spring gardening
I got to do some garden work today, since the weather cooperated and gave us a sunny day. I pulled a lot of weeds, mostly dandelions (which I kinda enjoyed a little this year for the bright yellow spots, but then realized I had to pull), and discovered more new growth.
I found that my transplanted Iceland poppies are doing just fine and my hostas are showing a few green leaves among mostly purple "teeth" sprouting from the ground to renew their struggle against the snail horde. Last year I successfully used Epsom salts to ward off the little buggers and hopefully this year will be a repeat success. My transplanted peony is doing just fine, but my hydrangea does not seem to have liked the move from back yard to front.
I found renewed spread from the hollyhock,yarrow,lupine, and ajuga (sp?). And the three newest lavenders are going strong (into a small, a medium, and a large), but I will soon have to move at least one of them because 2 of them are about to merge. My roses are going gangbusters, but I will have to trim a bit, because it's too early and they are growing in all different directions - including one that persists in sending a long cane or two straight up through my butterfly bush (makes trimming that sucker a bit dicey).
I love spring, even with the hassles of weeding and thorn-avoidance. I love the abundance of new green growth, and the spurts of color (my tulips are looking great, plus the grape hyacinths have multiplied again). I have mowed only once so far, but with an electric mower (and small enough lawn area to make it practical) it isn't a pain at all.
I noticed I do have slugs after all (I thought I only had snails) ....I discovered one on my primroses - now I know why they often look ragged :( And I found a tulip leaf cut off clean across by something? Plus my early rhody and a couple tulips show signs of some discoloration from something (pictures later). But all in all things are good in the garden. Even after a few months of neglect.
So , what are your spring garden stories so far? Hope you are all enjoying the start of another growing season (at least for those of us north of the Equator, that is:)
I found that my transplanted Iceland poppies are doing just fine and my hostas are showing a few green leaves among mostly purple "teeth" sprouting from the ground to renew their struggle against the snail horde. Last year I successfully used Epsom salts to ward off the little buggers and hopefully this year will be a repeat success. My transplanted peony is doing just fine, but my hydrangea does not seem to have liked the move from back yard to front.
I found renewed spread from the hollyhock,yarrow,lupine, and ajuga (sp?). And the three newest lavenders are going strong (into a small, a medium, and a large), but I will soon have to move at least one of them because 2 of them are about to merge. My roses are going gangbusters, but I will have to trim a bit, because it's too early and they are growing in all different directions - including one that persists in sending a long cane or two straight up through my butterfly bush (makes trimming that sucker a bit dicey).
I love spring, even with the hassles of weeding and thorn-avoidance. I love the abundance of new green growth, and the spurts of color (my tulips are looking great, plus the grape hyacinths have multiplied again). I have mowed only once so far, but with an electric mower (and small enough lawn area to make it practical) it isn't a pain at all.
I noticed I do have slugs after all (I thought I only had snails) ....I discovered one on my primroses - now I know why they often look ragged :( And I found a tulip leaf cut off clean across by something? Plus my early rhody and a couple tulips show signs of some discoloration from something (pictures later). But all in all things are good in the garden. Even after a few months of neglect.
So , what are your spring garden stories so far? Hope you are all enjoying the start of another growing season (at least for those of us north of the Equator, that is:)