MAY GARDEN and RAIN REPORT

Ok, so we had some downpours at the beginning of May--We didn't mean to complain!
Really!! We're sorry if it sounded like complaining.
It was good rain that we needed. Nice rain, good job. 
But you didn't need to stop completely, an occasional 1/2 inch a week would still be very welcome. 
Should we do a dance for you? 

I know a few places got really drenched yesterday around here. But we've been in a bit of a doughnut hole here at our place. Granted,sometimes that's nice. Today I've got the hoses out helping the garden to stop wilting, just so you know.............


End of May update: 
It sure has been a warm dry May around here--a couple two days of light on and mostly off mist in between lots of sun. The garden is sure coming into bloom a lot earlier this year. 
Besides all the Pacific Coast Iris and Arisaemas and Cardiocrinums that we love, here are a few pictures of plants in the May garden 

Rhododendron  'Naselle'
We're not big Rhody fans, but do
love these coral salmon colors

 Rhododendrons everywhere around here this year have been fantastically full of bloom. My theory is that we had a very rainy September last year when the buds were developing.

Polygonatum prattii ?

I first got this little guy from Heronswood as an unnamed collection number, collected in Sichuan in 1996 COBC 96-186. I since found P. prattii from Keeping it Green that looks exactly the same and planted next to the original clump. Yet both of these have much rounder leaves than most pictures I've seen of P. prattii. And these flowers arise upward from the leaf axil.

Polygonatum prattii? 

Paris polyphylla v. yunnanense
just emerging

Paris p v. y side view

Paris p.y. fully open

Chrysosplenium davidianum

Primula japonica

Podophyllum pleianthum

Podophyllum  pleianthum

 

foreground plant is
 Heuchera cylindrica

Onoclea sensibilis

Diphylleia cymosa
( don't spell that Genus wrong
when you are looking for an image)

Enkianthus campanulatus

Cardiocrinum gigantea
v. yunnanense

Viburnum sp.
pink lacecap flowers

   

Polygonatum hookeri

     

 this cute little Polygonatum grows only about 2 inches tall and has relatively big flowers sitting right on top. 

EARLY MAY IN THE GARDEN

April ended with some beautiful warm dry weather and a lot of gardening got done. More cleanup and finally some planting--in the ground-- of so many plants that have been waiting in their pots for the "right" place to open up for them. 
And now May weather has obliged by watering them all in really, really well.

The Magnolia wilsonii is in full bloom and thankfully the blossoms hang downward so the rain has not ruined them. the fragrance is amazing. 
the Arisaema griffithii did not like the heat last Thursday, but is still looking ok. 
the Cardiocrinum with the red veins in the leaves is growing by leaps.
Some other little treasures are up and soon the Pacific Coast Iris buds will be opening. 

click on any picture to get an enlargement 

Beesia deltophylla

Beesia deltophylla blossoms

Cardiocrinum- giant Himalayan lily

Tetracentron new leaves

Cardamine pratensis 'Salzach'

 

Clematis 'Willy'

Double Trillium

Podophyllum

Paris thibetica- I think.

Magnolia wilsonii

last years seed pod
Cardiocrinum

Ajuga incisa 'Bikun'

Disporum cantoniense
 'Night Heron'

Lamium orvala

Paris polyphylla  var.
yunnanensis

Cypripedium formosanum

Trochodendron flowers

Disporum flavum

Paeonia  japonica

Arisaema taiwanense

  

Arisaema taiwanense

Arisaema griffithii

Arisaema griffithii

HERONSWOOD GARDEN

Next Garden Open and Plant Sale will be July 12th.

UPDATE ON THE HERONSWOOD OPEN MAY 17TH. 

It turned out to be a beautiful day-- not the rain that was predicted.  Only problem was the 1 hour ferry wait in the morning so we missed the ferry we planned to get.  Note to self: bring a book next time!
The vendors were doing a healthy business--nice to see for the local specialty nursery trade doing well! And it seemed by comments overheard of those waking through the gardens many people had not ever been to the gardens before.--Good for the tribe to get some financial help for the renovation.

Just a few pictures I took while docenting in the gardens:
It was so exciting to see that there were Paris species popping up all over the woodlands!
Paris are related to Trilliums.
I missed getting a pic of Paris quadrifolia when my batteries died but click on the picture to enlarge it and take a look at the petal filaments on these:

Paris sp.

Paris sp. 

And some other random pics: 

Clintonia umbellulata

Embothrium coccineum

Lilies and Delphinium
in the Potagere 

Pleione sp.

Acer spicatum

Pyrus salicifolia with Clematis
montana cultivar?

is this Viburnum harryanum?

________________________________________________________________________


Saturday,  Apr 19th, I volunteered at Heronswood garden in Kingston WA. for the "Talk, Walk, and Weed"
https://www.facebook.com/Heronswood

http://danielhinkley.com/

http://www.heronswood.com/

I had docented there before it was closed and now that the Port Gamble S’Klallam Tribe purchased it, it is being renovated after being fallow for 6+ years. 
We had a slide show and talk by Dan Hinkley on texture, movement and fragrance in the garden followed by a walk through. It was exciting to see how many plants are reappearing now that the invasives have been removed. 
By this time the rain and wind started, but after lunch it was only misting yet it made for some pretty muddy weeding.

Next  month on May 17th the garden will be open for touring and a fantastic plant sale with many local specialty nurseries will take place.  Be sure to come by to see all the progress and to support the renovations which the tribe has committed to.