By Thea Hegland, Horticultural Assistant

Signs of the summer blooming season are quickly revealing themselves as new plants seem to appear daily among the many beds and borders on the property. All this movement provokes intrigue as we reacquaint ourselves with familiar flowers we haven’t seen since last season and are introduced to some new plants.

While the Narcissus (Daffodil) are fading in The Gardens, we look forward to what emerges next in the garden. Our most famous flower, the elusive rare Meconopsis (Himalayan blue poppy) is full of promising buds set to reveal its beautiful blue flowers anytime now.  

Once in bloom, the Blue Poppy puts on a stunning show

Noteworthy is our Rhododendron collection which is one of the largest and most diverse in the world. Collected for more than 100 years including over 400 different species of evergreen and deciduous shrubs. Many of the original shrubs still remain in The Gardens today. As the month of May progresses the Rhododendrons will soon become the main highlight as the bulbs come and go.

Rhododendrons framing the paths in a previous spring season

In the meantime, there are still plenty of Tulips to enjoy!

Plants that are currently blooming:

• Anemone (Grecian windflower)
• Anemonella (Rue anemone)
• Anthriscus sylvestris ‘Ravenswing’
• Arabis
• Arisarium probosicideum (Mouse plant)
• Aubrieta
• Aucuba japonica (Spotted laurel)
• Bellis (English daisy)
• Bergenia (Elephant’s ears)
• Brunnera macrophylla
• Camellia
• Caltha (Marsh marigold)
• Centaurea montana
• Cercis chinensis (Chinese redbud)
• Chaenomeles (Flowering Quince)
• Cornus nuttallii (Pacific dogwood)
• Cotoneaster
• Daphne collina
• Daphne odora (Winter daphne)
• Davidia involucrate (Dove tree)
• Dicentra (Bleeding heart)
• Doronicum (Leopard’s bane)
• Epimedium (Barren wort)
• Eremurus (Foxtail lily)
• Erica (Heather)
• Erysimum (Wallflower)
• Erythronium tuolumnense (Trout lily)
• Fritillaria elwesii (Fritillary)
• Fritillaria imperialis (Crown imperial)
• Fritillaria meleagris (Checkered lily)
• Gentiana (Gentain)
• Geum
• Helleborus (Christmas rose)
• Hyacinthus
• Illicium
• Kerria japonica
• Leucojum (Snowflake)
• Lysichiton (Skunk cabbage)
• Magnolia x soulangeana
• Magnolia stellata (Star magnolia)
• Malus (Crabapple)
• Muscari (Grape hyacinth)
• Myosotis (Forget-me-not)
• Nandina domestica (Heavenly bamboo)
• Narcissus (Daffodil)
• Ophiopogon planiscapus (Black mondo grass)
• Ornithogalum
• Pachystachys lutea (Lollipop plant)
• Pericallis (Painted daisy)
• Petasites
• Podophyllum (Mayapple)
• Polygala chamaebuxus
• Poncirus trifoliata (Hardy orange)
• Pulmonaria (Lungwort)
• Pulsatilla vulgaris (Lungwort)
• Pieris (Lily-of-the valley shrub)
• Primula (Primrose)
• Prostanthera rotundifolia (Mint bush)
• Prunus (Flowering cherry)
• Ranunculus ficaria ‘Brazen Hussey’
• Rheum
• Rhododendron
• Ribes (Flowering currant)
• Rubus spectabilis (Salmonberry)
• Schizanthus (Butterfly flower)
• Skimmia japonica
• Spiraea (Spirea)
• Syringa (Lilac)
• Trillium ovatum
• Trochodendron araliodes (Wheel tree)
• Trollius (Globeflower)
• Tulipa
• Viburnum tinus
• Vinca (Periwinkle)
• Viola