Plants I'm Growing: First Blooms--Penstemon, Cleveland Sage, Teucrium, Coreopsis

Because of the recent late rains, which discouraged walking around the garden, and a fair amount of work in the past few days I've missed the first blooms of 2011 on quite a number of flowers, but I note here that in the past week the red penstemon under the apple tree, several varieties of coreopsis, coyote mint, Cleveland sage (upper photo; I believe this variety is "Allan Chickering"), and the low-growing Teucrium cossonii have all come into bloom. The prettiest time of the year has been extended this year by cool weather and rain.

Plants I'm growing: First Blooms--Teucrium Cossonii, Salvia Nemorosa (May 31, 2010)

First flowers of 2010 today on Teucrium cossonii, a ground-cover Teucrium with attractive grayish-green foliage. Teucrium cossonii has clusters of small salvia-like, purplish-pink flowers that cover the plant when in full bloom. This plant has been reliable for many years. It takes the summer drought fairly well, but looks best with a little water. This year it looks wonderful because they have had a great deal more rain than usual.

First blooms on Salvia nemorosa on May 29. Another reliable, fairly drought-tolerant plant. The foliage dies back completely in the winter, but always comes back in the spring. Doesn't seem to be picky about soil. A favorite of the the bees.

Gaura lindheimeri started blooming on May 30.