As the Shakespeare Garden transitions from late spring into early summer, the beds explode with height, color, and texture. Take in the abundance of these blooms on your next visit.

Tall Bearded Iris
Iris ‘Breakers’
Blooming in late spring, this tall, herbaceous perennial boasts large purple-blue flowers. Tufts of hairs are present on the sepals, which provide a landing place for insect pollinators.

Show larger version of Iris 'Breakers' A large, bright purple-blue flower blooms with tufts of hairs on the lower petals.
Iris ‘Breakers’ (tall bearded iris) in the Shakespeare Garden. Photo by Michael Stewart.

Columbine
Aquilegia vulgaris
A member of the Ranunculaceae, or buttercup family, columbines are a source of nectar for bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds.

Show larger version of Common Columbine in the Shakespeare Garden Flowers with dropping, layered petals of white and dark pink bloom from thin arching stems.
Aquilegia vulgaris (columbine) in the Shakespeare Garden. Photo by Michael Stewart.

Foxglove
Digitalis purpurea
This herbaceous biennial has bell-shaped flowers with dark spots and hairs on the inside. Foxgloves attract bumblebees and easily self-sow—a single plant can produce one- to two million seeds.

Show larger version of Foxglove in Shakespeare Garden A cluster of pink trumpet-shaped flowers with dark spots bloom alongside small green leaves.
Digitalis purpurea (foxglove) in the Shakespeare Garden. Photo by Blanca Bergert.

Mountain bluet
Centaurea montana
Native to the mountain regions of central and southern Europe, this herbaceous perennial boasts striking, wheel-shaped flowers made of clusters of purple-blue florets.

Show larger version of Mountain Bluet in Shakespeare Garden A wheel-shaped flower of small blue florets blooms at the tip of a stem with long green leaves.
Centaurea montana (mountain bluet) in the Shakespeare Garden. Photo by Michael Stewart.

Moth Mullein
Verbascum blattaria
This biennial plant is a member of the Scrophulariaceae, or figwort family. Tufts of purple hairs surround the flowers’ stamen, resembling the furry antennae found on moths.

Show larger version of Moth Mullein in Shakespeare Garden A cone-shaped cluster of pink-tinged white flowers with purpler centers bloom along a green stem.
Verbascum blattaria (moth mullein) in the Shakespeare Garden. Photo by Michael Stewart.

Peony
Paeonia sp.

Show larger version of Peony in Shakespeare Garden A black metal plant label is surrounded by large bright pink flowers with yellow centers.
Paeonia (peony) in the Shakespeare Garden. Photo by Michael Stewart.

Buttercup
Ranunculus sp.

Show larger version of Buttercups in Shakespeare Garden A cluster of small round yellow flowers with tightly packed petals bloom on the tips of thin green stems.
Ranunculus (buttercup) in the Shakespeare Garden. Photo by Michael Stewart.