Adventures in Gardening: Late Spring 2013

There is not much going on in the yard right now, the iris needed thinning so I yanked it all out last year and haven’t replanted yet.

Yesterday I trimmed the willow trees to actually look like trees instead of bushes, trimmed the spruce, got started on killing the grass that keeps cropping up.

I attended to the climbing rose and put a few tendrils better on the trellis, pulled a bunch of weeds, and removed the square foot gardening grids so I can work in those beds too.

Trimmed the Russian Sage, and re-potted all the  tomato and tomatillo seedlings I started in February. I have a list a mile long on what needs to be done in both the front and back yards.

Well, I need to make the list on paper instead of in my head so I can prioritize, I am hosting a wine event in mid-June and I’d like the garden to look a smidge better than it does right now for sure.

Here is where we are so far, looks like it is going to be an expensive plant year!  The Salvia is new and I need some on the west side of the retaining wall to balance it out a little better.

The window boxes have turned themselves into a snapdragon nursery bed, trying to figure out how I can cultivate those and still get the mats and plants replaced for new ones this year.

Willow Trees 🙂

One Siberian Iris

Zephirin Drouhin pink bloom

Baby Lilly

Salvia

Antique Zephirine Drouhin pink climbing rose, year #2

Red Rose bush

Blooming red rose

Strawberries

Garlic

Russian Sage

Rosemary

Greek Oregeno

Mr. Lincoln is being enjoyed by some bugs, they must die soon.

Peony bud

My corkscrew “curly” grass was apparently supposed to be cut back, oops. Consider it “highlighted”

Lilly of the Valley

Lilly of the Valley, via England more than a few generations and houses ago

Dicentra White Bleeding Heart

Bleeding Heart Bloom

Bleeding Heart blooms

Lilly’s in front bed are happy

Dog planter got a coat of whiteRrustoleum this year

I can’t even remember what annual these are, but I planted them 4+ years ago next to my mailbox and they haven’t died yet

Small Turtle got a paint job too

Hakuro Nishiki Willow bush

Hakuro Nishiki Willow bushes in the wind

Daisies

Lavender

Mint

Tomatoes and Tomotillos

Snapdragons?? It’s the thinking spot planter, which will likely get painted and moved this year

Ivy along the front walk, needs a trellis on the long garage wall so it can climb

Hostas are happy

Fern, year #2, looking a bit puny

Front beds are snapdragon nursery, and they all look awful!

This woodland phlox has never thrived, its on year at least 5 and is the last plant left of about 5.

Mums

This is what happens when you let the builder plant a tree, they don’t unbind it and then roots have to go UP because they can’t go out… I’ll be lucky if this crapapple keeps thriving. If I was smart I’d dig it out and replace it, but since I want to dig out the arborvita on the other side of the garage I better pick my battles this year!