May. 3rd, 2009 at 4:41 PM
Rites of Spring German Bearded Irises. This surprised me. I wasn't expecting my Bearded Irises to bloom this year, after only splitting and transplanting the majority of them last Summer/Fall. Yet, the Rites have sent up 3 flower stalks and Celebration Song has a flower stalk up too, and should bloom in the next day or so.
These are from the 'clump' of Royal Knight German Bearded Irises that I had bought 2 Springs ago. They didn't bloom last year, but went nuts this year. Not as tall as the older Royal Knights I transplanted, but lots of blooms, nonetheless.
The 3 Clematis vines on the fence went gangbusters this season. I do believe this is the most blooms I've seen on them in years. The ones on the porch are bud laden as well. One of the 3 that I originally planted at the top of the hill survived and may bloom this year. With 2 White Oaks coming down out back this week, and a few others planned soon, there'll be more sun back there and I'll be able to grow more plants up there as a result. The Wisterias will be transplanted up there soon.
Last Spring, I'd brought back 3 Lady Slipper Orchids from the MiL's front yard, in the New Jersey Pine Barrens. She tried to get me to take more, as she has hundreds, but I wasn't entirely sure they'd even grow here. I only brought back 3, with as mush native soil as possible. 2 came back up this Spring, one bloomed. I don't think the other is doing well, honestly. But hey, given I wasn't expecting ANY, one with a gorgeous bloom was better than none.