The blooming time of year has arrived in the garden. During these months different blooms make their appearances at different times, providing a constantly changing atmosphere of fragrances and of visual delights. Some of them are short-lived, a week or less, so being away at the wrong time means waiting an entire year to enjoy them again.

First to arrive, and already gone, are the plum blossoms, marking the end of winter.  Following closely are the blooms of the weeping snow fountain cherry.  Like the plum, they last only about a week.

 

 

 

Competing with the cherry are the tree peonies. They emulate a holiday fireworks show, full of spectacular flash but with a too-short life.

Still blooming now is the Chinese wisteria. Unlike the more common Japanese wisteria, the Chinese wisteria shows its blooms before it leafs out. Their crowding concentrates their delicate fragrance, inducing a Wow!-What’s-that? reaction when a whiff drifts by. And the bumble bees hustle amidst their bounty.

Elbowing their way to the front of the aroma line right now are the Pittosporum blossoms. They are small with five roundish petals, their stark white color sliding to yellow as they age. Their fragrance is reminiscent of citrus, but without the delicate sweetness. The bushes in my garden are about eighteen feet high. You can see them showing off their blooms over the bamboo behind the rock in this picture. Skirting the rock is star jasmine, building up its energies for a big presentation coming soon.

The garden is tingling with blooms lining up for their turn to show off.   Summer is just beginning