Sunday, May 3, 2009

Spanish Bluebells And Iberis

The Hyacinthoides hispanica are putting on a very good showing this year. Still I can see the need for more.



There are white, pink and blue ones, a large form and a small form, intermingled all over every where. Bulbarella asked me today, "How many bulbs did you say I have? Was it millions?"

"I only counted the 10,000 daffodils, but if you count the Hyacinthoides, the Scilla, Puschkinia and Chionodoxa, then yes it would definitely be in the several millions of bulbs."

She needs more.



A path winds its way through the Iberis sempervirens that is allowed to do its own thing.



In the wild cultivated garden there is encouragement of the desirable, discouragement of the undesirable and limited control on the placement of wanderers once a plant decides it likes it here.



A second pink deciduous azalea comes into bloom.



A clump of iris puts on a mass of bloom.



Random iris blooms show up in the sunnier nooks and crannies spread across the ridge top garden. There have been quite a few of what I would call beige iris in the last few days. Such an odd color choice for breeders to select.



This pink deciduous azalea is the current star of the show for me. It is nice to be able to enjoy its full bloom cycle this year without an early end from a killing freeze.



There are good years and bad years for spring bloom. After that cold wet and snowy winter, having a good year is a just reward.

10 comments:

Frances said...

Hi Christopher, of course Bulbarella needs more bulbs. That is just ingrained in the fiber that composes her. Those pink azaleas are a delight, my only true pink is the latest one to bloom here, only just now showing color to the emerging buds. Strawberry Ice or something like that is the name. That beight iris is unique, I have never seen one with that coloration. Love it!
Frances

Brieannon said...

Is your native azalea called Pinxter? I have Florida Flame azalea, the orange one, waiting to go in the ground. I'm running way behind.

Everything is looking beautiful!

Christopher C. NC said...

Frances, the pink azaleas are the first deciduous ones to bloom here. The other colors will follow. The native orange being one of the last. The beige iris is not my taste at all. And of course since the iris are blooming well this year, Bulbarella's decision to give up on them has been rescinded.

Brieannon, these pink ones are not the Pinxter. Their flowers are smaller and more tubular than these. That doen't mean a Pinxter will not reveal itself here later.

Anonymous said...

Your photos are an inspiration for someone who also has a woodland garden like me! I didn't know iberis would bloom in anything but full sun. I also think I will see what some iris divisions will do in my "sunnier nooks and crannies" - thanks, to you and to Bulbarella!

bev

Anonymous said...

Hi Christopher~~ And sometimes I think our plants try harder to please us after being beaten and battered by winter's extremes. Lovely blooms!!

Christopher C. NC said...

Bev, the Iberis is in the sunnier areas too, though it grows along the front part of the drive which only gets mid-day full sun.

Hi Grace, the plants sure do make up for lost time once they get going. It is like wait, wait, wait, kaboom, a floral bonanza.

Siria said...

A floral bonanza for sure!!! I just can't believe how fast everything seems to have turned green and bloomed. Your pictures are spectacular. What a lovely picturesque mountain top you live on!

Lisa at Greenbow said...

No,Bulberella doesn't need more bulbs, I do. Gosh, I hate to post any bulb shots what with seeing all of these. They are just heavenly. I love to see the Spots sprinkled around in the the garden too.

lisa said...

More bulbs! Heck yea, you can never have too many pretty flowers, IMO.

Annie in Austin said...

It's fun to share the blooms in this good year with you, Christopher- millions of bulbs, lots of azaleas and a background of trees with fresh leaves. What a beautiful May you are having, even though the increased workload gives you less time to stand in awe.

Drought followed by hail meant a not very good year in my garden for bulbs, but I'll try to be philosophical like you and take what comes.

As to the oddly colored iris, maybe they weren't bred for garden plants but for people who enter arrangements into o flower shows, like the Garden clubs shows where the entries must follow a 'Theme"? That beige one might be just the color to match some piece of china, or a bookcover or fabric.
It isn't my kind of thing but I've know people who really crave those blue ribbons ;-]

Annie at the Transplantable Rose