Well that was fast. August disappeared just like it always seems to. We had some really hot days and some lovely days. We dad lots of company so we enjoyed the garden many times. The weeds grew, the flowers bloomed, we harvested the veggies. Such are the lazy hazy days.

You may recall that last fall we “hoicked out” the lilac in front of the fence since it was taking over that area. My thought was to put the dahlias there. I think it was a success.

These dahlias are over 60 years old. My Mom and Dad grew them in our garden in Connecticut and my siblings and I have kept the tubers going for eons.

You may also recall that we removed a huge part of the forsythia hedge last fall so that we would have a better view of the meadow from the new porch. I think that was a success too.

The garden isn’t done yet – soon there will be mums, asters, foliage turning and fall clean-up.

Its time for the annual daylily post. The abundant spring rains produced an incredible display this year.

There’s lots more, but these are a few favorites.

The daylilies will be the main show in the garden very soon but the last two weeks have featured the Iris Ensata – the Japanese water iris.   I got these iris years ago from a friend who grows them here in town.  We had a lot of rain this spring so they all bloomed for me this year !

Hanakaido Pink

Raspberry Candy

Unknown blue

Ruffled White Water

Silent Thunder

Warai Hotel

Frilled Enchantment

All the spring rains have really produced an incredible show this year.  The iris are spectacular.  Some cultivars are very old, most are unnamed, many were given to me by friends.  A few that I moved last fall were stubborn and did not bloom this year, but I had other surprises with some blooming that have not done so in years.  So without further ado… behold the iris

Well that was quite nice wasn’t it?  The Japanese Iris (Ensata) will be along in a few weeks.. lots of buds though.

Greetings gardeners. The lovely tree peony in the last post is still blooming thanks to the cool weather and a parasol.  My garden club friend Olga gave me the peony years ago and last week she gave me a parasol to shade it.  The effect is stunning.  Thank you, Olga. I am posting this photo for you, Jessica. I don’t know Jessica but we “met” through garden blogging.  She lives in Devon, England and is the writer of the Rusty Duck Blog.  She and her husband are renovating an amazing cottage, and I thought this image might just bring her a moment of tranquility.

So this one is for you, Jessica.  I hope it gives you an ahhhhhh moment during the turmoil of  plaster and cob and mud and all the rest.  And I hope many of my readers will read her blog https://www.rustyduck.net/  and follow along as the renovations proceed.  Her garden is pretty special too.

Oh yes, and the iris have begun blooming.

Its the last day of May, and I have been so busy gardening I haven’t had time for posting.  The wet cool spring has produced lovely blooms and they have lingered a bit longer than usual.  June is about to bust out, and it looks like from the all the buds on the iris that its going to be a good year for them.

Epimedium “Yokihi”

Epimedium “Domino” and some primroses

Tufa trough

Dianthus in the rock garden

Refurbished front beds

Close-up of the clematis in the front bed

Baptisia and rhododendron

The hosta slope, primroses, and “snow in summer”

Old fashioned bearded iris

Peony “Early Scout” and Geum “Prairie Smoke”

And lastly – a spectacular tree peony gifted to me by garden club friend Olga

Happy Mother’s Day.  I lost my Mom almost six years ago.  She was a great gardener, and I still have some of her plants in my garden.  That’s the thing about gardens, they can keep those that have passed always with you.

April and May have been exceptionally wet here in Massachusetts.  We have Ireland level green though, and all those showers certainly brought May flowers.

One of our few sunny days… the back yard looking to the left…

…and to the right

Tulips, dwarf bearded iris, daffs and narcissus blooming

A new Hellebore “Penny’s Pink”

Epimediums and mini hosta in the hill

Redbud peeking out from behind a spruce

Iris pallida

Dwarf bearded iris

Hosta “Marmalade”

Epimedium “Dark Beauty”

Epimedium “Purple Prince”

The epimediums are stunning this year. I may have to do a separate post if the sun comes out!!!