Annual Flower and Veg Purchase

At Pinters:
18 wave petunias in white and pink
12 regular petunias in pink
12 yellow marigolds--tall with ball head
8 white vinca with pink center
8 dusty miller
20 impatience white and med. red
1 new guinea impatience
8 zinnias

We purchased at Sells

8 tomatoes
4 cherry tomatoes
8 cucs
4 cantaloupe
4 zucchini
2 packs of onions

We had previously purchased 5 tomatoes and 8 peppers.

At Lowes we picked up:
bags of potting soil
miracle grow potting soil
bags of top soil
bags of lava rock
finely shredded cypress mulch for garden

Update on the Garden

In front:  The Weigela is still in bloom but nothing else right now although the spirea has buds.

South:   The cat mint is in full bloom.   It is incredible how huge it gets in just a short time.  Peas and swiss chard are growing but a long way from harvest.

In back:  The purple clematis and the polish spirit clematis are recovering from the bad spring.  The chives are still in bloom as are the lavender iris and the purple iris around the water fall.  Also the cheddar pinks are in bloom around the water fall and in the perennial garden. The dogwood is starting to bloom.   In the shade garden the columbine are still in bloom.   The laminum has done poorly this spring, but since we have trimmed the arborvitae back, they are now doing better.   One bridal spirea has had lovely white blooms but the bridal spirea have not done well these past two years.   In the perrenial garden we still have lavender iris in bloom.  

All the roses have buds and so do the white and pink peonies although they don't look very healthy either.

New Perennial Purchases

Purchased at Coleman's Market yesterday:

Sempervivum archnoideum or Hens and Chicks cobweb.  These are ground cover and are great for rock gardens.  I have no idea when they will bloom.  We planted them on the south side of the water fall hill.

Lupinus polyphyllus Gallery white; common name Lupine.  these will grow to 20" and have big white blossoms.  We planted these in between the deep purple iris and the rose bush.

Delphinium White Swan;  18" tall with full white blossoms.  They have fern like foliage.   We planted these just west of the iris in the perennial garden.

 Scabiosa japonica alpine "rita rose";  8" tall with pink pin cushion flowers.  We planted these west of the new delphiniums.

Dianthus carnation grenadin pink; grenadin is a whole variety of dianthus.  20" tall with pink flowers.   We planted these around the waterfall on the north side of the rose bush.

Rudbekia hirta, Indian Summer--three plants; two to go in front one on the south.  I want something to bloom in late summer, but I may have chosen poorly as these are suppose to have huge blossoms.

In Bloom

The transplanted chives have done remarkably well on the waterfall hill and are in full bloom.  There are buds all over the brand new rose.  And the dark purple iris is in bloom.

In front the Weigela is blooming.  The spirea and starting to bud out too, but still several weeks away from blooming.  

South Side

I walked along the south side of the house.  The mother of thyme is a beautiful rich mass.  I pulled some grass out of it and disturbed a little toad living there.  

The peas are up and growing and so is the rubarb swiss chard.   Wayne dug a number of trumpet vine shoots out of it.  

The tulips have all faded and are drying out.  The weather was not good for them.

The catmint is as big as ever and there are lots of lilies up.

In Bloom

The light lavender iris around the back of the waterfall are in bloom.   They are wonderful and look really spectacular there.

The clematis are also blooming, but the warm March and cold April have wrecked havoc with them and they are generally pathetic.   Hopefully they will rebound. The bridal spirea is blooming, but those plants are also in poor condition due to last year's die back. 

In front the lilac and moss phlox are fading.   However, the weigela is starting to bloom so hopefully that will make up for the lack of color there.

More Purchases

We purchased another dianthus (scent first passion), a light lavender moss phlox (emerald blue), and 6 pkg periwinkle (bowles variety)to go on the back of the hills side.   All of these will go around the water fall.

White Moss Phlox

Name: Moss Phlox
Variety: Phlox subulata
Type: Perennial
Height: Ground cover
Light: Full sun
Flower Color: white
Location:  Pathway under the lights
Bloom Time: Late April

We purchased these last year and they did well last year although they grew rather slowly.  This spring they have all bloomed and as we push the mulch back they will fill in the spaces.

Tasks

We got the lawn mowed and the new plants in, but we didn't get any pruning done.   We'll have to carry that forward this week.   We also go the waterfall running so the granddaughters could play in it.

New Plants

We purchased another rosemary--same kind to go on the opposite side of the waterfall in front of the outlet, hoping to hide it.   We also purchased more moss phlox--same color as last, so we still need some in light lavender.  We purchased a peony, but didn't get that planted

We replaced the dianthus with another plant.  I love the dianthus because it blooms and blooms and has the same lovely fragrance as carnations.  There is nothing quite so wonderful as a bouquet of carnations.   We planted it on the east side of the waterfall.

In Bloom

The shade garden is looking so beautiful.   The bleeding heart has filled out, the candy tuft are abundant.   And now the columbine is in bloom.

Yesterday I also noticed that the red bud tree is leafing out nicely.  Wayne also noted that the white moss phlox in front are growing well.  He pushed back the mulch and they have already filled that space. 

Tasks Completed

Wayne pruned the polish clematis, weeded around the garden, and fixed the garden edging.

More Rain

It rained steadily all day yesterday and is raining a little today.  We didn't get out to get anything done yesterday.  Pooh.  The weather is still cool but suppose to warm up enough to get outside to eat this week.