Two perfect days in a row... on the weekend!

Sunday was an extension of Saturday with gorgeous weather... not too hot with passing clouds. I found myself finding places to work... following the shadows of the yard. I continued with my weeding and mulching routine. I've made a pretty good dent in the three cubic yards of much. I found myself extending the southern edge bed and transplanting a day lily from my main garden. One day lily = seven new plants. I still have more weeding and mulching to do in that corner... especially thinning out the lily-of-the-valley. And did i mention that the black cohosh has come back! I was so delighted to see it bursting through the lily-of-the-valley. The goat's beard is growing very quickly... it really likes it's new home. I did some trimming of branches on the quince and trimmed some dead branches off of the birches. I also trimmed up some of the dogwoods to look like trees, not shrubs.

I noticed when working outside for those two days that the frost we had a week ago did hit some of my plants. It seems that the front of the house was hard hit, especially the hosta, fern and hedges. We also noted crisp leaf edges on the sassafras, holly and heuchera. The temperature fluctuation from 80s to 30s was more than some of the tender shoots could handle.

Perfect Day for Gardening

Today the temperatures were in the high 60s with plenty of sun, clouds and cool breezes. I found myself on a mission of weeding/mulching beds around trees... birches (2), crab apple (2) and dog wood... and also a lengthy bed along the pine tree border in the south corner. I created more piles of weeds than joseph wants to deal with! End result is a yard that looks nicer than it has in years. I'm happy to say that my energy stayed up for a good portion of the day. I tried to pace myself... weed and much, then take a break to get some water... take a short nap, refuel and go back outside.


Currently in bloom:

• bearded iris
• heuchera
• columbine
• dianthus (pinks)
• clematis
• vinca
• violets
• allium
• lily-of-the-valley
  

We saw two hummingbirds over the past couple of days. I was happy that the female found the red huechera that i planted for hummers.

Hot swings cold...

Last week we had weather in the 70-80s... much warmer than usual. My flowers took a giant leap forward (like my iris that are a good two weeks ahead of schedule) with the temperatures that felt like July... and now we are back in March... early March.

Storms came through my area an Friday night bringing with it a cold front. Saturday was cold, windy and rainy, Sunday is still blustery and cold and tonight the frost warnings are in place. (currently it is 45 degrees and with the wind chill it feels like 39). We are forecast to go down to 28 degrees tonight.

My one savings grace is that my main garden is surrounded by a brick house and brick pavers... all of which hold the heat and the sun has been shining.

Think warm thoughts!

Weed, mulch, weed, mulch, mulch...

We purchased 3 yards of mulch. It sits in a pile at the end of the driveway. Last weekend, i mulched the main flower bed, the crescent bed neat the paper bark maple and the crab apple bed in the front yard. This past weekend, i mulched around the two bradford pears, the front sidewalk bed, the beds around the front of the house and around the patio. Still have so much to do... and my legs remind me of what all i've done so far.

In the midst of my weeding i found a heuchera that has seeded behind the tree near the front porch. I'll need to move it to a more suitable place. One spot that i thought i might move it to, i found (when removing the old-fashioned daisy) a tiny little bleeding heart. I had transplanted it last fall and was dismayed when i didn't see it this spring. But it did survive, it was just drowned out by the daisy. One plant that didn't survive the winter was the black cohosh. I'm really saddened that it didn't make it.

Ah Spring...

Bleeding Heart
Originally uploaded by pjslomer

The April showers this morning was welcome by this gardener. I've been doing a lot of bed reclamation. The weeds grow back into what i've created... so i go along, maddock in hand pulling the weeds, crabgrass, etc. back away from the edges. So many buckets full of weeds... but i am making progress and many of the beds that i didn't get to last year are being reclaimed this year. Still have much more to do.

In the veggie plot, we (joseph) tilled in the manure and we are just about ready to plant. I need to ask Dad what can go in at this time. I am starting some seeds indoors... basil for sure.

Past the Pagoda...

Past the Pagoda
Originally uploaded by pjslomer

...is where my newly expanded vegetable garden plot resides. The pelletized gypsum went in last night... and i have cow manure to add next.

Today i did some lawn improvement. I used an organic fertilizer that has corn gluten in it. the corn gluten is good for suppressing weed growth (which i have a whole lot of) I hope it helps!

Top Down View - April 4, 2010

Top Down View - April 4, 2010
Originally uploaded by pjslomer

The garden is starting on its blooming journey through spring. Daffodils and hyacinth followed by a profusion of freckles violas and grape hyacinth. And Dog Tooth Violets and Veronica. Tulips should be blooming soon... and i noticed a columbine that is in bud.

We have been working on extending our vegetable garden space. It is now approximately 8 x 18. We went through digging it up, breaking up the clay soil, running the tiller over it once... and then a second time. Tonight was the third time we tilled (joseph did) and we added in pelleted gypsum to assist in amending the clay. Then we will add in compost next time.

I'm very excited about the new garden space and i need to research what grows best where. Since the garden plot is next to the driveway, i need to figure out what vegetables like the extra warmth and plant them on that side. I need to go back and reference the Shaker Garden book that Jim got me :-)