I received a book for Easter entitled ‘Ornamental Shrubs for Temperate Gardens May Flowering’ by Edward Hyams.
Since its publication in 1965 the botanic names of the odd variety may have changed (this is a continued source of annoyance to me as soon as I learn one Latin name it is changed into another). However the awe that spring blossom can produce may let me forget this minor issue.

This is my selection from over 50 shrubs and many species that Hyams recommends for May flowering.

Caragana – a broom like shrub
Castanea alnifolia or pumila – sweet chestnut shrubs
Ceanothus
Cercis siliquastrum – Judas tree appropriate given my gift.
Cestrum from the Solanaceae family

Clematis from alpina, montana or patens groups.
Crataegus – hawthorns, look out for prunifolia
Cytisus and Genista – brooms including burkwoodii crimson flowers and goldfinch cream
Daphne – dwarfe alpina or evergreen burkwoodii
Deutzia – chunii or elegantissima
Eleagnus
Embothrium – a small but spectacular tree
Enkianthus – bell flowers with autumn foliage
Gaultheria – evergreen shallon or hispida alpine species
Grevillea – evergreen upto 8 feet tall
Kalmia – angustifolia or sheeps laurel

Kerria
Leptospermum or Tea-Tree
Leucothoe -with lily of the valley like flowers in racemes
Lithospermum diffusum 8″ high but spreading
Lonicera- honeysuckles
Magnolia
Malus – crab apples really small trees
Mitraria – coccinea a climber likinh shade and protection
Olearia – daisy bushes

Paeonia including tree peonies
Pernettya – low growing mucronata
Photinia
Pittosporum – shrub or tree speciespatulum or tenuifolium have good varieties
Prunus – almonds and cherries

Rhododendrons
Roses – ecae is an early flowering species
Rosemary
Rubus – brambles deliciosus can be trained round into a cylindrical shape
Sorbus – mountain ash chamaemespilus or dwarfe whitebeam.
Syringia – lilac hybrids
Tamarix – parviflora
Vaccinium – glauco-album bell shaped flowers and blue berries
Viburnum
Wisteria – sinensis can climb to 100 feet, flore pleno has a double flower

‘The Creative Shrub Garden by Andy McIndoe provides a truly shrub-focused design guide which shows the reader how to combine shrubs along with perennials and bulbs in attractive, long-lasting planting schemes. He describes how to use these low-maintenance woody plants in the way that gardeners normally use perennials……………’