Walmart Clematis

Name: Clematis
Variety: Clematis Polish Spirit
Color: Lavender
Type: Perennial Vine
Height: 6' or more
Sun: Shade or Part Sun
Bloom Time: Late May

I purchased this 3 years ago as a root at Walmart. It was rather cheap and I really wasn't out a lot if it didn't grow. The first summer it made progress but I was constantly tying it to the trellis. I did the same in 2006 and 2007. Each year it grew a little more. This spring, though, it is fabulous. It was my intention to have the trellis under the upper deck covered with clematis and now this has the start that is needed to meet my goal.

This is a lovely delicate blue with a large fuzzy middle. It's a little more ornate than the common clematis. My only problem is that when the flower dies back there is a fuzzy mess to clean up. However, it's a small price to pay for this gorgeous show of flowers, which can be seen so beautifully from the path behind the house.

Iris

Name: Iris
Variety: Bearded iris
Type: Tuber
Height: 2"
Sun: Full Sun
Flower color: Light Lavender
Bloom Time: Mid-May
Location:  Perennial garden west of garden; south of water fall bottom of hill


I have no idea what the variety of this iris is. It was given to me by a friend. Iris tubers are actually very expensive but they divide nicely and sharing is always a plus. These are a beautiful blue. Last year they came up but didn't do very well. This year they are up and blooming beautifully.

Hot Weather

We were gone over the weekend and came back to hot dry weather. It had been 83 degrees. Today was cooler but there is no rain. Our lawn was pretty dried out, but the worst part was that we had dead branches on one of the burning bush we planted last year and a little bit of dead leaves on the two bridal spirea that we planted two years ago. Those two plants have really struggled and I don't want to lose them. We clipped back what we could and then put the water on the whole area to see if we couldn't revive those that were in need.

Lamium

Name: Deadnettle
Variety: Lamium maculatum 'beacon silver'
Type: Perennial
Height: Ground Cover
Sun: Part Shade
Flower Color: Purple
Bloom Time: Mid-April through Summer
Location:  under the arborvitae on both the north and south sides of the deck stairs.
Care:   None

Walmart Hosta

Name: Hosta
Variety: Hosta undulata
Type: Perennial
Height: 14"
Light: Shade
Flower color: Lavender
Bloom Time: Early July

I purchased these as bare roots at Walmart and they were pretty cheap. They aren't as big as showy as the ones I bought a Home Depot but they do come up much earlier and as a result add a very pretty foliage to my spring shade garden. They tend to wither in the hot summer and seem to need more water.

Planting Roses

Last night we had a clear, although cool, evening and were able to get the holes prepared and the bare roots into the ground. The bare roots already have buds on them, so I have no doubt that they are all alive and growing. The trick this year is to make certain they grow a very strong root system.

Rain

A storm blew through last night. We received some rain in the night and some more today.

Planting Beans

On Monday I put 15 little pots on the cart on the deck and planted 15 bean seeds. I am trying, once more, to grow bush beans. This year I hope I can get a good enough start on them that they will not die in the garden.

Preparing for Roses

The roses came yesterday. I was really very excited. However, there were just 4 naked stems/roots in one plastic bag. They are tagged and there was a packing slip, but nothing about color or type. Yikes. I had to go to the web to find out what they were.
I got:
Floribunda--Moondance, white
Floribunda--Simply Marvelous, pink
Grandiflora--Southern Belle, yellow
Grandiflora--Wild Blue Yonder, deep fushia

I hope they look good together.

Wayne finished digging up the grass and putting down the edging on the south spot. Now both are ready for top soil and Miracle Grow garden soil. They will stay in the plastic bag until we can get dry enough weather to do this--not today and tomorrow Wayne has meetings. They will be ok in a cool dark spot, so hopefully they will make it until Monday because we might not get to them until then.

Rain

Steady showers for much of the day

Lilacs

Name: Lilac
Variety: Syringa Vulgar
Type: Shrub
Height: 8'
Sun: Full Sun
Flower Color: Deep Purple
Bloom Time: Late April
Location:  Front north of house, south of garage

I didn't keep the variety of lilacs other than the common vulgar. I'm not certain I ever had that information because these came from a local grower. They are doing so well. Last year the large bush had some sort of fungus so we pruned it out. Thanks to the internet I was able to save this beautiful bush. The smaller plant is also doing very well now that we've replanted it in better soil. I look for many many years of beautiful lilacs. These are a deep dark french purple and have a very light scent. I love seeing them very day as I drive home from work.

