Today.

Primula veris (cowslip)


Primula veris 'Sunset Shades'


Brunnera 'Alexander's Great'


Trillium, Pulmonaria 'Dark Vader' and Helleborus Black Diamond


Helleborus Cherry Blossom


Helleborus (bought as Berry Swirl, however white)

Lots of rain.
May 2016, Toronto got less than half of it's average yearly rainfall.
May 2017, it got over 80% more than the yearly average.

Relatively green leafy time for the garden here (late May/early June).
Pictures yesterday:
The lilac.



Perennials with variegated leaves.





Alliums.



Iris.



Globeflowers.



Columbines.



Japanese primulas.



Still there.





Useful little plant: Silene 'Rolly's Favorite'.
Last year, bloomed in our garden from May to June.
Not sure how many years it will last at that rate.



The peonies are in bud.
We seem to get peonies blooming throughout the month of June; but none before and none later.

Charlie the garden is looking very good.

Thanks, Mike.
Working away at it.

Charlie I know what you mean. Same here.

Today: still have bluebells (Spanish/hybrid), last of Primula x polyanthus, columbine.


A 'Winky' mix.


Aquilegia alpina.


Last of the Japanese primulas.


The last of the spring alliums ('Purple Sensation') to go to seed.


Painted daisies.




Pinks (Bath's Pink').


'Ghost' ferns.


Heirloom iris 'Sans Souci'.


Favourite old iris (from tuber found about 40 years ago).

Nice Charlie. The garden is picking up speed

Thanks, Mike.

I find there's a bit of a flowering hiatus with the perennial beds from latest May into especially early June. Another reason for the overwhelming greenness is leaves from spring bulbs which have already flowered. Presumably, in part, it's also a reflection of the particular perennials we have.

The primary reason for our flowering picking up in June is our relatively large number of peonies.

Went up to the Lake-of-Bays for a couple of days. Amazing how things can get out of kilter in the garden.
While away, there was a couple of very hot days (hard on some peony blooms) and then an extremely heavy down downpour a couple of days after getting back (so now repairing things).

Before we left: (June 11.)
'Miss Mary'


'Savannah Sunset'


My favourite no-name oldie (as above).


(June 13)
Peony and oriental poppy.


'Miss Mary'


'Celebrity'


June 16
'M. Emile Debatene'


'Festiva Maxima'


No name (looks a bit like 'Beverly Sills').


Yesterday (before the rain)
'Edudlis Superba'. Some older petals look sun-bleached), in front of "Shirley Temple', in front of likely 'Charlie's White's.


'Bouchela'


'Dublin'


Siberian irises
'Lady Vanessa'


'Papillon Blue'


Climbing hydrangea


Always want some golden corydalis (albeit in a confined place).

Excellent Charlie. You have a wide assortment of peonies.

Thanks, Mike.

To be honest, we have too many peonies for the size of the garden, but they're a stalwart of June flowering here. I also think they put on a longer show than the tall irises, which seem to rush through their flowering if the weather is hot.

Getting through the peonies.

Yesterday
'Bowl of Beauty'



'Dr. Alexander Fleming'

Peonies are my favourite! These ones are the first to open each year. The others are just getting ready.

Lovely show, Connie.
Interesting how the bloom time differs between different locations.
Our ones bloom in June (includes both the earlier and later blooming peonies).

I don't see any evidence of peony supports in your pictures.
Are you using the hoops?
I've always used stakes and twine myself but now finally intend to switch to peony hoops next year.
Have had to do restaking several times this year (after especially heavy downpours).

Yes, I have a hoop in each of the two biggest groups, and on most of the bunches in my back yard. I like them, because it disappears as the bush gets bigger.

Excellent Charlie and Connie.

Thanks, Mike.
Been quite wet recently.

Yesterday.

Penstemon digitalis 'Husker Red' and Aruncus dioicius behind'.


Penstemon digitalis 'Dark Towers'.


Dianthus deltoides.


Dianthus barbatus var. nigrescens 'Sooty'.


Trollius 'Golden Queen'.


Astrantia major 'Roma'


New (dwarf) Thalictrum kiusianum


Coreopsis 'Jethro Tull'


Love the very hardy miniature roses.

Nice variety Charlie.

Beautiful blooms Charlie!

I tried for a couple years to grow Astrantia Major but it's just too hot here.

Astrantia does well here. I still have the original six plants I purchased at least six years ago. They even reseed.