Pots, Herbs & Vegetables...

Yesterday i pulled out the pots that had been overwintering in the garden room. I proceeded to add new plants in with the old ones. It felt good to finally be planting.

Today I planted the vegetables and herbs that i purchased earlier in the week. I was delighted to dig out some beautiful compost from one of our many compost piles. Deep dark black compost to add to the existing soil. I'm anxious to see how the plants respond to it.

Today i also created a bed joining the crabapple named Eleanor in the front yard and the smaller crabapple. There is a nice arching bed that i can now add plants to. The turf was extra hard to dig up... seems that the grass was thick and the ground moist. It made for some rough maddocking... and blisters on my fingers.

Mulching, mulching, mulching...

Today it wasn't raining or cold so i was able to get out into the garden. I edged and mulched the front flower bed. Digging out turf that is wet isn't too much fun and my back isn't too happy about the days events. sigh... i also mulched portions of the main flower bed. I'm sorry to say that there is no sign of my pink poppy... i guess the harshness of the winter was too much for it. I'm going to miss that beauty.

May in the Garden

May in the Garden
Originally uploaded by pjslomer

A Visit to Jesteadt's Greenhouse

Today I picked up Mom and drove out to a family owned greenhouse to purchase some plants. We've been going to Jesteadt's for many years and enjoy going to a family owned and operated small business. For the first time in many years their prices went up. It still is a good deal... especially the gorgeous fuschia hanging basket for $12. Other greenhouses were charging $20.
I purchased the following herbs & vegetables:

• Basal
• Tomatoes (3)
  
• Pepper
• Parsley

The following perennials:

• 2 Huechera with red flowers

The following annuals:

• Lobelia
• Alyssum
• Dusty Miller
• Begonia
• Cholea
• Various ivys

Now hopefully the weather will get warmer (not too hot) so these can be planted!

Potting oatgrass

Today in the midst of the on again, off again rain I decided to dig out some of the oatgrass that is growing in the garden. It had reseeded itself and was taking over. I decided to put some in pots and when the neighborhood has its garage sale in june i'll put some out for giveaway purposes. I just need to find it new homes!

I also received an order of plants today. Two huechera (coral bells) in caramel colors and a Delosprema. I received a bare rooted daylily called strawberry candy. The day lily has already been planted. The huechera and delosperma are waiting in the garden room to be transplanted. the weather remains cold and wet. I'll wait for it to warm up a little before planting them.

Loads of Rain...

We're in a very rainy spell and i'm starting to get really concerned about slugs. I'm noticing that the foliage on the columbine is getting eaten. Guess i need to take some action.

Lot's o' Rain

We have been getting our April showers in May this year. So the plants are growing like crazy and with the cool temperatures the tulips are still hanging on. This photo was taken on Saturday when we had a spot of sunshine. The weather is forecast to be 20 degrees warmer tomorrow... which will be tough on the plants. I guess 20 degrees warmer is better than 20 degrees colder.

Old-Fashioned Iris

This wonderful bunch of iris were here when we moved in. At that time, i moved them to a spot that they didn't like and so last year i moved them again. Last year they did not bloom but this year they are rewarding me. I think they are happy.
Today i went and bought Mom her hanging baskets of geraniums... here mom's day request. I also bought myself a hanging basket with red viburnum. I'm hoping that the hummingbirds will like it. I also pulled some of the sweet woodruff that was taking over the shade bed... giving the hosta and daylily some room to breath.

Tulips!

I have a dozen of these wonderful pink tulips. They started out a very pale pink and have gotten darker over time. They are delightful to have in the garden... and i'm still adjusting to the fact that they have not been eaten by the deer!

On another note... i dug up 4 buckets worth of dandelions that had decided to grow in flower beds. I'm ok with them in the lawn/meadow, but not in the garden. I spent a good portion of the day dandelion digging.

Split & Share

Over the weekend i potted a bunch of plants for my friend Stephanie. She will now have in her garden, violas, chick n' hens, brown-eyed susans, bell flower, daylily, hosta (2 varieties) mint (2 varieties), columbine and lily-of-the-valley. I'm delighted to share with her... and i got her a mini shovel, trowel, gloves and a kneeling pad... everything that a new gardener needs.

In my own garden... i split and moved the blue hostas in the front of the house... now instead of two, there is five.

On Friday, i split the daylilies at work and moved them around to spots that were empty... six spots that is. I also brought home a couple daylily varieties that i did not have and some spearmint... payment for the manual labor!