Clean Up

Last week Wayne did the last of the clean up on the garden plus he tied up the arborvitae in the back and covered the roses. We are ready for winter. We haven't had snow yet, but the temperatures are getting colder. It sad to see the garden dormant, but also nice to have a break from the weeds and work.

End of Fall

Wayne did a lot of cleaning up yesterday in the garden. Because of the mild weather we have had lots of growth and flowers. The lavender still has blooms of it. There is still much to clean up and nothing is really dead yet, but things are fading. I trimmed the roses down to the structural canes last weekend and Wayne has cleaned up everything in the perennial garden except the lavender and the dianthus.

The burn bushes were more specatular than they have ever been. We have had some wonderful colors in the back. The front, however, has been disappointing as the spirea did not turn the wonderful orange the generally do. There is still time and hopefully the pear trees will be gorgeous this year as well.

Fall Is Here

Fall is here in the garden. Lots of things are dying. Wayne has already cleaned out the Walmart hosta. The roses are still in bloom. The hole for the water fall is filled with water and a big bullfrog is living there. Somethings are turning red--more red than I have ever seen. We look forward to wonderful fall leaves.

Garlic Chives

Name: Garlic or Chinese Chives
Variety : Allium Schoenoprasum tuberosum
Type: Perennial Herb
Height: 18" to 2'
Light: Full sun
Flower Color: White
Bloom Time: Late August

This past spring I purchase these because I had thought I had lost my chives in the weeds and I couldn't find regular chives. However, the regular did come back. The real surprise was that these bloom late in the year. They are lovely and I look forward to moving them to a permanent spot.

Fountain Grass

Name: Fountain Grass
Variety: Pennisetum Alopecuroides
Type: Perennial Grass
Height: 3'
Light: Full sun
Bloom Time: Seeds out in late August

These plants grow to be very large. Once they have seeded out they are very attractive. I had them along the walkway, but decided they over powered everything else. However, they are a nice addition for some areas.

Fall Weather Coming

It has been beastly hot for many days and the yard was parched. Friday a cold front came through and now the days are cool. It feels like fall is coming.

The garden is winding down. We've enjoyed so many good things out there. The peppers and tomatoes are still producing. We did get one fun meal of swiss chard. It's been years since we've had that. I think we will grow that again next year.

In the front the ornamental grass is in full bloom. The campanulas and day lilies still have a few blossoms.

Along the south the althea is still blooming although coming to the end and the ornamental grass looks good. One little surprise was the garlic chives were in bloom. They will be a nice addition to the garden when we move them.

In the back the trumpet vines are winding down. There have been a few roses, but not much. Everything else is gone. I do need to work on more late bloomers out there. The hydraneas did not bloom this year.

Winding Down

The summer is winding down. We had cool weather this week and it was wonderful. Wayne had cleaned out the zucchini and the cucumbers. The peppers are doing great and we have loads of wonderful tomatoes. We still might have one more meal of beans. Last week we also had a meal with swiss chard. It has been so many years since we had some. I truly enjoyed it and we may get another meal as well.

The hydrangias never bloomed. I am not certain why because they are certainly healthy enough. I'll give them another year before I panic. The roses have made a slight recovery and have a few small blooms. Everything else is gone but the trumpet vines. I need to do more to have blooms in August.

We finally had a couple days with a beautiful moon. I beginning to wonder if two days in August is worth a moon garden.

Update

It was beastly hot and humid this week. We barely poked our heads outside the door. Wayne picked some tomatoes out of the garden but that was about it. Next week should be better so we can get out to see how things are fairing. We've had some rain so the lawn doesn't look so terrible.

Dog Days

Most everything looks bad. I dead headed the hostas and they are heading down hill. The black-eyed susans are still in bloom, but also they are on the fading stage. The zucchini is dying; the cucs are dying. We still have another bean meal, but they are dying too. We only have a couple more onions left in the garden. The one thing that is doing great is the tomatoes--they are ripening and we are enjoying them.

All the roses are losing leaves, but the small Moon Dance that looked like it was dead suddenly came alive in a big way. I have hope that it will grow and bloom this year after all. Out front only the campanulas look good. On the south the althea shrub is still in bloom.

