The garden looks amazing after a weekend spent spreading 12 bags of beauty bark and installing our new fountain. Of course, the fountain includes new plantings thanks to my pick ax wielding husband and 10 new holes to welcome the plants. I also planted some annuals mostly in the front yard. These include petunias, snapdragons and impatiens. The fountain plantings include 3 hybrid tea roses, 4 Sarcococca (Sweet Box) shrubs and 2 clumps of Dierama pulcherrimum (fairy bells). There are still some plantings to add once I find some river stone to shore up the bottom of the planting beds as this is all on a slope.
Otherwise, the slug patrol continues and in addition to my ammonia dilution, I have resorted to slug poison around the newly sprouting dahlias otherwise there would be nothing left of the new growth. No shortage of slugs in my backyard!
Finally, here’s an update of what’s blooming:
- weigela
- lilac
- poppy
- saxifrage
- all rhododendrons
- species primrose
- blueberry bushes
- Fothergilla gardenii
Just a little weeding and plant relocation in the front yard. K was drawing with chalk on the driveway and I got some work done. She drew a real-looking fish for the first time! I also have a very good little weeding helper. I loosen the weed and K pulls it out and carries the bucket.
As a mother to two toddlers I am quite busy and so I was thrilled that my wonderful husband gave me two wonderful Mother’s Day presents. The first was time with my pick-ax in the garden. I was able to remove a dead rhodie and plant a wonderful new lilac in its place- all without having to mind two children. I also moved a Maltese Cross, planted some lime grasses and pulled a weed or too. Then, it was off to the concrete store. Yes, you heard my right! My second Mother’s Day surprise was picking out a fountain for the back yard. We also got a very nice Japanese pagoda lantern for the flower bed and a little bear figure for the kids. The fountain will take some setting up, but everything else has a home and looks great. Finally, I was also honored with a bouquet of 30 cheerful tulips and some very nice cards. It’s hard work, but very satisfying being a mother. To all you mothers out there, may you be as satisfied and happy with your roles as I am!
I finally finished weeding the entire rear right flower bed and now just need a bit of mulch to finish it up. The previous owners had sodded the slope in my backyard but neglected to take care of the grass. So instead of grass, we have weeds and the sod mesh underneath. It took a pick ax to get the weeds and mesh out. I left some space to plant whatever new plants I happen to find at the Lake Wilderness Arboretum’s annual plant sale tomorrow. I definitely want to buy a Kalmia, a couple of lilacs and a rhodie to replace one that didn’t make it and was boring pale pink/white anyway. Otherwise, I always look for the interesting or unusual plant that I don’t already have. I can’t wait to see what I come home with!
As for my moment of inspiration today, I have a metal arch leading form my lawn to my slope in the backyard on which I have red climbing roses. The problem has been that the arch doesn’t frame anything but meadow. After staring at this for a year now, I finally figured out what it needs, a fountain in a weathered looking architectural stone pot. The pot may take some searching as I want it to be tall and narrow, and then I figure I’ll do a solar fountain so I don’t have to run electricity anywhere. I should be able to find the fountain easily enough. I’ll keep you posted!
Just another slug patrol last night. Approximately the same number of slugs as my first patrol, but at least now I know better where to look!
Also, I have got to take some pictures as the garden looks wonderful. Even my 2 and a half year old told me how beautiful our backyard looks! I’ll try to get some pictures posted soon.
