What's blooming...May 5th

What is blooming today, May 5th:

Almost finished blooming

What: Ranunculus

Grown from: Established hardware store plant with buds

I can't take as much credit for this plant as some of my others. I bought it with buds and a bloom and potted it. It seems to be doing well, but I don't see more buds, so I expect it to finish blooming soon. I do have some bulbs planted, which have just begun to sprout. This is one of my favorites (they were in my bridal bouquet), so I hope the bulbs do well.

What: Foxglove

Grown from:

Established plant from local nursery.

This is one of my husband's favorites, along with lamb's ear, which I can't find anywhere around here. The bad thing about it is that most plants are sold while in full bloom in the late spring, meaning that you only get a few weeks (if that) of enjoyment before they stop blooming.

When I walked away from my cart at the nursery, some man tried to take my foxglove. I had to snatch it from his evil clutches.

Just starting to bloom:

What: Hydrangea

Grown from: Bush purchased at hardware store

This is another favorite. It was also a flower in my bridal bouquet. It looks pink now, but should be turning blue as it blooms out.

What: Peony

Grown from: Established bush, transplanted (almost as old as me). My mom split hers and gave me two smallish bushes. They didn't do well last year, but came back almost three times the size this spring.

I liked them so much growing up, I used these in my bridal bouquet, along with ranunculus and hydrangea. It is sort of nice having flowers that bring back such good memories growing right in my own yard. It's hard to see in this photo, but there are ants on the bud; some people believe that ants "help" it bloom. I think they just like the sap from the plant.


Continuing to bloom:

What: Fuscia

Grown from: Small (four inch pot) plant from department store's garden center

A good friend of the family sent me a book about fuscias the other day, so I ran out to get one to try my luck. So far, so good. It lives in a pot in an old chair I painted, sitting near the front door in a shady spot. It must like it there since it has spread out since I planted it.

What: Dahlia

Grown from: Plant with buds and two blooms from local nursery.

When I bought this, the bloom was so dark it looked black. It reminded me of a certain recent movie, so I bought it. I'm kind of disappointed the later blooms were lighter, but it is still a pretty flower.