Spring Bulbs

Rip Van Winkle Daffodil

Planted last fall. These were purchased because the Tete-a-Tete daffodils I wanted were sold out. These aren't as cute, although they are also miniature in stature. They always have a not-quite-open look to them.

Anemone blanda

My neighbor passed away last year. She had a beautiful garden. Her lovely, highly fragrant peonies and these blue flowers were among my favorites. I had asked her what these blue flowers were, but she didn't know. They were a gift from an old friend. Every spring I would admire her beautiful blue flowers. It wasn't until a few days ago that one of these lovely flowers was found blooming on my side of her hedge! It was such a gift! I quickly transplanted it into my garden bed in front of the house. It transplanted without missing a beat. I found out recently, with some research, that this is anemone blanda. Armed with this knowledge, I ordered 100 of these in the variety 'Blue Shade' to hopefully decorate my early Spring garden beds for years to come.

Tete-a-Tete Daffodils

A lovely miniature in their second season. I wanted to purchase more last season, but they were sold out. Instead I purchased Rip Van Winkle instead....unfortunately.

I Need Support

The weather this weekend was perfect. Sunny. In the 70s. Gorgeous. Just right for starting the Spring chores. I built a trellis out of 1" PVC pipes, rebar, and netting. A second support was built out of the leftover PVC pipes for raspberries this season. I will be threading sturdy twine through drilled holes in the pipe to hold up the canes as they grow.

With old butterfly bush branches my son and I built supports for beans and peas to climb.

After all of that, I still had time to fix an old birdbath. It was left out one winter with a birdbath heater in it. Turns out it cracked anyway. Live and learn. It cracked right in the center of the bowl and left a sharp triangular area jutting upward. It would allow water to drain into the base and out onto the ground. Well, problem solved. I sent my hubby out for concrete. Although he came back with a more coarse mix than I had hoped for, the concrete sealed the bath. Plus it created a coarse surface for the birds to hold their footing on.

Tomato Time!

The tomatoes are going in today! In April 2009 I posted my tomato starting method. If you're interested, please take a look. I am doing the "potting up with one pot" method again this year since it was so successful last season.

Free Plants Follow Up

I was just on the Dave's Garden website at the following address:
http://davesgarden.com/search.php
One of the advertisements in blue is for Spring Hill Nursery and their $20 of free plants offer. Check it out. It seems to still be in effect.

Can You ID This Plant?

This shrub was here when we bought the house a few years ago. It was flattened by the several feet of snow we had this year, but has managed to completely stand itself up again. I have no idea what it is. Here are two pictures of it. It's about 7 feet tall by 4 feet wide. Evergreen. Any ideas?

FREE Plants. Just Pay Shipping.

Spring Hill Nursery is giving away $20 of FREE plants/supplies for a limited time only. You just need to pay shipping. Visit there site at springhillnursery.com if you get a chance. It works! I just got 15 support hoops for just over $8.00 (the shipping and tax). That's around 50 cents each!

Crocuses

Ard Shenk crocuses planted last fall.Opening two weeks earlier than last year, here are some crocus bulbs that were planted by a previous owner.

A Taste of Spring

What a great weekend it is turning out to be. Temperatures hovering somewhere around 50 degrees. Snow quickly melting. Bulbs starting to emerge. I decided to take advantage of such nice weather and prune back my perennials and butterfly bushes. Next weekend I will be pruning the overgrown yews and my newly awakening rose bushes. I can't wait for Spring!

State of the Seedling Address

A beautiful sight! A Fat N' Sassy pepper seedling emerging.
Below are seedlings for my purple Red Rubin basil, Tango celery on the lower left, and four Purple Ellagance lavender.