Although our yard has been very beautiful this year, it still seems that it fades by the end of July and there is nothing new in bloom in August. I see that other yards have things blooming, so I need to rethink some plants. I'm digging up the veronica and will look for late blooming plants for the front. In the back we have the water falls garden to plant. I"ll look for something late in the year there too.

One plus, though is that the trumpet vines are still big bloomers. It's almost like they have their own eco system; that there is some flying insect or bird constantly hovering around them. Wayne captured the butterfly in the heading and the humming bird on the camera.

The hydrangeas have not bloomed yet. I'm beginning to wonder about them although they are healthy enough. Perhaps they are just really late bloomers and I've never thought about it before. Still looking for them to bloom.

Rain

We've received several thunderstorms in the past two weeks. The lawns are looking much better and we haven't had to water--thank heavens.

The garden is still producing with a few tomatoes ripening now.

The butterfly bush is still in bloom as are the black-eyed susans. I've dead-headed the balloon flowers. We had a storm come through that pounded the roses. I've pruned them and hopefully will get a few more blossoms this year. No signs of hydrangea flowers yet although the plants are healthy. The large hostas still have blossoms.

The althea is in bloom although not completely. There are still a lot of buds.

The campanulas are still in bloom but everything else has been dead headed. I want to really thin the daisies next year and put a row of chrysanthemums behind them. We are also digging up the veronicas and planting lillium next year in that area. The spirea have lots a new growth and maybe we'll get a get smaller blossoming.

That storm had 60 mph winds and blew over the dogwood tree. Wayne ran out in the rain and pushed it back in the ground and staked it out. So far it is surviving.

Weekly Report

Front: The yellow day lilies are still in bloom as are the campanulas.

South: The shrub althea is blooming but not in full bloom yet.

Back: The butterfly bush is in full bloom, but no butterflies that we've seen. The coreopsis is still blooming as are both the wild blue yonder and julia child roses. The black-eyed susans are in full bloom.

Garden: We have loads of cucumbers and we are freezing peppers. We've had many meals of beans. No rip tomatoes yet.

Thunder Storms

We had thunder storms yesterday, which was a welcome relief. The weather has been horribly hot and muggy. Some of the plants look pretty droopy from the heat.

The butterfly bush is in full bloom as well has the large hostas. The shrub althea is starting to bloom on the south side. In front the yellow lily is still blooming and the campanulas.

More Rain

We've had a little more rain in the past couple of days. It's been very hot and dry and rather muggy. We spent last Saturday out weeding the garden and picking produce. We've had several meals of beans as well as zuchini. The cucumbers are also producing really well.

Hosta

Name: Hosta
Variety: Regal Splender
Type: Perennial
Height: 2' x 3'
Light: Part Sun
Color: Lavender
Bloom Time: Mid-July

We purchased these at Home Depot. They are the big variety and fill up a large space. I enjoy the variegated leaves on them. They also seem to do better in the heat of the day and don't wilt like smaller ones.

Hot Weather

We started watering on Thursday and Friday. It is very hot and no rain in sight.

The garden is producing. We have pulled onions up several times and enjoyed them in our meals. We have harvested beans and today we will have cooked beans for dinner. A zucchini will be ready to eat next week--it's zubeafy time!!

Our front the daisies are in full bloom. The verionicas are spent and are going. The large day lily is blooming as well as the campanulas.

Out back the roses are still blooming and need tended. The clematis are at an end. The hostas are blooming. The butterfly bush is starting to bud. The balloon flowers are in bloom. There are still a few blossoms on the coreopsis and the lavender is in bloom.

Rain

We had a couple of bad storms on Saturday and Sunday--some with hail. As a result we didn't get our walk about as usual. We trimmed the spirea in front which allows the campanulas and day lilies to shine. The daisies are still blooming.

Along the south we still have the lilies blooming and the cat mint.

In the back it's status quo. Nothing has diminished or bloomed since last week. The butterfly bush is getting huge!!

Perennial Garden

The little perennial garden has really filled up the space. There has been flowers blooming since the iris bloomed in May. I am hoping for a continual flowering of something until the fall. That was my goal. Our little bird is a nice addition.

