mears garden: Garden news- May 8, 2011- It is getting even better.

I keep thinking that it doesn’t get any better than this in the garden. Then it seems to get better. Yesterday was one of those days you would like to bottle up and bring out in darkest January. It was sunny, and warm but not hot. There were flowers at every turn. The blues and yellows of April were still there, as the late daffodils still mingle with the bluebells. (I am not even going to mention the occasional yellow of the dandelions, which provide me with enough work to keep me busy all by themselves.) What was different were the splashes of brighter color from the occasional tulip.
Tulips are good, with their purples and bright reds. A mass planting is good. But I like the occasional or even individual tulip, dancing all alone in a part of the garden where they stand out.
I sometimes think about the focal point flower. This is the flower than you see from across the yard, or the passing car. This is not subtle. Certain oriental poppies come to mind. They are the bright reds ones. We have a pink tree peony that some years has fulfilled this role. Then there is Ruby Spider, the daylily. But back to the present.
Not all flowers are focal point flowers. Some are so small that you have to wander around for a while before you even notice them. There was that last double bloodroot, whose bloom yesterday marked the 25-day since the first group bloomed in this little clump. That’s right- the first group of three, which I showed you, bloomed on April 13.

So what do I have for you this week? There are three more posts, as I have three groups of pictures. First there are the best pictures of the week, pictures I expect you will see again in the next picture contest way off in the future. Second there are additional posts for more daffodils and tulips. Finally there are pictures of everything else, which covers a lot.

So lets do this.

The best pictures this week, were the best from many. Let’s here it for digital photography. Remember when you had to take pictures to be developed? Gosh is that a long time ago or what. Was that before or after cell phones or email?

First up is a close-up of the primrose you liked from last winter. It is bigger and better this spring. I am not ready to divide it. It is still a keeper. When you have a good plant, my motto is “get more”.

Second is another close-up. This is anemone Sylvestris. This spreading little spring bloomer looks just like the fall anemone. The close up is just about the same. In the bonus pictures with this post I show you a close up of the fall flower.

Third is this wonderful dwarf bearded iris. The bearded iris have started their month long run. The short ones (dwarf bearded) start first, which only seems appropriate. I have neglected these plants somewhat. They needed dividing and replanting, which should be done in August. The problem is that when you divide iris you have something like seven million.
I do like the dwarf ones, as they completely do not need staking. They also bloom now which is sometimes a slower time in the garden, between the riot of spring bulbs and the riot of such perennials as daylilies and other lilies.

Finally I had a hard time picking one tulip. That is why they get a separate post with some daffodils. This one, with is not a monsella, has got the monsella colors and is even more busy. Imagine this picture blown up real big. For that matter put it on your full screen for an effect.

There you have it. What a selection this week.
Vote away.

In last week’s voting the results were:
Tulip close-up 20
Pulmonaria 13
Epimedium 5
Daffodil 3
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For your bonus viewing here are the non close-ups of the anemone and the primrose. There is also a close-up of the white fall anemone.(from last fall)