A difference a year does make

Although last year was the begining of my true gardening adventure I did manage to get some pictures of spring.  Taking a look around the gardens this year got me thinking about what was going on last year.  What was blooming this time last year and what is this year.  So I thought I would show you.

Last year my Iris were all in full bloom.  The first photo I could find of the Iris were taken May 14th, 2010 and there were both of these two in bloom and more than one of each.

This year tells a much different story for the Iris. May 14th, 2011 showed that there were many Iris ready to open up and show their beauty but only of one color that I can tell

This Morning (the 18th) the first of many Iris has finally opened up...but only the one.

Although not far apart from last year there is a difference in what my gardens look like.

Another flower that was in full bloom last year was my Rodadendrum.   How ever this year there isn't even the slightest signs of growth.

 It is truly a sight to see each year.  To watch the gardens grow at different rates.  To see that one year the Iris open first and another a rose first.  Is it the soil?  Is it the weather?  Is it the plant?  Or is it the Gardener?  The truth is Mother Nature is in control and desides each year what will bloom and when.  I simply can't wait to look back in years to come like many other Garden Bloggers are and see just what was doing what each year.

Garden Bloggers Bloom Day - May

It's the 15th of the Month.  Time to join Carol at May Dreams Gardens and many other Garden Bloggers in the joy of posting pictures of our gardens in bloom.  Although not part of this for very long I look fwd to it each and every month.  Hoping that each post I will get to show something different that is in bloom.  Although there are new blooms this month some are on plants featured last month.  But it doesn't matter. So to start the show we will begin with the houseplants.

 Not a new addition to the blog but the Polka Dot plants are blooming again.  This time a Purple color instead of Pink.

 A Spring Cactus.  Such pretty and different flowers.  These guys close up at night and open again each morning.

Another old timer is the Spider plant flowers.  Only difference this time is this particular flower is on my newer younger Ocean spider plant.

Here is a picture of the whole Ocean spider.  Very different variety from my other spider plant.







With the Houseplants in bloom taken care of it's time to head outside and take a look at what is going on.

 Although still a bud it's worth showing off.  The Peony's are gearing up for their show.

 Another bud worth showing off is from one of my rose bushes....2 of the 3 older ones have buds on them.

 This rose bush is new this year...Tiddly Winks.

 One of my new columbine.  Such pretty delicate flowers.

 The other new Columbine.

 Found growing in the gardens this year was this extreme miniature plant from the Narcissus family known as Jonquilla.

 Another bud begging to be shown is the Iris.  After watching the leaves grow it was a great joy and surprise to find that many are now sporting buds.

 Silly Pansy plant decided that it really liked IrishGardens and came back this year.  Although the foliage is very sparse the flowers are not.

 The other Pansy plant that came back.  There were 4 and although the other 2 show some signs of foliage only 2 have truly come back and bloomed.

 Lily of the Valley.  These were transplanted from my Mothers Garden.  They survived the transplant well and still bloomed.

 The latest in the Hope Blooms Tulips to show off it's color.

 Just cause I love the way they look more of the Tulips.

 A new container I planted Mothers Day.  Containing a Mini Rose bush....with Apricot blooms and a Brazilian Jasmine vine with pink blooms.

 Although hard to see a areal view of my Garden in the front.  I call it the Rose garden as to the left and still part of the garden is my 3 main rose bushes.  but the Columbine, Lily of the Valley, and Tulips and Daffodils are also located in this garden and picture.


Looking down at the gardens show a lot of beauty but now lets take a look up....at the Show stoppers.

 Although not quite high enough to look up at the Magnolia tree is looking good and it's single bloom is a real joy to see.

 Simple yet beautiful one of my Dogwood tree's is in full bloom now.

 Beautiful doesn't begin to describe this Lilac tree....the smell of the blooms alerts visitors to it's presence long before the sight does.

Nestled in the back by the Gas tanks is what I believe to be a Crabapple tree in full bloom.  So incredibly beautiful.  If it wasn't part of the big shaded area in the back yard that seems to house the mosquito's it would be my thinking spot.

So thats my May edition of Garden Bloggers Bloom Day.  I hope you like what you saw.  If not oh well I did.

Each Month Carol Hosts this beautiful meme over at May Dreams Gardens and hundreds join in.  So to see more blooming Garden's stop on over and take a hour or so to click through the virtual Gardens.