Weekly Report

Front: The daisies are in full bloom as are the veronicas. We have a few campanulas blooming and the stella odoro lilies. The spirea need to be trimmed back as to the arborvitae.


South: The Algarve and Centerfold lilies are in bloom. The Centerfold is a very short lived flower. I regret purchasing those, but they will have to do. The cat mint is still in full bloom. We have some seedlings up for the zinnia's and the swiss chard.


Back: The lavender is gorgeous. The coreopsis is still blooming and the balloon flowers are starting to bloom as well. The astilbe is still blooming although those flowers are not as great as advertised. That perennial garden is the best it has ever been.


The butterfly bush is really getting big and hasn't even started budding yet. The Walmart hostas have buds for flowers. The purple clematis has finished blooming and the polish spirit still has a few blossom. The roses need to be trimmed again and there are more buds. The Queen Elizabeth is determined to bloom, so I'll have to cut off the buds again. The poor little Moon Dance had one bloom. I think it is too pathetic to save.

Rain

We had a very violent storm blow through last night. It dropped quite a bit of rain which was badly needed as the grass was very dry and everything needed to be watered.

Algarve Lily

Name: Lily

Variety: Lillium Algarve

Type: Bulb

Height: 2-3'

Color: Pink

Light: Full sun

Bloom Time: Late June

This is another one of the lilies we purchased at Home Depot. They are taller than the Centerfold and much prettier. However, the picture doesn't do the color justice.

Rain

It rained again last night. These nightly rains have kept the garden growing. I'm really pleased.

Rain

It was chilly and drizzly this morning. It has rained in the night as well.

Weekly Update

Front: The veronica are in bloom. After 5 years though, they are still pathetic. I'm going to get lily bulbs to replace them for next year. We have some campanulas in bloom. The daisies are still budding and more of the stella odoro day lilies have bloomed. It's about time to trim back the spirea, which will encourage growth of the campanulas under them.

South: Some of the lollipops have faded. The rest of the lilies are not in bloom. The cat mint has got it's second wind and is blooming full force. There are buds on the Althea. I'm not certain if the tubers for the purple iris will make it. They look pretty pathetic right now. We have a few sprouts up in zinnias and swiss chard. I hope we can make a go of those. Right now the trumpet vine is doing terrible things and Wayne has to take the weed digger to it.

Back: The coreopsis are in full bloom. We need to take a picture so I can post that. The roses are still budding and blooming. The clematis is still in bloom as well. There are still blooms on the peonies. Most of the flowers on the honeysuckle have diminished. I'm sorry I didn't get a better picture. I'll have to use the one I have. The astilbe is ready to bloom although they are never as grand as the pictures I've seen. There are buds on the balloon flowers and the lavender is blooming as well. I need a picture of that whole perennial garden because it is sensational and will be even better in weeks to come.

The walmart hostas are shooting up stems to start budding. The laminum is still blooming--from April through June so far.

Annuals: We've lost a couple of the begonias on the deck. Rats. I'll have to take a run to the nursery to replace them. All the other flowers are doing great. I think our hanging pot of wave petunias is going to be great. In front everything is looking good but the dianthus. Don't know what their problem is.

Garden: It's looking fine. There are two bean plants that look like they have been eaten, but the rest is looking good. Everything is growing and perhaps the beans are going to start to bud. We did a great job out there this year.

Moon Garden

Several years ago our small dogwood tree bloomed. It happened to be on a year when the weather was good and the moon was right. A marvelous thing happened. The white blossoms on the tree seemed to float in the moon light. I was hooked. Ever since then I have been thinking that a moon garden would be perfect around that tree. I want plants that bloom June through September because those are the months when we spend time outside on the deck at night.

Here is my suggested plant list:

Lily Casa Blanca
Campanula White Clips
Snow on the Mountain
Scabiosa White
White Yarrow
White Phlox
Snow Drift Aster

I will be limited by what I can find at Colemans. However, these would be great plants to have and hope to add some, if not all of them.

Rain

It rained a little in the night. The roads were wet this morning when I woke up.

Weekly Work

We did too much work last night. Wayne dead headed the roses and trimmed off dead and bare branches. He also dead headed the peony, the columbine and gave the candy tuft a needed hair cut. I did weeding and trimmed some dead off one of the blue spruce shrubs. One of them is not looking good. I dead headed the cheddar pinks.

