Garden Bloggers Blooms Day 05/11

It's my second blooms day, and I have oodles of local, blooming flowers to share! Off the top I've included some wild species. There are also apple and cherry blossoms, violets, strawberry flowers in bloom and other spring spoils that I haven't included here.

The highbush blueberry grows along many of my favorite hiking trails.

I found this little wildflower on the edge of a bank in an oak forest. Anyone familiar with the name? I'll have to search my books for it a little more. . .

Garlic mustard (Alliaria petiolata)colonizes most any untended urban soils. Mowing down the plant before its flowers transform into seeds is wise. The leaves are edible, and make a pungent addition to any vegetable dishes.

Japanese honeysuckle vine (Lonicera) was introduced as an ornamental plant, and now thrives in many disturbed open and woodland sites all along the east coast.

Commonly found in lawns and meadows, ground ivy (Glechoma hederacea) was once considered to be a useful medicinal plant, as well as a fermenting agent in beermaking (instead of hops).

Greater Celandine (Chelidonium majus) can be easily  identified by the bright orange sap inside its stems.

Lily-of-the-Valley bush (Pieris japonica) is a flowering shrub that can fit in any sized garden (even container gardens) and requires very little maintenance.

Lilac flowers of white, deep purple and mauve are peeking over fences across New England right now.

Viburnum rhytidophyllum is a broadleaf evergreen that pairs nicely with rhododendrons.

Viburnum 'Chesapeake' is similar to hydrangea, but beats them to the punch when it comes to bloom time.

The strong, sweet fragrance of this Viburnum burkwoodii makes it a great entryway pick.

Fothergilla major glows in the long rays of sun.

Flowering quince (Chaenomeles japonica)

Enkianthus is similar to Pieris in many ways, but much less common.

Early-blooming azaleas offer strking color even from some distance away.

With their delicate appearance, Bleeding Hearts (Dicentra sp.) are deceptively hardy. It's not long after the first shoots appear that they display an elegant scaffold of stems and pendant flowers.

Spurge (Euphorbia sp.) is a striking foliage plant with weedy tendencies.

Lamium is used by many to control erosion, but has wandering tendencies. At Mt. Auburn cemetery, I found this small, well maintained patch surrounded by lawn.

The papery buds of chive flowers are just beginning to break. I'll be harvesting some to eat very soon.

Perriwinkle (Vinca minor) is a vigorous groundcover that bears many blooms when in sun, but can grow in any light condition.

I love to see flowering Phlox spilling over front retainer walls this time of year. Paired with veronica, euphorbia, or any other rock and alpine plants it can be quite eye-catching.

One of the many perks of traveling by bicycle is catching the fragrance of Lily-of-the-Valley as I ride by this stretch of stone wall!

The snapdragons in the Natick Farm's hoophouses are prolific.

The flowers of Solomon's Seal are easy to miss underneath their arching stalks in the shade.

Tall dogwood trees dot the hilly landscape at Mt. Auburn Cemetery.

Davidii involucrata is sometimes called the handkerchief tree after its large white bracts that turn from white to brown.

Korean Mountain Ash

Styrax japonica's pendent bells reveal bright yellow stamens if viewed from below.

Magnolia 'Sunsation' petals peel back to allow the fruit inside to mature.

A panicle of yellow, pink and white chestnut flowers.

My tomatoes are in bloom too! I'll be posting soon about what I'm doing to protect these beautiful blossoms from the cold.