Second wave of daffodils

Second wave of daffodils
Originally uploaded by pjslomer.

The Winter Aconite has finished its bloom cycle and the mini daffodils are on their way out. Now the second wave that includes the white daffodils with orange centers. Also blooming is hyacinth... which i need to remember to dig up and seperate in the fall... they are looking a little sparse. The grape hyacinth are blooming too.

New growth on the clematis near the garden room, oat grass which i need to transplant, rose bush, daylilies, butterfly bushes.

Trees leafing out are the crabapple out front, the spirea and the bradford pears.

More Spring cleaning

After work today i came home to gardening... i find it great therapy. Proceeded to cut the dead grass away from azaleas, lilacs and a small oak tree. Noticed that there is a sizable cocoon on the azalea near the light post. We're hopeful that it might be from a praying mantis.

Noticed growth of a bleeding heart, violets, california poppies, aster and bee balm.

New blooms from scilla and grape hyacinth.

We had a thunderstorm come through and with its rain i am expecting to see a lot more growth breaking through the soil.

Garden Surprise!

Garden Surprise!
Originally uploaded by pjslomer.

I was weeding the garden this evening when something moved and startled me... but then it disappeared visually... then it came into view again... it was a good size toad. Welcome to the garden Mr. Toad... please help yourself to as many bugs as you wish.

Like I said, I weeded today... basically dug up a bucket full of dandelions. I like weeding because it gets me closer to the garden... then i notice more things that are coming to life.

The pink poppy is leafing out rather well and speaking of poppies, i've noticed a lot of little california poppy shoots emerging.

The Stars of Holland and grape hyacinth are starting to bloom... and the mini daffodils are still going strong.

I also prepared my order for Always Summer Herbs.

Little Lupine

Little Lupine
Originally uploaded by pjslomer.

The lupines are starting to grow! It will be a long time before it flowers... in the meantime i'll enjoy their foliage.

Sunny Day

It's been a sunny Sunday and Joseph and i have been able to work outside... trying to pace outrselves all the while. I had a straw hat on all the time but still have a red face from the sun.

• Managed to clean out the birdhouses... just in time to see a pair of sparrows eyeing up the one house.
• We also put the RV birdhouse in the hemlock tree.
• Felt it was time to put the birdbath out.
• Trimmed all of the ornamental grasses and the butterfly bushes.
  
• Started digging up the dandelions in the main garden bed.
• Unwrapped the tree trunks.

It's hard to believe that a week ago there was snow on the ground!

Sedum showing signs of life.

Hello Spring!
Originally uploaded by pjslomer.

So it Begins... Garden 2007

So it's March 24th and i'm anxiously awaiting gardening season. I try to hold myself back from cleaning things out too soon. Just last week we had a heavy snow to contend with. Today feels like spring is making its way into western PA. Temps in the 50s. ahhhh... it's been a pretty rough Jan-early March... extremely cold. So it's nice to see the small flowers peaking on through.

Currently blooming:

• Snowdrops
• Winter Aconite-- i planted them two years ago and i have noticed some that didn't grow last year are up this year.
  
• Mini-daffodils

Closer to bloom:

• Tulip
• Daffodil (larger varieties)
• Trout Lily
  

Also bursting through the ground:

• Daylilies
• Iris
• Sedum
• Columbine
• Lupine

Deer have been munching on:

• Iris
• Daylily
• Chicks 'n Hens
• Sedum

So i've taken the wire cages from around the trees and started covering the things that the deer like best...