| Primula sieboldii |
So what's up in my garden this mid-May day? The bad news is that the mosquitoes are back.
But the good news is that, this time of year, plants are popping into growth spurts on an almost hourly basis.
Primula sieboldii is one of the easiest primroses to grow. If given plenty of moisture (mine are in a low spot), they will take quite a bit of sun.
![]() |
| Rhododendron 'Ken Janek' |
Rhododendron 'Ken Janek' is one of my favorites, with nearly spotless foliage and consistent blooms in mid-May. I love how they pop open slowly, one bloom at a time until they resemble a frilly party dress.
| 'Princess Chiffon' is the earliest tree peony to bloom in my garden. |
I'd just been thinking how nice it was that the tulips were carrying on for awhile until the early tree peony opened up when I noticed it had. From yesterday's tightly furled bud with a hint of pink at its tip to a full-blown show of compressed petals in a 24-hour period is what a May garden is about.
Both lilacs--'President Lincoln' and 'Beauty of Moscow'--are gifting our noses with the epitome of May fragrance, but Viburnum 'Aurora' is no slouch in the scent department. We moved it to its current location last fall, but it's still managed to throw out a few blossoms.
| Viburnum carlesii 'Aurora' |
| Lilac 'President Lincoln' |
![]() |
| Dianthus 'Red Beauty' Promising bud of peony 'Roselette' |













