May is one of those idyllic months ranking right up there with September but, to make an inevitable play on words, there’s nothing idle about it. We are kept constantly on the move trying to stay a step ahead of the weeds (impossible) and on track with the planting (2 cart loads per day). The plants are almost alarmingly hasty in their growth and apparently I forget the sequence of events from one May to the next. I was a little shocked to see the Dove tree in bloom – and isn’t it early for the Father Hugo’s rose? It isn’t. They’re right on schedule. I’m glad that May still takes me by surprise and keeps me on my toes – I think that must be what makes it one of the most anticipated months of the year. In honor of Garden Bloggers Bloom Day in the middle of this, our host Carol’s (from May Dreams Gardens) favorite month, here’s a selection of Blithewold’s blooms (and one bud).

Hover over for captions and click on for larger image. Open your scratch-n-sniff application to view the daphne.

What have you been surprised by this month?