Rhododendrons 'Dora Amateis', 'Rocket' and 'Capistrano' (worth to notice this one in particular, one and only TRUE yellow and TRUE hardy in z6) Another rhodie (Bessie Howell) and deutzia 'Nikko' (picture from the last year, but I like this accidently happened combo of burgundy and white): Another unplanned, but very interesting combo, Camassia and late daffs(forgot the name): Azaleas, all kinds of Girard's hybrids, Delaware Valley White, Amoena, rh. kiusianum 'Alba' and beautiful truly lavender double dwarf(ish) Elsie Lee: Spanish bluebells, just starting, but now I know why they call them 'invasive' in England. Different heucheras and heucherelas. Ajuga 'Chocolate chips' with its steel blue flowers and very dark foliage (Girard's Hot Shot' azalea in foreground): Polemonium 'Stairway to Heaven', brunnera 'Jack Frost', dicentras eximia and spectabiles, trilliums, iris cristata, solomon seal, anemone silvestris, tree peony, fernleaf peony, peony 'Early Scout' (fernleaf flowers + herbaceous peony leaves), daphne Carol Mackie and caucasica(transatlantica), fothergilla gardenii 'Mt.Airy', akebia quinata (looking to take world over) and finally mistery clematis from HD that blooms very early (also being in a considerable shade) on new AND old wood at the same time: I have it for third season, but somehow don't remember it blooming in a summer. Any idea what it might be?

I agree that it's all about the irises this week, although lupine's right up there, too. Since I last posted, I have: Wintersowed this year: Venidium fastuosum Gilia capitata Schizanthus Peas Linaria Phacelia viscida, Tropical Surf Baby Blue Eyes Wintersowed past year(s): Valerian Helianthemum Geum, Mrs. Bradshaw Aquilegia chrysantha Papaver Flore Pleno Amsonia tabernaemontana Other: Rosa rugosa alba Iris, Swazi Princess Yellow iris Centaurea montana Verbascum, Southern Charm Orlaya grandiflora (re-seeded) Rhododendron Pink azalea Globe allium James Kelway daisy Honeysuckle Limnanthes (re-seeder) Around the wildflower walk: Mayflower Wild geranium at the boat landing On a good note, the ferns are plenteous and beautiful this year. On a bad note, the poison ivy is rampant. I've put a link in for some pictures - last year when I tried to post them individually they came up huge - I haven't spent the time to figure out how to resize them. The first 16 pictures are this year's; all the rest are from last year. Here is a link that might be useful: My garden pictures

Thanks, everyone! I am having so much fun growing roses, I never liked gardening at all until I started with the roses last spring and now it is nice to see the rewards from all of that hard work! jaceysgranny -- thanks! I am really enjoying monkey business, I mainly bought it because I thought my kids would get a kick out of the name and I was intrigued by the "licorice" scent that was mentioned when I bought it (although I haven't really noticed it yet) Sara-Ann -- if I were to only have one striped one it would be Rock n Roll, I am just so impressed with the blooms and the rich colors. Give it a try and I think you'll love it too! Ingrid -- thank you for the compliments! RCT is great, I believe it was introduced in Europe under another name. My Julio bush is not that big but it sure likes to bloom! Lesley -- thank you :) Tammy -- Thanks!! I wonder what is up with your Grimaldi? Did you say it was still in a pot? Mine went straight into the ground from RU and it has loved it. I didn't get many blooms last year (a handful) but maybe it appreciated the Michigan winter? It did have a significant amount of die back but has bounced right back. I just noticed a huge basal cane coming up this morning so I am excited! My Raspberry C.T. is also from Edmunds and I cannot believe the growth on that one -- the most of all the roses I planted -- I'd say give it a lot of space if you can! Jeannie -- thank you! I think you'll love Raspberry Cream Twirl if you give it a chance. I got mine from Edmunds and it has been such a strong grower. Carol -- thanks, I love those stripey roses! My Paradise has no scent either but I love the blooms, they are shapely and seem to last quite a while on the bush without losing form. I bought a 3rd Paradise this year since my two from last year were such strong bloomer. I have one in a not so sunny location and it does surprisingly well so maybe it appreciates a little shade. How is yours with sun?

Good afternoon Jay ~ What a beautiful iris. I just love the color. Am really partial to blues/purples in the gardens, although, I do have lots of pinks also. It's hard to believe iris grow in ponds. I hope you can find more pictures from your place. Seeing other's pictures is always so inspiring! DH thought of the name FlowerLady when I first got online as my handle. That's what he called me because I was always out in the gardens working in and among the flowers. :-) Have a great Sunday afternoon. We are getting some rain, LOTS of wind. Hope we get a really good soaking as we sure do need it. FlowerLady