Flowers, flowers.
Paeonia ‘Pink Parfait,’ a peony added last spring to the garden, has just two buds this year.
Baptisia ‘Purple Smoke’ is opening in several places around the garden, its color a rich dark indigo.
More fully open another Baptisia ‘Purple Smoke’ looks pinkish in the late day sunlight. The actual flower color is more like that of the bud in the previous image, a beautiful deep blue.
In the southern garden bed the black iris continues to stand out against silvery Stachys byzantina (Lamb’s Ear).
Close up the color of black iris is intense.
A couple of pink Achillea (yarrow) opened recently. This is a dwarf variety that stands about 10 inches high.
Phlox divaricata (Woodland phlox) and Catmint (Nepeta) are paired together though happenstance but appear to make nice companions.
The phlox divaricata is a pass-along plant that has been in this garden and a previous garden forever. It is an old-fashioned, charming favorite.
Nepeta (Catmint) makes a nice show a the front of the border.
This Coreopsis was added to the garden last year and did very poorly. It is surprisingly healthy this spring with a deep rich golden yellow.
Showers.
Except for one hot and dry week April has brought generous rains to the garden. Following a few threats of frost this past week, temperatures reached into the seventies today. Starting very early today, rain alternated with sun throughout the morning and then the afternoon was fair. All day the birds have sung incessantly.
The garden needs attention now, but it is going to be on its own a few more days. After this recent strong period of bloom, some things such as the roses and a few of the irises need grooming as they are beginning to look a little tired. The tradescantia is encroaching in every direction and the eastern red columbine should be cut back soon before it spreads seeds. In the meditation circle Iberis Sempervirens (Candytuft) is overdue to be pruned back, but the recent cooler weather and rains encouraged it to produce fresh blooms, earning it a few more days.