Wonderful spring :)

11 years ago

After a false start to spring I think we are finally passed the rough spots of cold temps. I took today as a day to relax. The bulbs are pushing to open and I just love it when you can see just the hint of color on the buds. Thought to share how it is here as we are behind a bit since old man winter wasn't going away as quickly as we wanted.

My order of daylilies this season from Judy Davisson came in yesterday. Don't you just love the smell of a box of daylilies? Got them all planted yesterday and moved one of the ones from last year (BETTY SPAGHETTI) into the same bed. Plants were huge and goodness, she sure does give a lot of extra. I got MAKE IT SNAPPY as a gift which is perfect. Also got TAHITI SWEETIE as a substitute for one she couldn't send. Now, who can complain about that? Not me.

Here are some pics of the gardens so far. Still a lot of work to finish and then I can start dividing and moving some of the other plants.

I cleaned out two of the front sidewalk beds first by hand using a fork and then hubby got the Mantis running so I could get all the dirt turned. Still have a bit more to take out and then the fun part of replanting :)

The Killdeer eggs must have hatched or something got them as the nest is empty today and she is no longer around. Now I can clean out the beds along the stonewall.

I thought the tulips were not going to have many buds but I guess I was impatient as most of the clumps have many buds.

This is a pic of what the holly bush looks like. The bottom half was covered with snow but the top half was exposed. Never had it look so bad. If anyone has a suggestion as to pruning or just leave it alone, let me know. I planted this over 18 years ago and I'd like to try and save it.

Featured Answer

organic_kitten

11 years ago

Everything is looking wonderful, Julia. Love the tulips especially.
kay

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Comments (9)

mantis__oh
11 years ago
By all means, cut back that holly dramatically. They readily come back from the bottom. Your tulips look lush; hope the deer aren't listening.
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sann777
11 years ago
Nice yard. I wish I had that much room to plant.
Brad KY 6b
11 years ago
Wow, you've done a lot of work.
Brad KY 6b
11 years ago
Julia, When you clean out your beds, are you just digging up clumps and then putting them back and not dividing them so that they don't know they were moved and bloom well? Also, do you use a long handled fork or get on your knees with a short handled one? Last question: do you then mulch it all?

Brad
Julia WV (7a)
Original Author
11 years ago
Woke up to see many of the tulips opening especially the clump off the back patio. I guess the warmer temps have jumped them into high gear.

Then saw ones in front had opened too. I do love tulips...must be the dutch heritage

Still more of them to open in other spots but with temps predicted to hit over 70 tomorrow followed by rain, I think things will move even faster. Hope they last long as spring took its time getting here. I do see that the dandelions are making their appearance which is a pain in the butt when some are coming up next to a plant.

I haven't mulched this year yet. I have purposely just focused on clean up and now that most of the bulb and daylily plants are up, I know I can safely de-weed in areas that I wasn't quite sure about what was planted there. In the case of the sidewalk beds, I made an executive decision to toss everything that was planted in those beds which was mostly weeds. I typically will use a shovel to dig out and move an entire clump (or for dividing) with the soil but first checking to be sure I don't take any weeds with it. If in doubt, I thoroughly clean it and then replant. I spent one year dividing and moving daylilies, cleaning several clumps, meticulously picking out all the weeds, washing, rechecking and replanting in a new bed. Following year, I had weeds coming up through the clump again.

Made my alfalfa tea for the clematis yesterday so hopefully by tomorrow it will be a bit fermented and ready for applying. Seems the clematis love that stuff.

Tomorrow is a long gardening day as I need to get several things done before the rains move in. Loving every minute :)
jean_ar
11 years ago
wow, its looking very nice Julia.I quit planting tulips a long time ago,as they don't come up the next year, hereCant plant nothing now, as I moved closer to two of my daughters. one of them had a small lot and the other one put a smaill mobile home on it for me to move into, and I can not plant anything. The soil is not good.It was filled in years ago to make it level and not downhill and there is everything in the soil now, Rocks, cement, roofing shingles, and don't know what else, just know if you try to dig a hole, its like cement.Can not dig a hole in it,so I have all my plants in pots, now,except for 2 roses and one daughter did dig a hole to plant them inbehind the trailer...it Does make it easier for me to have everything in pots,as I am not able to do so much digging and weeding now. am about 90 % disabled now.

jean
Julia WV (7a)
Original Author
11 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
Jean: Missing you here on the forum but understand your getting settled in your new home. It must be nice to be near your children. Whatever makes gardening easiest for you, then do it that way. Hope to see your bloom pics soon. I always enjoy those.
jean_ar
11 years ago
Thank you,Julia.Hope I will soon be able to post pictures,not able to do it so far.Got new camera and also new internet provider and not able to email pictures or post them here either yet.I keep getting a pop up saying I have no email program to do it, when in fact,I have 2 email programs..