Lillium

I have been fascinated with lilies (lillium) since our Lollipop lilies bloomed. I have discovered that, like roses, there are hundreds of varieties all with wonderful names like Lollipop, Star Gazer (so my friend was right), Star Fighter, and Casa Blanca. They are bulbs and plant best in fall to sit dormant through the winter cold. There are varieties that bloom early and some that bloom in late summer. Some are even fragrant. I think I am looking for a little more late summer color and since the veronicas in front have been a disappointment, I am looking to exchange those for lilies. I like this Tiger Lily Red Twinkle. I think that would add color and snap to a time when everything else has stopped blooming. Plus the would be a great contrast to the yellow day lilies.

In back in my moon garden Casa Blanca would be a great addition. Plus I need an orange one for Wayne, like Brunello. I also like Star Gazer or Star Fighter for in back.

Rain

Last night it wasn't suppose to rain until 10 pm, but started around 7. It has rained off and on all evening and morning today.

Weekly Review

In the front: The weigela flowers are almost gone. The spirea are still in full bloom. There are a few stella o'doro day lillies in bloom. The daisies have buds as well as the veronicas. I need to trim the veronicas in half because they are too leggy.

On the south: The catmint still have blossoms on them although some are fading. I have many lollipop lilies in bloom.

In the back: the clematis are still blooming. The Julia Child has blossoms and buds. However, the storm was hard on it and I need to trim some leafless and some broken branches as well as expended flowers. The Wild Blue Yonder is in full bloom. The Queen Elizabeth is doing well; even the Moon Dance seems to be growing a little. I haven't trimmed the columbine, candy tuft or bleeding heart yet. The cheddar pinks are now finished blooming, however, the coreopsis is in bloom and there are buds on the lavender. The peonies still have some blossoms on them, especially on the north side where they were planted last year. The honey suckle vine is in full bloom.

Something interesting is happen with the dogwood. The white blossoms have dark pink streaks in them. It's all very interesting.

The trimming Wayne did on the trumpet vine has really made a difference in the growth. More of it is growing over the bare spot on the top. I can forsee the time when the whole top is covered in deep vines, which will make perfect shade for afternoon sitting. Now if we can just keep it contained to the arbor.

Rain

I do need to keep track of the rain again. We have the garden planted and a number of plants and seeds that need to be kept watered. Last night there was a terrific storm and dumped more than 4" rain. The water in the pond was 1/2 way up the power pack for the pump. It quit running. Evidently there were bad storms at 2 am (we were all asleep) and a tornado that hit Cabellas. Nothing was damaged here and did we retrain power, which is unusal for us.

Lollipop Lily

Name: Asiatic Lily
Variety: Lillium Lollipop
Type: Perennial tuber
Height: 3'
Flower Color: White with burgundy edges
Light: Full sun
Bloom Time: Early June

A friend of mine called these wonderful plants star gazers. I think it is rather amusing since her father was a botanists. They are Asiatic lilies and with their panted interior they do look like they are gazing at the stars.

Pictures of the Garden

Some pictures from the yard and garden.

The Dogwood. But there has been no moon to see them glow in the moonlight.

The pinks in full bloom.

The weigela out front in full bloom.

Our little bird in the perennial garden out back

Surprise

Yesterday we dead headed the lilacs and cleaned up the tulip debris. We also dead headed the asters, iris, and I trimed some on the peonies and the Julia Child.

Surprise--one of the Stella-o-Doro day lilies has bloomed. Also we have many, many buds on the lilies on the south side. There is one bloom.

Weekly Summary

Front: The Wiegela is still in full bloom. It looks wonderful filled with light pink flowers. The spirea are also blooming but not in full bloom yet. There have been continuous flowers out front. We need to dead head some shrubs, weed some flowers and probably cut back the veronica.

South: The tulip follage need to be cut and rolled so as to not detract from the wonderful cat mint blooms. The lilies are also starting to shoot up and we look forward to blooms on them soon.

