Weather

Two mornings ago i woke up to snow flurries.  I had to cover plants Sunday and Monday nights... and i lost a basil plant that i covered but it was still too cold for it.  The high temperatures the past two days have been in the low 50s...  Right now, just before midnight... the temperature is near 50.  Tomorrow the forecast high is in the low 80s with thunder storms.  I guess this is the new normal for times of climate change... or as i like to say "climatological chaos".

After the Rain Showers of May 10.

April was a very dry month for us and May started out to be as well.  Today storms started moving through. The rain barrel is filled up again.  Last night i finally planted the forsythia that Joseph got me.  I'm a little concerned that they are calling for frost by mid next week.  Last Sunday i purchased some herbs (basil, parsley, rosemary) and i have planted them already... was probably too soon... oh well, if we get frost, i will cover them up.

Garden overview- May 10 after the rain showers

One of the remaining tulips... with raindrops :-)

Queen of the Night tulip that's on its way out makes for an interesting raindrop canvas.

I got a new rosemary plant this year.

Columbine time.

Photos from May 4

Garden overview- May 4, 2013

A viola called Freckles

The intoxicating aroma of Lily of the Valley

White violets transplanted from the yard at work
before the lawn maintenance people took chemicals to it.

Birches are so lovely and a dainty kind of way.

Just before May

This is what the garden looked like.  We had a nice day of rain followed by sunny, warm (not too hot) days. We continue to be in the 70s which is perfect as far as I am concerned.

Garden overview- April 28, 2013

A tulip of a lovely shade of purple.

Quince

Flowering Almond.

Looking toward the main garden.

Frittalaria.  I adore these dainty flowers.

The Parade Continues...

The garden is moving along rapidly now.  Last week we had some nice rain showers that filled up the rain barrel and made a lot of plants happy.  Today i was able to get all the decorative grass clippings burned.  I also did some raking and picking up of sticks.

Currently in bloom:

• Creeping Phlox
• Grape Hyacinth
• Daffodils
• Frittalaria
• Tulips
• Violas & Violets
• Veronica
• Flowering almond
• Quince

I also noticed the fine little blue hairs of California Poppies starting to grow.  And my heuchera have started to grow back from their trimming by the deer.

Some of my tulips survived the foraging deer.

Garden overview 04-24-13

Looking down upon the main garden.

Almost Earth Day

Yesterday was cold with snow flurries... and today was cool but the sun was shining and i was able to get out and garden.  I cut back a lot of the decorative grasses today.  I still have plenty to cut back and hope to do that next Saturday.  It will also be our last chance at burning garden debris.  I also trimmed back the liriope.  We got the rain barrel out just in time for a rain shower and it is now full.

Trout lily with their delicate flowers.

Fountain grass in need of trimming.

Violas and grape hyacinth in abundance.
I've noticed that the blue grape hyacinth have turned purple.

Garden Overview April 20, 2013

Garden Guest

Today the temperatures felt more like spring.  I turned more soil in my vegetable garden and planted peas.  In the midst of turning the soil i was startled when i turned over a toad!  The large toad (easily a large handful) gave me dirty looks as it watched me till the soil.  It finally had enough and started hopping off.  I was concerned that it wouldn't be able to get through the fencing... but it proved that it could get through without a problem.  I didn't get a photo of the toad... but i did take these shots.

The Tet-e-tet daffodils are looking pretty small this year.
I think we need some rain to perk them up.

Garden overview 4-7-13

Now i am praying for some spring rain.