Sunday, May 31, 2009

Late May Blooms


Above white peonies in full bloom. Below the wonderful contrast of the pinks and the iris.



Above deep purple clematis. Below blue clematis.




Above blue iris. Below neon pinks.

Annuals & Vegetables

Front Yard:
Big urns: 10 red petunias per each
Big red pots by bench: 8 white petunias per each
Red ceramic pots on steps: 4 verbena per each

Deck:
Under the chimney: 8 pink, 4 white, 8 red impatience
1 New guinea impatience
Large white pot: 3 white begonias, 4 snap dragons, 4 mixed coleus
Red pots: 6 mixed petunias, 1 spike per each
5 pots down steps: 1 each white begonia

Kitchen Window:
8 zinnias mixed colors

Hanging plants:
white petiunias with 2 other types of plants. We split on pot into two. Next year use miracle grow potting mix to suppliment.

We used Miracle Grow potting mix plus fertilizer for the window box. We should not have to fertilize that. We used it also in the begonia pots down the steps.

Vegetables
4 zucchini
4 green, 4 red, 4 yellow peppers
4 cucumbers
4 cherry tomatoes
12 tomatoes
1 pack onions

Pictures from the Garden

April and May have been loaded with color in the yard. From the moss phlox above to the purple lilacs below.

Below are the moss phlox wit the grape hyacinths.


The spirea gold flame in the spring are a wonderful organge. I love the colors.

The American Redbud in full bloom.

Here the bleeding heart is just starting to bloom. It was even better than this.

Saturday Planting

Saturday morning was a beautiful day. We went to Sells and picked up our vegetables. Hopefully we will have a good crop of tomatoes and cucumbers this year. We picked up loads of onions too. I do enjoy the fresh green onions on a regular basis.

After shopping we came home and did the rest of the annual planting. The callalilly was sprouting and ready to be planted again this year. I have more active tubers than every. We also split the one hanging basket we purchased into two and put it into two different baskets. Hopefully they will do better this year and not die out so fast.

We planted the rest of the deck pots and they are looking good as well. Wayne put the kitchen pot up on the hanging.

Afterward we pruned the veronicas, deadheaded the daffodils and tulips and did a little weeding. It was so enjoyable to be outside. We have more weeding the back and now we have to get the vegetables in the ground. I look forward to good weather.

This past week I had been so terribly exhausted all week long. On Thursday Wayne dragged me outside to get the annuals planted. I was reluctant to go, but just a few minutes of sitting out there, taking plants out of the containers rejuvenated me. I felt refreshed and my old self again.
Working in the garden is magic.

Wednesday, May 20, 2009

Rose and Poppy Planting

On Monday we got the rose bush into the ground. All the roses are looking healthy and strong. We also planted the asters, the coreposis and the poppy. Now to see if they will grow.

Spirea in Bloom

The bridal spirea that we purchased last year are in full bloom. I'm so pleased that they are doing so well. It makes me disgruntled though at the two bushes we purchased the year before. They are still shrimpy and only have two or three flowers on them, not covered like the other three. I will never again plant in the fall.

Saturday, May 16, 2009

Wet Week

It has been a rainy wet week so we have not been able to get outside a lot. We did get out on Monday to mow the lawn and to do some weeding. But as for the rest of the week it has been just too wet to get out and finish planting the perennials and the rose bush that we bought. It has also been too cold to eat out on the deck.

More Purchase

We did find an oriental poppy at Plymouth Nursery. It cost $10 so it better live. We're saving the receipt in case it does die.

We also purchased another lovely rose bush--wild blue yonder. It's the same one that did not make it through the season last year. It was only $10 more than the oriental poppy--go figure.

Saturday, May 9, 2009

New Plants

Yesterday we went to two places to pick up plants. We found many that were just right.

Coleman's
14 more white campanulas to go along the front walkway
2 coreopsis; early sunrise; 18" with yellow flowers; full sun; blooms in summer
2 asters; alpinus gollath: 10" with lavender flowers; full sun; blooms in June
2 pussy toes; antennaria dioica; 6" with light pink flowers; full sun; ground cover with silver leaves

Home Depot
2 catmint; nepeta wakers low; 10" plus flowers; lavender; full sun; blooms in summper

We could not find some oriental poppies. I'm a little discouraged about getting some to grow. I'm checkin with the Laws to see if they have some I can have.

Saturday, May 2, 2009

Good Medicine

I was feeling rather low today. However, it was a beautiful day and after lunch we went to work in the garden. It was heavenly being out there seeing all the new things growing.

The redbud tree is now in bloom. It is doing well and the trunk is thick enough for us to remove the three supports. I just wish it were taller. I suppose in time it will grow to a good height.

The bleeding heart is blooming. It isn't as full as it was last year, but still is giving a good show. Around the bleedin heart, the columbine are up as well as the candy tuft in bloom. I look for more flowers on both. I have two little pips from the lilies of the valley growing. Gee they are hard to get started.

Our heavy mulching did wonders on the butterfly bush. We already have green showing. We pruned the stems back to 15" and uncovered the heavy mulch. This is the real secret to getting these to open up in the spring. I think the roots live close to the surface and are too exposed in winter.

The lavender is growing well. Last year it took a long time to recover after cutting it back, so this year we did not cut it back at all. It has greened up nicely and I did a little trimming on it today.

Other things are up--the hydrangeas are growing well. We finally got them established. The iris are going to be gorgeous and I think we need to move some some of the roots to the south planter box so they don't crowd other plants.

The black-eyed susans are well established. Finally the astilbe are expanding. I am so glad to see that. It has taken around 4 years. The pinks are doing well and the balloon flowers are starting to grow.

I pruned the roses and the three bushes are growing, although the small one I bought at the end of the summer is doing the best. We lost the red grandiflora and will need to replace that. All three of the peonies that I transplanted are growing. I also have three on the south side that will need to be transplanted during the year. My peony garden will now be complete.

The spirea that we planted last spring are doing so well. I'm really pleased with them. However, the older ones are still struggling, but they are growing. All 4 burning bush are also growing although one of them is budding a little late

Disappointments--we didn't get the asters transplanted in time. So I lost them, but for a couple of dollars I can replace that. I still need to find more plants to go into the iris garden. I would like more color there. And the biggest was that the poppy that I nurtured so well, vanished. All that was left was a clump of dirt. I need to find a better way to get some of those going.

We spent several hours outside, weeding and taking care of the plants. We tied up three of the arborvitae that had wintered a little hard. I think they will survive nicely, though. I enjoyed myself so much. I think as the year progresses well enjoy the garden as it changes and colors come and go. I do love how wonderful it is. It refreshed me immensely.