Back: The iris is fading now. The pinks are still in full bloom. I have one little oriental poppy bloom. The coreopsis have buds on them. A few of the peonies have opened. One is dark pink, one a light pink and one white. There will be a nice show this year, but the plants are all small and need to have more time to grow. The Julia Child Florabunda is in full bloom. It looks gorgeous but has no fragrance. I'm hoping that as the plant matures the fragrance will come. There are also buds on the Halls honeysuckle vine. It should be in full bloom soon as well. The clematis is still in full bloom--both the polish spirit and the purple star. The dogwood blossoms are the most beautiful we've ever seen them. There are large white stars on the tree. This is going to be spectacular when it's about 12 ft tall.

Julia Child Rose

Name: Rose
Variety: Rosa Julia Child Floribunda
Type: Shrub
Size: 3' x 3'

Light: Full sun
Flower Color: Butter Yellow
Fragrance: Light scent (yes one rose was fragrant--I have hope)
Bloom Time: Starting in late May

I love roses and this one is going to be of my favorites. Named for Julia Child, it is a wonderful butter yellow rose with a sweet fragrance. This is a 2006 AARS winner. I've been doing a lot of research about fragrance since my roses are not fragrant. Supposedly it will depend upon the maturity, temperature and humidity of the plant. They say roses are really fragrant in India because of the heat and humidity. Hopefully I'll get that opportunity here in cold Michigan.

Blooms

Front yard: The only plant in bloom now is the weigela. It's full and has lovely pink flowers, but everything else is faded. There are buds on the spirea but no blooms yet.

Back yard: Last night the cedar pinks started to bloom. They are so cute against the purple asters. They have a wonderful light spice smell to them--sort of like cloves and nutmeg mixed. Some things are starting to fade in the back yard, but there are still lots of blooms everywhere with the clematis, iris, asters and columbines. It's been a wonderful spring out back

Dogwood

The dogwood is starting to bloom with more blooms than ever. I look forward to seeing them in the moonlight. Unfortunately, after two years, it is still a little over 6' tall. At this rate, I'll be dead before it reaches 30'

Catmint

Name: Catmint
Variety: nepeta wakers low
Type: Perennial
Height: 12-24"
Light: Full Sun
Color: Lavender
Bloom Time: Early May

These plants are fast growers. They were just put in last year, but already they are big and beautiful. They began blooming before the tulips were done, which was a bonus. Our only problem is that the lilies beside them will need to be moved to a more central location between the grass and the catmint.

Planting Annuals

Front Yard:
Big Urns: 8 red petunias and 1 spike per urn
Big Red Pots: 6 white petunias per each
Red Ceramic Pots: 4 red/white dianthus per each

Deck
Chimney: 8 white, 8 purple, 8 red impatience
1 New Guinea Impatience
Large White Pot: 3 white begonias, 4 mixed coleus
Pots Down Steps: 1 white begonia
Square Pots: 4 mix petunias and 1 spike per pot
2 Medium Plastic Pots: 3 verbina each
1 small Clay Pot: 1 vergina
Cedar Planters: 4 wave petunias each
1 hanging basket: 3 wave petunias

Kitchen Window:
8 zinnas mixed colors

Need: 2 bags Miracle Grow potting soil for impatient, kitchen planter, hanging planter, stair pots and cedar planters
Need: 3 bags of regular potting soil

It was misty in the morning but cleared up later on. We worked in the wet despite all the mud.

Blooms

It's about time to do annuals. The iris, asters and polish spirit clematis are almost in full bloom in the back. The weigela is almost in full bloom in the front. The catmint are in full bloom on the south side.

Mid May

Front: The lilacs are still in bloom but fading. The moss phlox are also fading now although still with color. The weigela has a few pink flowers and hopefully will be in bloom shortly.

South: The three colored tulips are still in bloom. The catmint is already big and in bloom as well. As soon as the tulips die out I'll take a picture.

Back: The early shade corner is still blooming--bleeding heart, columbine, and candy tuft. There are two lilies of the valley but they are not in bloom. The perenial sun garden has astors with buds ready to open and the iris and pinks have buds. Along the arbor the peonies have buds on the east and the wild blue yonder and the julia child roses have buds. There are a few buds on the dogwood tree. Some buds are open and many ready to open on the polish spirit clematis. Along the east of the yard the bridal spirea are still in bloom.

