State of the Garden, month of April

[dantesspirit]

This is a really long post, with lots of photos. If you ask me, well worth a break from the photos of the devastation from the tornados here and the earthquake/tsunami in Japan. I was lucky, we only had some relatively high winds, some thunder, a lot of lightning and a LOT of rain. Others aren't so lucky, so if you can, donate where and how you can.

Anyway, on to the photos.

These were taken over the course of the last 3 weeks. There is a sort of progression to things, some things bloom, fade, then other things bloom, with still more things waiting their turns.



The first things to bloom here, along with the Forsythia and the Flowering Almond- both of which I neglected to get photos of, is my Witch Hazel- back in Feb/March, but I also didn't get photos of it then either. So technically these Wild Violets are the second things that bloom here. They really spread this year a lot more, they're now everywhere on the back hill, which is great, as they help cut down on erosion.


Mind you, the rest are in no particular order of blooming/leafing out.





The Henryi Clematis up at the top of the hill is doing really well this year. There are three blooms, and a lot of new growth. And to think, I had contemplated transplanting it down with the rest. I guess the extra sun from less trees around it, did it a lot of good. It'll stay up there now, methinks.



Still out back, the raised bed has been uncovered for some time now. The rhubarb is doing much better this year, it actually sent up what will become seed stalks, I believe. The bronze fennel, the curry plant, the thyme and even a few loose leaf lettuces survived/overwintered well. The little green sprouts in the right photo is the mesclan mix loose leaf lettuce I sowed about a week ago.



I'd figured out where I was going to plant my potted Wisteria. They'd been in progressively larger pots for the past few years and really weren't happy. I also got tired of being poked whenever I walked past them to the car. Heh. They're now planted along the fence, one next to the porch, the other behind it. They'll be trained to grow ON the fence itself, and should be easy to keep under control there too. I think they're happy there, the front one has blooms on it and there is a lot of new growth. Of course, they could be thoroughly enjoying the homegrown compost I mixed into the bottom of the holes before I planted them.}:P



The Clematis along the porch is happy. I cleaned out the leaves that were piling up around the roots, so now there's quite a bit of healthy new growth both from the bottom and the top where I trimmed them back last fall. The Natchez White Crepe Myrtle is leafing out nicely too. I think the unseasonably warm weather last week made it perk up earlier. I don't remember it leafing out until the first week of May before.



Before we leave the back yard, obligatory Caena photo.}:P



The lilac and this Clematis (sorry, I've forgotten the name and misplaced the paper had I written on, plus I don't feel like looking back through here for it, heh) both bloomed a couple weeks ago. The clematis rather profusely, the lilac with marginally more blooms this year over last, but still not as many as I'd like, really. I need to do some top dressing on it, I think.



Along the fence, the pink columbines are in full bloom this week. The Japanese Iris are starting to bloom as well. The variagated varieties I have, haven't sent up flower stalks yet, unfortunately. The bee balms, both the dwarf and the other two, came back nicely this year. Even the yarrow (bottom of bottom photo) came back nicely. Can't wait until they bloom to see what butterflies show up.



Down near the birch tree, the creeping phlox is, well, creeping slowly. It bloomed, but not as well as last year. I think it needs to be retransplanted as it appears to no longer be happy there. Of course, it could be because the lamb's ear is by no means creeping, it's galloping along, trying to take over everywhere it can, including the driveway.



Taken about a week apart, the first photo shows the German Bearded Iris bed 1. They're doing lots better so far this year. I think last year got way too hot for them. There isn't as many blooms yet, this year though. LOTS of fans, just not as many flower stalks. My dwarf 'Royal Knight' German Bearded Iris did bloom though, 2 stalks on that set. The Japanese Maple was planted last fall, after we tore out the yuicca (yucky as the hubby called it) is loving its new home. There's a lot of new growth on it as well.



Up by the front steps, the lemon balm definitely overwintered. I have a feeling that if I let it, it'll take over that small bed. Fortunately, there's also the lavender and the rosemary survived the winter too. The rosemary, however, is looking a bit worse for wear.}:/ The creeping thyme I planted in front of the lemon balm, isn't doing so hot either. The anise hyssop overwintered, whereas the lemon verbena didn't, unfortunately.



