May Flowers Around the Potting Shed

Happy Monday, I hope you had a good weekend and Happy Mother’s Day! I’ve been enjoying the May flowers courtesy of all our April showers. Come along for a little walk with me to see what’s in bloom around the Potting Shed!

We’ve been in upper 80s and 90s the past week. It seems like we had two weeks of spring weather and have taken the leap into summer. I’m not prepared for 90+ degree temps this early! We’re in hardiness zone 7b, in our area of North Carolina. A USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map is the standard by which gardeners and growers can determine which plants are most likely to thrive at a location. You can look up your hardiness zone by zipcode, here.

 Salvia ‘May Night’, (common name Meadow Sage), has been blooming for several weeks. I love this easy to grow perennial that thrives in full sun!

The deep purple flower spikes attract bees and butterflies and is deer resistant. Deadheading and a little extra watering help ensure re-blooming.

To deadhead to promote more flowering, follow each spent stem from the top down to the first branching point and cut just above where new buds are forming.

Popcorn Drift Rose starts out yellow and fades to creamy white, reminiscent of buttery popcorn.

It’s comparable to the family of Knock Out Roses in disease resistance and low-maintenance, but smaller in size so ideal for small gardens or containers.

I’ve taken some time to stop and smell the peonies this week, they’re almost bloomed out . . .*sniff*.

‘Sarah Bernhardt’ is one of my favorites with pink double blooms that resemble old-fashioned roses.

As well as ‘Festiva Maxima’ with white double flowers with crimson flecks.

‘Mother of Pearl’ rose variety blooms just in time for Mother’s Day. This shrub rose was gifted to us by friends and planted a year and a half ago in memory of my mother-in-law, Betty.

‘Mother of Pearl’ is a Grandiflora rose that’s resistant to black spot and performs well in hot humid areas (us!) as well as cooler climates.

Pink Double Knock Out Roses have been especially floriferous this spring!

They’re fast-growing, long-blooming and drought and heat tolerant. While Rose Rosette Disease (RRD) can infect The Knock Out Roses, they themselves did not spread it. You can read about it here.

‘Cherokee’ Clematis has star-shaped pink blooms with a deeper pink center stripe. It’s a fast grower and blooms in May to June and again in August to September.

Mature height is 3 -4 feet so it’s the right size for smaller gardens or containers with a short trellis.

Japanese privet is considered invasive here in the South, popping up from seeds carried by birds that spread the plant. Our privet volunteered and grows in a hedge mixed with wax myrtles. You can cut the flowers to help eliminate potential reseeding.

I like cut some blooms to enjoy in a basket on the Potting Shed door or mixed with an arrangement of peonies.

Find flower arranging tips and a Garden Bouquet DIY and Recycling Flower Arranging Hack, HERE.

Hope you’re enjoying some spring blooms where you are!

Thank you for your visit!

 

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  Metamorphosis Monday