May Flowers

The heat is bringing on more blooms every day. On April 30th this lovely lady made her appearance. She's Paeonia 'Scarlett O'Hara' and the first red peony I have ever had. She was one of those end-of-the-season sale purchases last fall that I will love forever. I have actually cut all of her flowers for the house. They are simply too pretty to leave alone in the garden! The rest of the peonies started blooming yesterday, but I haven't had a chance to photo them yet.

They are a full two weeks early - like just about everything else. They are a reliable Mother's Day bloomer in this part of the world. They also guarantee rain. It never fails that they get full of blooms and heavens open dumping gallons of water on them and beating them down to the earth. It's always a battle to try to get as many of the first ones cut and in the house as I can before the downpour!

This gorgeous Indian Hawthorn is the other addition from last weekend. Known more formally as Rhaphiolepis indica 'Elenor Tabors', it's an evergreen shrub about three and a half feet tall and very full. We have two that were a house warming gift, so hold a special place in our hearts. They bloom reliably, but need to be trimmed early in the fall before they set all their flowers for the next spring. Learned that lesson the hard way!

Every day is a new adventure in the yard. Just wish I could find a bit more time to enjoy it.