The false indigo in the pot is doing well, maybe it'll bloom this year. I transplanted the catmint into a bigger pot. The one it was in held water too much, and it was struggling. There's already new growth, so I think it's happier now.



Good Friday saw me going to my favorite local greenhouse and picking up some heirloom tomato plants, a few herbs and my favorite salvia, Black and Blue. The tomatos are- Abraham Lincoln, German Black, Evergreen, Omars Lebanese, Mr Stripey, Kellogg's Breakfast, and Cherokee Purple.

I also picked up some dwarf bush basil and sweet basil, some Red Sails leaf lettuce and some tricolor sage. The lettuce was planted in a pot and set below the false indigo on the front steps for easy access.

Going from there, the rest of the photos were taken this week...



6 of the tomatos were planted in the side bed, where the greek oregano is going nuts, the thyme is holding it's own, the poor chives are being subsumed. The other 3 tomato plants (2 came in 4 packs and 2 of each of those were given to my InLaws) were planted in the back bed. The basils were planted in a pot and the tricolor sage was planted in the side bed.



The spider wort is blooming now, the lovage is doing very well too. That bed is slowly being mortered, rather than simply dry stacked. The extra bricks as a result are being used elsewhere.

Now we're to the good stuffs...



This is my Saturday Night Live German Bearded Iris. There are currently 5 blooms on it. 6 originally bloomed. There are 9 more buds still to bloom. It's taken 2 years for it to do this. Lovely, and worth waiting for.



The blooms are huge. Yes, that is my hand. It has a faint rose scent, overlayed with a bit of spice. And this is what I see when I look out the front window. Well, until the butterfly bush grows more }:P Incidentally, these 2 photos? Are the more accurate as far as color goes with this iris.



I'm starting to think my Wench German Bearded Iris is teasing me. This was the flower stalk it sent up. It hasn't grown anymore in the last week, and the top appears to be empty.}:/ Bummer. It too hasn't bloomed in the last 2 years since I got it. Par for the course really, I have several others who haven't bloomed since I got them, 4-5 years ago.}:/ But ones I got last year? 4 of those 5 have flower stalks and 2 will bloom within the week.




This is what I did today. I've been saying I was going to build this bed. Well, I got the first 3 courses of brick , reclaimed and otherwise, laid out. I need to get more morter to finish it all, but it's a start. I ran out of bricks.}:/ Hopefully when I finish mortering the side bed, I'll have enough left over to do at least 1.5 more courses on this one.

Now the best part...



This beauty is Batik German Bearded Iris. I have wanted one of these for years. I got one rhizome 2 years ago and have impatiently waited for this beauty to bloom. *sigh*



So very lovely. Can't wait until Pirate's Quest blooms as well.}:P And Boogie Woogie, Lace Jabot, Steppin' Out and Prince George as well.}:P

Comments

[teapot_rabbit]

All your flowers are gorgeous! I am envious. ^_^

[dantesspirit]

It's a constant work in progress that's taken nearly 10 years to get to this point. Lots of trial and error}:P

[daidoji_gisei]

Lovely gardens! You don't say were you are, but it must be in the US south or west coast; I live in Nebraska and our lilacs have only begun blooming now.

[dantesspirit]

SWVa, zone 7a/7b. Sorry, I keep forgetting to add that when I post to communities.

[gchick]

Everything looks glorious! We've had more rain this spring in NC/zone 7b than we've had in years - I assume the same is true for y'all?

[dantesspirit]

Yes, it was a long, cold, wet winter and it's shaping up to be a wet spring as well. We had 2 days of relative sun, and now we're back to rain again. That's what it's been like for most of April.

[amalnahurriyeh]

I am soooooo jealous of your irises! They've always been one of my favorite flowers. My gardening style is...um...lackidasical? (I'm looking for a nice synonym for 'lazy as hell.') So I've never managed to get bulbs in. Sadface.

The violets are totally freaking out in my garden as well! I love them--I actually transplanted plants from my parents' yard to my back garden so I'd have them--but if I let them they'd choke out my strawberries, and probably anything else they got near. I read last year that violet greens are edible, so I'm thinking I'll keep pushing them back and cooking them to feel useful.

[dantesspirit]

Someone over on LJ mention Violet Jelly, so next spring, I'm going to attempt it}:P