Garden Report

The daffodils are on their way out. Only the last of the late bloomers are still around, and James has been "chopping their little heads off" as they wilt. . .so that all the energy goes into filling the bulbs for next year, rather than attempting to make useless seed.

The tulips are blooming better than they did last year, and Samuel was quick to tell me when he spotted the first of the purple ones last week. Our azaleas are starting to open. The only one that is in full bloom right now is the peppermint candy-striped one, but the others are teasing us with buds, so we expect the end of the week will be gorgeous!

Our redbud is in full bloom, as are the wisteria and dogwood and cherry (wood) trees in the neighbors' yards.

We've pretty much found all of our hostas coming up around the yard. And the treat for the day is the number of lilies-of-the-valley that are coming up. Since the ones at my brother's house, and on the west side of the house are getting ready to bloom, we were afraid we'd lost the clump by the front door when we couldn't find them. Good news, a dozen or more finally made it through the mulch today!

James's "vacation" time (waiting for his clearance to be picked up by the new company) has been well spent, preparing garden beds and doing other yard work.

This morning he moved the clematis from a tiny box on the back patio out to surround the mailbox. He had an extra one, so we put it up on freecycle, and had five takers within fifteen minutes, and several others even after we said it was taken. We've had fun with the freecycle crowd this weekend. We also put up three bags of pachysandra from the bean bed, and had sixteen people jump for that. Three of them even want to come dig some more, so we're getting other spaces cleared out-without having to dig it ourselves! James also dug up six little redbud seedlings from across the street. Otherwise, they were going to be yanked and composted. We couldn't have that!

We made a trip to Bowen's (farm supply) this afternoon to pick up black oil sunflower seed for the platform feeder he found up in the shed, and to pick up a few more seeds for the garden. Unfortunately, they didn't have the three sisters (corn/beans/squash) seeds I wanted, so I had to get on line and wait until they're delivered. We did pick up a goldfinch feeder and thistle seed for that, clothesline to hang that feeder from a tree, two more straw bales to be a backdrop for Samuel's archery target, and a couple of interesting seed packets.

While James was running Liza to class (on the scooter), I planted the lupine seeds on the front hill. I don't think they'll bloom this year, but they should be ready to bloom most of next summer. I've had the yellow wax beans soaking this afternoon, and will get them in tomorrow morning. By the time James got back from taking Samuel to kung fu (again on the scooter), I had the thyme dug up to move to the back herb hill. We spent an hour or so digging holes in the hill, brutally tearing the clump of thyme into little pieces, and planting them into the hillside. It's taking shape! I'll root some purple sage from my neighbor's plant, and put those on the hill for color. I think we'll buy a dill plant, and the basil is starting in the perennial bed (better soil and easier to tend). James picked up another variety today at Bowen's, so I'll be starting that tomorrow also.

Have I mentioned I love Spring?!?!?!