The roses have started blooming!!!!!!

I’m not entirely sure which one bloomed first this year, as I wasn’t able to get out an poke around for a couple of days.

I’m pretty sure it was Prairie Princess. She’s usually the first to bloom and she’s extra spectacular this year. She spent most of winter under a thick blanket of snow and it’s resulted in a beautiful, bushy plant full of blooms – as you can see.

Reflecting Glory was probably the second to bloom. I bought this one on clearance last year. I love the soft apricot blooms! It has a lovely, mild scent too.

Other blooms (Clockwise from Top) Koko Loko, Quicksilver, At Last and Chrysler Imperial.

Still to come – Bolero, Eden, Miss All American Beauty, Mellow Yellow, White Lighnin’, New Dawn, Good as Gold and Chicago Peace.

The Oriental Poppies out back are done, but this one – called Central Park – is out front. As you can see, the blooms are varying shades. I get anything from deep magenta to a dusty burgundy.

And I finally have success growing California poppies from seed! The blooms don’t last long (just about a day each) and the plants are much smaller than expected, but still… I’m thrilled! I’ve struggled to grow these for so long. The corn poppies are bigger, and will be blooming any day now too!

And my other June favourite.

Foxgloves! These are all ones that came from a few plants I started the second year we were here. Foxgloves don’t come true from seed most times so I get a mix from pure white to bold pink and every shade in between. And I never know where they are going to pop up! Sadly, none of the foxgloves I started from purchased seed this year have taken (though I’m still holding out hope for the Cafe du Cream and Yellow Foxgloves still as I have some very small seedlings).

But I can’t complain much… there’s so many beautiful plants just bursting out everwhere!