acer is good, but I l0ve the 'Celebration' rose.

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    1. I think I read David Austin said 'Golden Celebration' was his best rose--I agree. It has so much vigor, it seems to love life, love blooming, love being a rose. Yet, it's not weedy at all. The perfect balance.

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  6. I am surprised the fencing around the Calylophus does not allow rabbits through. Here in Phoenix I have to put chicken wire (so lovely, NOT) around to keep the young one out. They go right through your size wire! We have Hawk and other bird helpers too, but not enough!!!

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    1. Sometimes yes that wire lets the damage continue. I just grabbed what I had on hand and hoped. That particular area isn't one the rabbits frequent, and they are not fond of Cupheas. Usually I use 1/2" hardware cloth, which keeps pretty much everything out. I have hoops of it everywhere, too. No, doesn't look good, but it does work!

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  7. That's my experience with hesperaloe too -- congrats on yours blooming. And you're so right about hippeastrum vs. tulips. The big amaryllis flowers would look weird in my garden, but I'm investigating species and hybrids with smaller flowers. Thanks for another rabbit hole! But sorry about your rabbits...

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    1. The Cybister Hippeastrum types are gorgeous and some are quite dainty--'Chico', 'La Paz', etc. --was shopping for some at one point, couldn't find any at the time, maybe if I ever happen upon any... Sprekelia is quite dainty, but they are not shade-happy. Easy in sun.

      H. papilio (butterfly)--a single bulb in the garden quickly formed a big monster clump of bulbs, so I've moved a few of the many bulbs into a pot. It was a mess of tangled (if healthy) foliage.

      I asked Pam at the Austin Fling her advice about Hesperaloe (because it was everywhere, and thriving everywhere). She said "Oh, you have to give them fertilizer." I've never given any fertilizer at all to Aloe, Agave, Yucca, so that was news. But the Hesperaloe got a hit of Gro-More this winter, and that must have done it.

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  8. Wow, the colors! I don't know where to start... Yes, I must do the same with my new plants...and some of my "established" plants. Darn rabbits. That's so amazing about your Hippeastrum patch...very impressive...and beautiful!

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    1. Did not know what to expect from the Hippeastrums--they surprised me!

      Happy May, Beth!

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  9. You have some gorgeous blooms. The maple looks great with all blooming around it.

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    1. Thank you Lisa. I hope you are having a beautiful springtime!

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  10. Beautiful flowers and a wonderful blog. What is the yellow flower at the end of your blog?

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    1. Thanks for visiting! The yellow flower is 'Bartzella', an Itoh Peony cultivar.

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