Berry Bushes

June, it's time for berry bushes and fruit trees. They bloom to be pollinated, start to fruit then ripen at the end of summer. 
In my garden there are many bushes of black, white and red currant, I also have some gooseberry bushes. 
This May I've decided to take picture of their flowers. Above is the gooseberry bush flower, I think its shape is a bit unusual, reminds me a sea creature  :-).  
Here are pictures of black currant flowers, they were small, a lot on all the branches.

By the way looking at the gooseberry bush I noticed many flowers as well. They were hidden with dense leaves.

The red currant flowers were gathered in clusters, lots of future berries.

June is warmer than May, green fruit and berries already grow up and ripen. I suppose I will have good harvest this summer.

My small cherry-plum started to blossom for the first time. I think the berries must be yellow ones. As the label says :-). It grows as a low tree or bush, but it did not set fruit till now.

Last tulips and daffodils decorate the beds and front garden. When the wind blows they sway their heads as if saying farewell till next spring. I love them and show you their beauty.

In June the small sedum (Sedum ochroleucum) is in bloom, its yellow fluffy lowers are seen between tulip faded leaves.

New rhododendron 'Roseum Elegance' has started to flower, opening its buds every day. The flowers are pink and big enough.

The conifers wintered well, sprouted new light green needles. The small one is a silver fir and the taller one is a pine pruned as niwaki (garden bonsai). I like pruning my pines in niwaki style and I think when silver fir is grown up I will made it in niwaki style as well.

Do you love eating fresh berries or just berry jam? Do you grow any berry bushes in your garden? 
Do you leave tulip faded leaves on beds or do you cut them off?  What is your experience?

Grefsheim Spirea

Grefsheim Spirea (Spiraea x cinerea 'Grefsheim') is an ornamental shrub and one of the loveliest early flowering Spireas. Grefsheim Spirea is a show-stopper when it bursts into bloom each spring.  It's a stunning display of white flowers in my garden.

Grefsheim bears small tiny white flowers against a mass of grey-green leaves on arching branches. When summer comes, the blue-tinted hue of the narrow, green leaves takes over, Grefsheim Spirea is in a full, compact appearance.

Spirea are deciduous shrubs and are very easy to grow. Grefsheim Spirea is a dense, rounded vase-shape shrub with arching branches. It will grow 1.5m (4-5') in height, spread 1.5m (4-5'). 

Grefsheim is tolerant of a variety of soil types and prefers full sun.  Butterflies and other pollinators love it, a shrub does well for a wildlife garden or sunny border. It’s fast-growing, very hardy and requires minimal care.
I planted 3 Grefsheims in my front garden along the fence and when my guests and neighbors come in they pause looking at in its spring show.

Have ever seen these spiraeas? Maybe you grow it in your garden as I do? What is your experience in growth?



Sources: http://www.naturehills.com
http://www.thompson-morgan.com

Rhododendrons in Bloom

Despite the protracted and cool spring nature feels the approach of summer. My evergreen rhododendrons started flowering. As usual rhododendron 'Pohjolan Daughter'('Northern Daughter') was the first to blossom. It's Finnish bred of rhododendrons, very hardy, noteworthy that its buds are deep pink and opened flowers are light lilac.

Deciduous azaleas have not yet unfolded buds. They always begin to bloom a little later than evergreen rhododendrons. Moreover, first flowers appear and then just leaves. Now you see 'Mandarin light', the red buds and leafless branches.

By the way the dark red azalea buds transform in orange-yellow flowers.

Here are my two latest purchases started to blossom. One is 'Nova Zembla' rhododendron, it blooms in full. The flowers are medium and in deep color, the bush is low and wide.

The second one is the evergreen variety 'Roseum Elegance', is too little and has deep pink buds.

Do you grow any rhododendrons? Are they easy of growth or do they need permanent care? Or maybe you just love looking at them in parks?