Candy Tuft

Name: Candy Tuft
Variety: Iberis Sempervirens Snowflake
Type: Perennial
Height: 8"
Sun: Shade
Flower Color: White
Bloom Time: Late April
Location:   North side of the deck in back yard

These are very prolific and flower profusely. They seem to be very hardy and have no trouble adapting or thriving. They are a wonderful accent to the bleeding heart in my shady corner of the garden.

Rain

It's raining lightly today, but if it rains most of the day, we should get a good soaking. I need to keep track so we don't let knew plants get into distress before we water them. Thus the trouble with living in a rainy climate that has bouts of dryness.

Removing Grass

Wayne spent an hour out tonight preparing the spots in front of the new arbor for the rose bushes. He has the north side done and looking really great. We will need to condition the soil, but they are ready for roses.

Today I purchased fertilizer stakes for the trees and shrubs. I bought 20 for fruit, 5 for regular and 10 for evergreen. It's a little short, so I hope I can make due.

Grape Hyacinths

Name: Grape Hyacinth
Variety: Muscari Blue Spike
Type: Bulb
Height: 6"
Flower Color: Blue going to purple
Sun: Full
Bloom Time: Mid April

Well, I've planted these in the wrong place. They are coming up and look nice, but they are behind the moss phlox and can't be seen. Unfortunately, they will have to be moved next fall. I think they need to go by the mailbox.

Barberry

Name: Barberry
Variety: Berberis thunbergii
Type: Shrub
Height: 5' x 6'

These are really filling out nicely--especially the one by the lilac bush. It had dead branches and upon pruning it, the branches filled out and grew very well. I've cut back the others to get the same kind of grown. They are in full leaf now. In the fall they will turn crimson.

Tulips

Name: Tulip
Variety: Maureen (white)
Mrs. John Scheepers (yellow)
Menton (peachy pink)
Type: Bulb
Height: 18"
Light: Full sun
Flower Color: See Above
Bloom Time: Late April
Location:  South side of garage

The three other varieties finally came up and bloomed. Actually I was more impressed with the Ad Rem variety that was sent as free. They bloomed sooner and were a lot more colorful. My only complaint was with the white ones. I had only 4 of the many bulbs I purchased come up. I think I will check with the store on that purchase.

Bleeding Heart

Name: Bleeding Heart
Variety: Dicentra Formosa
Type: Perennial
Height: 20"
Light: Shade
Flower Color: Pink with white drops
Bloom Time: Late April
Location:  North side of the deck

This particular plant was one purchase many years ago when our daughter was a teenager. She chose it as her special plant. When we moved we took it to our son's house and he nurtured it. Then when we were ready in our new house we took a piece. It grows and blooms and thrives. We have also sent a piece to our daughter in Wichita. Hopefully it will bloom there as well.

Moss Phlox

Name: Moss Phlox
Variety: Phlox subulata
Type: Perennial
Height: Ground cover
Light: Full sun
Flower Color: fushia
Bloom Time: Late April
Location:  Front under arborvitae by garage, in front of lilies, in back on the water hill.

These have been divided and transplanted many times. Right now they are in the front by the garage and in front of the daffodils. They are a wonderful way to bring color into spring.

Red Bud Tree In Spring

Name: Eastern Red Bud
Variety: Cercis Canadensis
Type: Deciduous Tree
Height: 35'
Light: Full sun
Flower: Neon Pink
Bloom Time: Mid April
Location:  North side of back yard
Care:  Trim dead wood and lower branches as needed.  Fertilize with stakes for flowering shrubs in spring.

Checking Things Out

I walked around a little tonight. The bleeding heart is growing nicely and the candy tuft is getting ready to bloom. We have moss phlox in bloom and the grape hyacinths are up although they are a bit disappointing. The daffodils have faded. The tulips are still growing and we're getting more colors.

The grass seemed very dry. We had very little rain in April, which was unusual. Wayne is going to have to water the lawn already in the year. I need to get out and get more pictures of plants. I also have a lot of weeding to do.