While irises have captured most of my attention in the garden this spring, other plants have competently played supporting roles and many more are leading the way as transition toward the warmer season takes place.
An amaryllis I have been watching to develop surprised me today when it opened up and was white, not red. I also found one with a red bud nearby. These flowers did not bloom well last year and I had forgotten the particulars of them.
Hippeastrum (Amaryllis)
Pincushion Flower is an enchanting name for this plant, nicer sounding than Scabiosa. This plant seldom last more than a couple of seasons in my garden and this is year two. It has been blooming well this year, starting just over a month ago. The cooler temperatures and plentiful rain this spring seem to have kept it happy. If I can force myself to do regular deadheading it will help.
Scabiosa columbaria ‘Butterfly Blue’ (Pincushion Flower)
Scabiosa columbaria ‘Butterfly Blue’ (Pincushion Flower)
Slow to open this year the peony flowers show some browning after heavy rains this week. In the previous two years this ‘Pink Parfait’ bloomed by May 11, but this year, still waiting.
Paeonia ‘Pink Parfait’ (Peony)
A Veronica spicata ‘Pink Goblin’ purchased last year is beginning to bloom. I enjoyed it last year so purchased 3 new ones this winter by mail order, this time ‘Red Fox’ Veronica. They arrived bare-root and are still very small.
Veronica spicata ‘Pink Goblin’ (Speedwell)
This black iris has a few more blooms open today.
Iris germanica (Bearded iris) Black Iris
Verbena bonariensis (Tall Verbena) has been blooming for a couple of weeks and now several thymes are also beginning to flower. Echinacea is shooting up in many of the borders and forming buds. In the meditation circle Penstemon digitalis ‘Husker Red’ and Penstemon mexicali ‘Pike’s Peak Purple’ both opened today.
Every Southern garden should have hydrangeas and, thanks to Jayme at EntwinedLife, my garden has a healthy hydrangea that not only has survived, but is forming flowers. Thank you Jayme.
Hydrangea macrophylla
This year I ordered an Allium Raspberry and Cream Collection, which is in fact a mixture of Allium Nigrum and Allium Atropurpureum. One Allium Nigrum is open this week.
Allium Nigrum
To end this this garden tour today I will mention my family’s old-fashioned rose that my grandmother and mother grew. This was passed along eons ago by my mother’s cousin and my dear garden mentor. She shared with me so many of her favorite plants and they have become my favorites too.
Old-fashioned Rose
pbmGarden 
You have some amazing blooms, really quite gorgeous…
Thanks Charlie. It has been an exceptional spring for the flowers this year.
A beautiful rose – and the pink Veronica has caught my eye… I will definitely have to look out for one, as the blue ones do so well in my garden.
Thanks Cathy. I think you’d like the pink Veronica. I’m excited to see how my new reds ones turn out too, but they have a ways to grow first.
I’m very jealous of your peonies! Rwanda doesn’t get enough (any) cold weather to grow them here.
That’s a loss. There are certain plants that are special to us no matter where we are. I’m new at peonies. I’ve heard people say it’s not cold enough here either and it is too humid for peonies, so I don’t know what it would be like under better conditions. They are compelling though.
Susie, you have beautiful flowers and your garden is at least 2-3 weeks behind mine. i’m having very weird weather!
I wanted to try scabiosa and similar plants, like knautia this year but it’s always raining and I think they don’t like it cold and wet, so I guess I have to cheer up watching your scabiosa pics and wait till next year maybe…
Thank you Alberto! We’ve had a cooler spring and it has helped extend the bloom times I think. I’m surprised to learn about your weather–thought it would have been more arid than it sounds. I’ll do my best to keep the scabies alive! Have a good day, susie
My goodness there is so much blooming al over your garden…so beautiful…I should see my pincuchion and peony in a few weeks…
It’s such an exciting time of year. I just adore all the flowers. Donna, does your pincushion return regularly? Mine seldom lasts many years before it needs replacing.