This Week in the Garden: May 11, 2025
Irises and Snowball Viburnum!
The irises and snowball viburnums are in full bloom and we’re really liking a front bed that has light blue irises and a snowball viburnum next to each other. Every year I become a bigger fan of the tall bearded irises. And while I love most iris colors that I’ve seen, my favorite is still the light purple iris my mom gave me from her garden. I think we only dug up a few rhizomes and I took them home in a pot, planting them out into our prior garden. Over a few years I would divide the original plants and brought as many with me as possible when we moved (almost two years ago). Now I have them growing and thriving in several locations in our new garden here. Besides the range of colors, the size of the flowers, the sword-like foliage, etc., one of the primary things I love about irises is how easy they are to divide and how easy it is to get new plants to increase your stock.
We love snowball viburnum. It’s a happy, pompon smothered bush that grows to a wonderful, large size and, because of its colors, works well with many plant combinations.
Lilacs Blooming in the “Lilac Alley”
For me, the scent of a lilac is intoxicating and almost addictive. I am creating a “lilac alley” that runs along the east hill/berm of the east garden but I’ve also dotted them around the garden in other spots. In honor of Mother’s Day, I’ll note that lilacs are one of the plants that reminds me of my mother every time I see one, because of her love for them and an association of them with where she grew up.
Potatoes Growing Strong in the Raised Bed
It’s incredible the rate at which potato plants can grow, especially in ideal conditions. The pictures above span from April 5th to May 1st to May 9th.
New Montrose Apricot Tree (YES!!)
I have really wanted an apricot tree for our orchard and needed to find one that was hardy enough for our area. I believe I’ve found one with this Montrose apricot. It had already set fruit when I acquired it from the nursery, so we should get a little harvest from it this season. Fingers-crossed that it does well and thrives in our orchard (I love apricot jam)!
