Havenwood May Garden Tour

Late Spring 2025: Trillum, Iris, Hyacinth and Tree Peony

Hyacinthoides hispanica 'Excelsior' with wood forget-me-nots in the Entry Garden at Havenwood for May

“The spring will come with celandines and white violets in the lanes, and then the late spring with bluebells and campion and the wistaria coming out. And I shall learn the spring by heart, and then the summer, and I'll learn the bells and birdsong…”

🌿 Elizabeth Goudge, The Scent of Water

Welcome to May at Havenwood!

Come take a little walk around our one-acre garden in northwestern PA, zone 5/6. Half of our property is in the shade and half in the sun, some wet and some dry, so we have a wide variety of plants growing in each season.

If you would like to have an overall framework of our gardens, here is a map of Havenwood and about our open events coming up this year:

Without further ado, I will use the map to take you on a walk around the garden this May…

#2 The Entry Garden

Continuing with my blue theme for May, after Bluets and Camassia I am really enjoying the Spanish Bluebells this month in the Woodland and Entry gardens.

Spanish Bluebells, Hyacinthoides hispanica 'Excelsior', in the middle of the Entry Garden, looking towards the urns in the Lantern Walk.

I have found that the Spanish bluebell does much better in our hot summers than the English bluebell. I may give the latter another chance someday, but they have not done well when I have tried them. Meanwhile, I find these more showy in lesser numbers, so they are a more affordable choice and fill the gap between daffodils/tulips finishing and the summer perennials beginning.

#5 The Cottage Garden

We are just at the turn from Tulips and headed fast into Alliums, so its good to enjoy these before the full summer perennials get going in the Cottage Garden.

Tulip ‘Greenland’ in the Cottage Garden with chocolate-leaved Penstemon and charteruse Euphorbias dotted around.

Tulip ‘Greenland’ view to the yew arch and pergola walk.

Tree peony in the rain and still attracting bees in the Cottage Garden.

#11 The Hot Border

A shocking orange Azalea in the Hot Border, and I think I need more to bridge the gap from Tulips to Poppies.

You come down the tunnel from the Hot Border to the lawn and look ahead to the pond…

#17 The Pond & Bogs

I love the acid yellow in the pond garden this month. Euphorbia, Kingcups, and I have added an annual pot of calla lilies to keep it going.

Another golden-leaved addition: elderberry

Kingcups and Japanese primula in the bogs around the pond

Japanese primula in the bog at the back of the pond and the first waterlilies

View back to the lawn and potting shed

#20 Iris Bed

The first of the bearded Iris have just started this week! More color to come.

Iris ‘Dazzling’

#35 Wood Chip Path

This area is looking so beautiful right now, and I really need to capture it on video because it is just to big for any one frame. Calycanthus ‘Hartledge Wine’ is just getting going. Meanwhile the Spanish bluebells, native Gerniums, white Azaleas and Bluets are making a nice pastel froth all along this path.

Calycanthus ‘Hartledge Wine’ by the Wood Chip path.

Tellima grandiflora just starting to flower this spring! I have been trying to get this one going for a number of years, so this is very exciting.

Primula sieboldii with their ruffly leaves and petals.

A new little section I planted up with double pink Azalea, Ostrich & Christmas ferns.

#26 Daffodil Dell

This area has gone from shocking yellows to cool whites, and it is probably at my favorite stage of the year. Clematis ‘Guernsey Cream’ is one of my favorites in the garden as well, and the very first clematis of many to come this year from now til autumn.

Stunning Clematis ‘Guernsey Cream’ in the Daffodil Dell

Behind the clematis you can see a white froth coming down the slope…

Trillium grandiflorum in the Daffodil Dell with Viburnum mariesii and fern Claytosmunda claytoniana.

#27 The Spring Bed

This area has had a big show of primula and now the late spring plants are taking over…

Three beauties in the Spring bed: Trillium luteum, variegated Solomon's Seal, and a large group of the red Wake Robin, Trillium erectum, in need of division!

One last shot of those Trillium grandiflorum:

Trillium grandiflorum in the Daffodil Dell coming down the hill.

Thanks for joining me!

So nice to have other garden writers joining me today for a virtual walk around the garden, as everyone shares their own blooms over at Carol’s for GBBD.

If you are in the area, we will be opening our garden this summer twice in real life to benefit the local library. Love to have you visit in person!

What is blooming in your garden this month? Love to hear!

Related posts:

For the Love of Camassia Curb

The Iris Bed

How to Grow Bluets

A Short History of Flowers: Author Interview with Advolly Richmond

Notes from Havenwood