Fancy Grass...

I continue the process of moving the burning bushes that were around the paper-bark maple. i have two left to go. We purchased two types of grass to plant in the burning bushes place around the maple. They are two Purple Fountain Grass which grows to a height of 4-5' and two Fox Red Curly Sedge which grows to 2-3". I really like how these grasses look around the maple.

I also got and planted 40 Blazing Star bulbs. 20 each of purple and white. They have been planted through-out the garden.

Honey bee!

I was delighted to see this little girl on my grape hyacinth. With all of the problems that honey bees are having these days, from mites to colony collapse... it's nice to see them around and in the flowers.

April Showers!

Today it felt like April... not March, not May, APRIL. One rain barrel is ful and the other well on its way. We ended up bringing the second one in the house on Monday because high winds blew it around. But now it is back in place and gathering water. Prior to having that set up, Joseph filled a bunch of buckets from the first rain barrel... so we have one full barrel and at least four big buckets full. YIPPEE!

Yesterday I started edging/trenching the bed along the sidewalk. The phlox are doing well but the grass was taking them over. I got about 7 feet done... not much, but its a start. and the robins are happy to "run the trench"

Moving Trees & Shrubs

Today I moved three serbian spruces that were located along the driveway. They are now down along the south corner under the large pines. They had been struggling for a year. Three of the seven had already died off... So i'm hopin gthat getting them out of the sun will benefit them. I have one serb left along the driveway.

The spaces left by the serbs are being filled in with burning bushes that had surrounded gandalf. I moved three this evening and have three to go.

I alos moved the holly that was in the main flower bed. It now resides along the bottom edge very near to the moved spruces.

Fern in Progress

Fern in Progress
Originally uploaded by pjslomer.

I have this fern that grows near my back door. When it unfurls it is a lacy green leaf and is beautiful. I took this macro shot of it and was astounded by what i don't see without the macro... the little "hairs"... and what looks like a diagram of the inner ear... how curious...

A Viola named "Freckles"

A Viola named "Freckles"
Originally uploaded by pjslomer.

This is the second year for this viola. I'm happy to say that it has multiplied and is doing well... despite the stange cold spell that we had a week ago.

Spring Finally!!!

Temperatures have warmed up and it feels like winter has finally finished. It was a busy gardening day today (Earth Day). Joseph and I trimmed the shrub that had been a msytery until last year when i notced the distinctive peeling bark of a birch. We "revealed" the tree within the shrub today. Leaving four stalks and a very pretty shaped tree.

We put the rain barrels out in anticipation of the rain that is moving in to the area tomorrow. I also put out the glass bird bath and repaired the ceramic bird bath. The statuary has also been moved outside... and there is room in the garden room again.

The "freckled" violas (shown here) are blooming in abundance.