The Gardens In May

There was a lot of path whacking today from one end of the gardens to the far side of the other. It makes the gardens feel so much more inviting. Creation got whacked, but I couldn't quite bring myself to do the Great Lawn. Maybe next weekend.

I will say that in the big picture I view from above, the negative space of the Great Lawn really gives the garden more coherence and good proportion juxtaposed to its lush wild nature surrounds.

When the paths are whacked going for a stroll in hunt of botanical delights is much more relaxing, at least if you make an effort Not To Pull Weeds. That is next to impossible for a gardener.

Trillium vaseyi is indeed a deep red.

Up by the scenic byway Euphorbia 'Fireglow' does indeed next to golden junipers.

The really big show is happening in the ridge top garden next door.

Let's stroll into a forest garden and have a look around.

The Yellow Lady Slipper orchid is having just one flower this year. A caterpillar drilled into the other stalk and ate the baby bud inside leaving nothing but a stub. The penalty for the crime was death.

A freshly mowed path leads through drifts of giant rhododendrons coming into full bloom.

There are several varieties of rhododendrons on the mountain top.

And a great number of deciduous azaleas whose bloom times are all over the map. The native Flame Azalea blooms closer to July.

I'm not sure what Viburnum this is. It has bloomed quite well many years in a row after suffering severe damage and slowly recovering from the Great Easter Freeze of 2007.

The tiny wild flower that covers a mountain, the Phacelia purshii has started to bloom. In another few days a different shade of blue will wash over the mountain as the bluebells fade away.