Planted

I took care of most of the plants bought at Behnkes the other day. The plan was to plant out the lower shady bed, along the street at the foot of the wall. All natives. There were some interesting grubs down in the soil. I through them in the street where probably birds would get them.

Lots of weeds. Also lots of tall volunteers, some of them good things. Mostly I cut them way back and down, especially if I wasn't sure what they were. I pulled out some things, even if they could be good things, to make more room for the plants I most want to encourage. I would like to positively identify more of the weeds.


- iPhone uPdate

Iris

Henry Mitchell, late great gardening columnist in the Washington era, wrote of taking a week off work to stay with his irises at their peak, so as not to miss a moment if their glory. This would be the year to do it. I only have a couple of varieties, but the colors throughout the neighborhood are extraordinary.














- iPhone uPdate

Mowed

I got it mowed for the first time. It was knee high in some places. Nearly 3 hours to do the whole thing. I put down seed in the dog's yard. I should have done it in March but I didn't. Since I had the seed I went ahead and used it.




- iPhone uPdate

Blooming now

Wild indigo




- iPhone uPdate

Summer Tulips

Several days in a row with temperatures in the 80s. Tulips and spring ephemerals don't know what to make of it.


- iPhone uPdate

Invisible work done

I spent a lot of time this weekend, but mist of what I did is not highly visible. I was weeding and trimming, and things look much more neat now. But to the untrained eye, there is not much change.

I cleaned up my grass slope along the street. I cut back what is now straw from last years grasses. I pulled old grass and leaves out by hand. I weeded around the young trees at the edge of the slope.

Between the front and the side, I filled four compost bags.

Weather was hot and sunny, but very humid so the very back never dried out. Passing thunderstorm added more dampness.

Most of the tree leaves have emerged but are not yet full size. I like the laciness and fresh colors.


- iPhone uPdate

Vignettes

I got a new long lens for my good camera, and used it to isolate specific vignettes last weekend. Here's a clue about the state of a garden: if all you see are plant portraits and tightly cropped vignettes, there's a reason. Don't expect me to zoom out and show the wide angles any time soon - too much running amok throughout the garden.

Shagbark hickory leaves emerge like flower blossoms from buds.

Virginia bluebells really like my yard, especially in such a wet spring. Ants have carried these all over the front.

Celadine poppies

Spring beauties are spreading nicely. I got some seeds from down by the creek a few years ago.

White oak isn't as dramatic as the leaves unfurl, but it is bright red right now.

My two apple trees are incredibly laden with blossoms.

Yellow foliage to go with the yellow flowers in my yellow bed.