More Blooms

Last night I noticed that the polish spirit clematis were starting to bloom as well as the astors. I don't have pictures of the astors yet. I need to walk around the yard but weather and time has not permitted. Today we've had some thunder storms and rain. It's been wonderfully green.

Blooming

All the renasiance spirea out back are starting to bloom. I was a bit surprised at this because I thought those were june bloomers. The new snowbound we purchased are not blooming but doing well.

The iris has buds on them. The peonies also have buds but won't bloom for some time.

Out front, the moss phlox are still in bloom as well as the grape hyacinth.

Flowers In Bloom

The lilacs out front are in full bloom now. They are gorgeous and smell wonderful.

The tulips continue to be lovely along the south side. The orange ones have dropped their leaves but the white, pink and yellow ones are now in full bloom.

The bleeding heart and the candy tuft and still in bloom on the east side. The columbines are now starting to bloom.

Mother of Thyme

Name: Mother of Thyme
Variety: Thymus Serpyllum
Sun: Full
Size: 3-6"
Flower Color:lavender
Bloom Time:summer
Type: Perennial herb
Characteristics: Can be used for cooking as well as a fragrant ground cover.
Care:  None
Plant location:  back of waterfall hillside.  Makes good ground cover.  There are three large bunches.


We picked this up at Coleman's in the $2 plant section. It is in the experimental stage right now as we are trying to find a good ground cover for the walkway lights. The pussy toes we got last year failed.

Planting

The weather has turned cool and it was a little chilly last night when we did some planting. Wayne got the water out of the hole and we transplanted the renassaince spirea. Then we dug out the old one that is not thriving and put in the two new snowbound spireas on the north side by the fence. They look good and hopefully will do well. It is a good season to do this now. Hopefully they will have enough water and such to make it.

The QE rose was a little limp, but after watering it looked better. We pruned dead off the moon dance and hopefully it will do better. It is still alive, but just growing slowly.

The back yard looks wonderful and it's time to put down some walk way stones going to the arbor. We also finished fixing all the lights.

Tasks in the Garden

We planted the two new burning bushes and Wayne dug the hole for the transplant of the spirea.

I trimmed some of the vines and roses and weeded the perennial garden area. We put out a new little character in the garden.

We planted the QE rose bush. It looks great and hopefully will be healthy. The Moon Dance is not doing well, but I hope some pruning and extra care will help it grow.

We moved some Lamium to the south side of the stairs. Hopefully it will grow. Wayne did a good job and it might do really well.

We did some trimming on the dogwood tree to keep the interior open to the sun. Hopefully this will encourage it to grow.

New Plants

At Plymouth Nursery:
2 burning bushes--moses dwarf. They are in the ground today

2 snow spirea. they didn't have the renasisance that we purchased the year before. However, I think they will look nice. We are moving the two by the fence on the north side and planting them there. One we will transplant to the east side to match the other side of the arbor. I hope it works out.

At Colemans on Carpenter:
2 campanulas to replace the three that died. These are large and should be easy to split

2 small mother of thyme. Still looking for a ground cover out front and hope this will work


One great idea: for the area by the water fall with chairs and hopefully a fireplace wolley thyme. It is low, small and silver. Can be walked on and has a fragrance.

Shade Garden Blooming

The bleeding heart is in full bloom and looks wonderful. The candy tuft are starting to bloom and the columbines have large buds on them. Only 2 pips of the lilies of the valley came up. I purchased more of them today.

Moss Phlox Blooming

The moss phlox are now in full bloom. We still have another week in April and we have had lots of flowers bloom and many are expended. The daffodils are gone and the pear trees are now starting to drop their flowers. We still have tulips in bloom. Most everything is leafing out as well. I have seen signs of growth from everything including the balloon flowers which are now up as well.

Queen Elizabeth Roses

Last night we picked up a rose bush at Turners Nursery. I am very disappointed in their operations--no warranty what so every. Hopefully the bush will live past the week. It was $25, which isn't much, but still they should have warrantied it for at least 90 days. I trimmed off three buds and will keep it trimmed while the roots are forming.

It is a grandiflora, pink lightly scented. It was an AARS winner in 1955--long time. Hopefully it will thrive and grow and become a wonderful part of our landscape.

We will not plant it until Saturday to give it some time to adjust being out of the hot house.

