May: New Plants

So many new plants to share! I feel like I spent too much money and now have a self-imposed "no more plants this summer" rule. Unless I conveniently get a nursery gift card for my birthday. Hint, hint. By the way, that "no more plants" rule doesn't apply to food plants.

Boxleaf honeysuckle - planted in the back shade garden.

Aster - planted in the front part-shade garden.

Lingonberry - planted in the front part-shade garden.

Pineapple sage - planted in the front full-sun garden. I had one of these
plants last year, but it didn't make it through our harsh-for-Portland
winter. I love this plant!

Asiatic lily - planted in the side part-sun garden. Although I don't like the smell
of lilies, I have a soft spot for this one. It's orange and as a kid I always called
them tiger lilies. This one was 1/2 price because it was nearly past bloom.

Another type of boxleaf honeysuckle - planted in the front full-sun garden.
I bought two of these, and they are a bit of an experiment. They may prove to
be too big. We shall see.

Sweet woodruff - planted in the back shade garden. I planted two of these and
have high hopes that they will spread. 

Canna - planted in the front part-sun garden. This is another test plant for me. It's
been on my plant-want list since last summer and was more affordable than I thought. 

Dogwood - planted in the back shade garden. My own personal splurge this season - $25!
However, I've been wanting a red-twigged dogwood for a while, and I've got lots
of nearly full shade space to fill. It seemed like a good idea.

Hooker's Fairy Bells - planted in the back shade garden.

Dead nettle - planted in the back shade garden. For some reason lamium has been
on my plant-want list. I do like the variegated foliage. We'll see how this does.

Hydrangea (Annabelle) - planted in the side part-shade garden. I bought two of these,
and I'm beyond excited to watch them grow over the next couple of seasons. I love
hydrangeas, but never had an appropriate place to plant them until I gave myself
 permission to remove several inherited (and hated) rose plants.

Lithodora - planted in the side part-shade garden. I see this everywhere and it's rather
ordinary looking. However, the promise of spreading to around 3' wide, being
evergreen and tolerating part-shade sold me this year. I bought three.

Another type of Hooker's Fairy Bells - planted in the back shade garden. Another experiment.

Redwood sorrel - planted in the back shade garden. This will spread and might
become a nuisance. However, I really love it and the kid likes to pick it.

Foam flower - planted in the back shade garden. The kid picked this out,
and I'm eager to see what it's cycle is.

Red creeping thyme - planted in the front full-sun garden. Apparently I
can't have too much thyme - I've got eight plants now. 

Alysum - planted in the front full-sun garden. Although I usually don't buy
annuals, I picked up three of these this spring.

Do you see what I see? Lots of green on green with varying textures. It may seem a little subdued, but that's how I like things. Let me know if you'd like any specific botanical names.