Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day May 2016

Out of control, overgrown, messy, overwhelming, crazy-making, even oppressive are all words that I'd use to describe my garden or maybe my attitude toward my garden recently.  This morning there was no blue sky backdrop for blooms in my garden, just clouds and a light sprinkle.  As I wandered around, the warm wet scent of roses mingled with a strong curry fragrance of Escallonia viscosa which gave way to Valerian,  sweet magnolia and others, all floating atop the heady fragrance of rain on dry earth.  Thoughts of bringing in heavy equipment to rip everything out and start anew began to fade (well, there's still the Phyllostachys vivax trying to take over the planet...) and today,  just for a blessed still moment as I strolled taking pictures of blooms, I didn't hate my garden.  In fact, despite the mess and the undone work, mother nature had worked her magic on my cold, dark, little heart and thoughts of love somehow came bubbling up.  Here's a little music to set the mood as we look at some of what's bloom in my garden this month.

Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day is hosted on the fifteenth of each month by Carol at May Dreams Gardens.  Click over to her blog to join the floral fiesta!

Because of our mild winter, the hardy fuchsias have begun earlier this year than usual. 

Not hardy but was on sale so now I have a hanging fuchsia on the front porch.

Zephirine Drouhin Rose, hardy fuchsia, Iris pallida 'Variegata'

Tropaeolum speciosum

Double impatiens.

Meconopsis lingholm

Iris pallida 'Variegata' was added after I admired how beautifully they grew in Chava's garden. 

Deutzia

Cecile Brunner rose. 

Rose de Rescht (brief history)

Allium 

Calycanthus x raulstonii 'Hartlage Wine'

 Calycanthus chinensis

An herbaceous peony bud.

Valeriana officinalis

 Allium schubertii

Kolkwitzia amabilis

Weigela

Joseph's Coat rose looking a little battered but the clematis finally bloomed at the same time this year.

'Fragrant Cloud'

Camellia

Podophyllum 'Spotty Dotty'

Rhododendrons

Kalmia in bud.

Crinodendron hookerianum

Tuberous begonias

Another rhododendron 

Iris confusa

Rosa glauca

Abutilon vitifolium

Magnolia macrophylla

Rosa rugosa 'Yankee Lady'

Fremontodendron

buddleja globosa

Carpenteria californica

Hesperis matronalis

Sambucus nigra 'Black Lace' 

Hot Cocoa blooming despite being in less than sunny conditions. 

Argyrocytisus battandieri

Penstemon 'Electric Blue'

Melianthus major 

 Matthiola incana

Clematis and Billardiera longiflora

Abutilon 'Victor Reiter'

Abutilon megapotamicum something or other

Happy GBBD everyone!