My City Garden: May 2014

Friday, May 30, 2014

In between

This has been a tough year so far. Winter seemed to never end. Even now, the second to last day of May, it's in the low 60s and feels chilly outside. A series of sad events have occurred in my life that have left me...blah. And being away four out of five weekends in May mean that I'm behind in the garden. I look at all of the weeds and keep walking. I write blog posts in my head while running and then don't type them out. I'm just not that into it this year. But I'm trying to be. Fake it 'til you make it, right? In any case, this isn't supposed to be a depressing post or blog, so on to happier things.

Peony bud - May 14

Peony opening - May 29

I had pictures taken for my May 2014 Bloom Day but it was the day before J and I left for a 10 day vacation, so the post never happened. But above all else, this blog is a place for me to catalog my garden so I wanted to post an in between Bloom Days update. So I wanted to share some then and now pictures.

Baptisia australis - May 14

Baptisia australis - May 29

By the way, I'm 5'8 and this Baptisia australis is at eye level. I didn't realize it was "special" until Neighbor M kept exclaiming about its height. The usual websites list it as growing to 3-4'. I guess mine likes its spot very much.

Allium - May 14

Allium - May 29

Allium christophii - May 14

Allium christophii - May 29

I bought some Allium christophii bulbs from White Flower Farm (and then my big box store had some, too) last fall after seeing them all over garden blogs. I'm glad I was able to see their show when I returned from vacation.

Allium christophii with Amsonia 'Blue Ice'

Assorted pictures from May 14:

Creeping phlox

The azalea I thought I lost during the winter

Kerria japonica

Euphorbia polychroma 'Bonfire' (Button Spurge)

Wide view of the back yard - from the back patio

Wide view of the back yard - from the back fence

Assorted pictures from May 29:

My newest Peony, 'Bowl of Beauty'

Peony 'Karl Rosenfeld' with Baptisia australis

'Twilite Prairieblues'

Astilbe in the shade of 'Twilite Prairieblues'

Lady's mantle from my mom

Baptisia australis 'Solar Flare Prairieblues'

Iris

Allium christophii, Baptisia australis, and spiderwort

Centaurea montana 'Amethyst in Snow'

Wide view of the back yard - from the back fence

Wide view of the back yard - from the back patio

And there you have it. After a long winter, plants are growing again with vigor. There's a lot to see and be thankful for. What's new in your garden?

About Me

Hi, I'm Kathryn. I garden in Zone 7a in Philadelphia, PA, where I'm trying to make my enormous perennial garden dreams happen on a tiny city lot.

Before 2012, I used this space to keep track of photos of my garden while maintaining a handwritten journal. Since 2012, I've been using it as that but also as a garden blog. You'll be able to tell the difference in posts.

Also in 2012, my back and side yards underwent a total transformation. I found out I'd been planting on someone else's property (it wasn't really mine) for 7 years. New homes went up and half of my garden was ripped out. I had to start all over.