Red Bud Tree in Bloom

All the red bud trees around town are in bloom including our little red bud tree in back. It still has not grown very much but it looks beautiful in full bloom. Sooner or later it and the dogwood will grow up.

The daffodils are gone now and need to be trimmed. The moss phlox are loaded with buds and should be in full bloom soon.

The forsythia are still wonderful yellow. They might last three weeks before they fade. It has been wonderful.

Tulips In Bloom

One variety of tulips on the south side of the garage are bloom--namely the orange ones. They look so beautiful against the brick and they run the full length of the garage. I'm really pleased with them. The other variety should be blooming in a week or so, which will extend the bloom time for those flowers.

There is some signs of the trumpet vines waking up. Still no sign of the balloon flowers yet, but I still have hope. The bleeding heart is budding as is the candy tuft. No sign of the lilies of the valley--they might not have survived.

Trees in Bloom

The Cleveland pear trees are in bloom all over town and that goes for our yard too. They look beautiful with the daffodils still yellow. I do love this time of year.

The tulips are starting to bud and should be in bloom any day as well.

Saturday Clean UP

I spent quite a bit of time weeding and cleaning up around the deck in the back yard. We cut the butterfly bush down to about 18". It looks like it has a lot of green on it and is growing well. We did some trimming on the red bud tree and I weeded out the scab columbine. No sign yet of the lilies of the valley. I also did weeding around the garden area and in the flower garden. The lavender is growing well and there are signs of all the flowers --including the oriental poppy, except the balloon flower, but they are often slow to start in the spring.

We have new growth on the honey suckle vine and all 4 rose bushes are greening up although we are still going to replace the one grandiflora that doesn't seem to be doing too well. We also might have to replace the moondust as it is also not really doing well. There are buds already on the bleeding heart. I think we need to split that for next year.

Wayne did the first mowing on the lawn. We purchased a brand new battery powered weed wacker and hope it will work for many years. The old one finally bit the dust as we have used it for about 15 years. He also did some brick border work. It's looking good.

Transplaning Peonies

We put three peony plants on the south side until we could get an area prepped for moving them. Last summer Wayne finally got it done so this week was the ideal time to get them moved, which was from the south side to east of the arbor. I hope they get enough sun although they are on the south east. I also hope I remember which one is which. I don't think the "red" one is really as red as I thought it would be, but I think they will do well. We moved a white, red and pink one. They flank the walkway to the arbor and should look great once they are fully grown and mature.

Forsythia and Daffodils In Bloom

The forsythia is in bloom. It's so wonderful that spring is finally here. I walked the yard and found the bleeding heart up futher, uncovered the roses. It was 80 degrees and really wonderful to be out in the yard.

The daffodils in front are also in bloom.

Yard News

At the first of the week Wayne trimmed the trees in front so they are looking good.

This morning daffodils were blooming!! It's been 80 degrees although it's suppose to be colder and we sat out on the deck for the first time.

Walk About

We did a walk about last night and inspected the yard. Wayne picked up the trash by the front door and around back. There was a bag full that had accumulated over the winter.

We found the daffodils and the grape hyacinths up. The north group of daffodils are coming back in abundance. I don't know what happened to the south group. There are far fewer now than when we planted them. The buds on the lilac tree are big and show a little green. The tulips on the south side of the garage are up as well as some stray daffodils and tulips on the south side. We found a few signs of day lillies and one or two campanulas up.

Around back the bleeding hearts are showing as well as the columbine. I found some black eyed susans growing and it looks like my oriental poppy has made the winter. There are also some buds on the burning bush and the bridal spirea. I love this time of year watching things come awake again.

Our efforts to tie up the arborvitae in the back worked well and we don't have the sprall that was there before. The transplanted arb, though, looks a little worse for wear. I'm still hoping it will take root and grow back out.

Spring is Coming

The weather has been heavenly in the high 40s. The snow is melting and while things are still quite frozen out there, there is hope that the days are getting longer and warmer day by day. It's time to get out and get pruning done and the plan is to get that done this weekend.

Winter in the Garden

The garden is covered in snow. It's rather sad, yet somewhat beautiful. I look forward to spring coming and new life springing forth once again. Another month to wait....