Belated Bloom Day

Traveling caused me to miss the official Garden Blogger's Bloom Day for May, hosted by Carol at May Dreams Gardens. But like gardeners all across America, I am enjoying the explosion of spring blooms! Without further ado...

My spring stalwarts, native columbines, are blooming...

...as are golden alexanders (Zizia aurea)

And fellow carrot-family member, Taenidia integerrima. See how similar they look with their yellow umbels? The latter likes shade and can tolerate dryness, however, while the former likes moist sun.

Some prairie smoke (Geum triflorum) is still in its "flower" stage, prior to forming the "smoky" seedhead.

Salvias are starting to bloom too...

...but best of all is saved for last! Proving the old adage about good things and those who wait, after three long years my 'Twilite' Prairieblues baptisias are blooming!

Ahhh, worth the wait! Also blooming: Peonies; Heucheras; Chives; Camassia (mostly finished)

Damn-ping Off

My second round of seedlings was just hit with damping off. I tried to salvage what I could with a frantic planting effort this evening, but without a hardening off period, survival doesn't look good. (What's with seedling activities being followed by the word "off"?) And that's assuming the seedlings I planted aren't carrying the fungus with them! Twelve baby cabbages are all lost, as were my basils and coleus. The only silver lining is that I have more seeds to direct sow. But after successfully avoiding damping off for the last two or three years (and in an earlier round of seedlings this year), it's disappointing to say the least. So if you're starting seeds, make sure they have good circulation! Next year, I'll need to look into getting a fan.