It's 84 degrees. The humidity stands at 63%. It's about as hot as it's going to get today.
Showing posts with label front slope. Show all posts
Showing posts with label front slope. Show all posts
Saturday, August 28, 2010
Another one bites the dust.
The bed on the front slope, where I had envisioned butterfly nectar and host plants has been removed. Nothing performed well except the usual suspects, sedums, coneflowers, and lavender. Sharp drainage and a large oak tree are the culprits. Grass seed will be sown in a few weeks when the temperatures fall a bit more. The surviving perennials were moved to better locations. I'll have to keep them watered for the next week.
It's 84 degrees. The humidity stands at 63%. It's about as hot as it's going to get today.
It's 84 degrees. The humidity stands at 63%. It's about as hot as it's going to get today.
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
August already.
It's August. It's been cool the past few days. Temperatures have remained in the 80s as clouds roll by with no real rainfall. We've had a few scattered showers here and there. The soil beneath the large trees is still dry and crunchy. More rain likely today, tomorrow, and apparently the rest of the week. I'm not placing any bets.
In the yard, the hosta are blooming. So far, only the white blooms have opened. They're so clean and crisp this time of year. In another week or two, they'll turn ugly and brown like azaleas in the spring.
Salvia Coral Nymph is blooming on the slope by the front walk.
In the backyard, butterflies find the milkweed irresistible. Just a few feet away, Joe Pye Weed is beginning to attract visitors. The bees arrived first.
Tomorrow, I plan to attack the front slope. I'm not sure what I plan to do here just yet, but it needs to be something different. Maybe some sedum groundcovers, propagated from my own collection. Maybe some stones and rocks, a new home for the succulent bed out back. Maybe just mow it down and sow grass seed this fall. I haven't decided yet. A little float time on the lake might reveal a whole new direction.
It's 81 degrees. The high today should be in the mid 90s. August has arrived.
In the yard, the hosta are blooming. So far, only the white blooms have opened. They're so clean and crisp this time of year. In another week or two, they'll turn ugly and brown like azaleas in the spring.
Salvia Coral Nymph is blooming on the slope by the front walk.
In the backyard, butterflies find the milkweed irresistible. Just a few feet away, Joe Pye Weed is beginning to attract visitors. The bees arrived first.
Tomorrow, I plan to attack the front slope. I'm not sure what I plan to do here just yet, but it needs to be something different. Maybe some sedum groundcovers, propagated from my own collection. Maybe some stones and rocks, a new home for the succulent bed out back. Maybe just mow it down and sow grass seed this fall. I haven't decided yet. A little float time on the lake might reveal a whole new direction.
It's 81 degrees. The high today should be in the mid 90s. August has arrived.
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
When I get started...
I never know when to quit. I weeded a large portion of the slope out front this morning. It took several hours of working on the hill with my feet straddling tiny plants I didn't want to crush. I left a part of it the way it was. Too many cosmos seedlings and rudbeckia to remove the weeds without damaging the plants.
I scattered seeds from Sweet William dianthus and my three columbines. The loose dirt should help with germination and growth. More weeds will sprout as soon as it rains. I did find a bunch of plants I had forgotten about.
Lavender, grown from cuttings over the winter.
Lantana from cuttings.
Divided bee balm. I don't remember which one I took this from. It could be the red. It might be the pink. There's supposed to be a purplish color out there somewhere too.
From all the seeds sown, only one of the annual monarda citriodora made it. I probably weeded out a few today that were just getting started. I'll have lots more next year as these reseed heavily.
I moved on to the red dogwood next. It's been dying for a couple years. I really hate to cut down a dogwood, especially one this old, but it needed to go before it fell into the street. This year, only half of it leafed out. The other half has been falling into the yard and street whenever the wind kicks up. There were very few blooms.
The stump shows the center has already been eaten away. Carpenter ants scattered when the chainsaw passed through the center of the tree.
Now, if I could just do something about those things on the neighbor's property. Next time I see the mowers, I'll ask them who pays their bill. I'm going to need to get permission before hacking those back.
From the street, the house seems more inviting for now. Along the top of the slope, I've planted gardenias that I rooted from Carla's shrubs last year. I think six survived the month without rain. Another two were planted this morning along the stone retaining wall that borders the property. Two dogwood seedlings were planted between them. I consider it penance.
It's 82 degrees and muggy. The clouds haven't disappeared like we were promised. Instead, the chance of rain has been extended through midnight. I had hoped to spend some time today at a pool in Charlotte.
I scattered seeds from Sweet William dianthus and my three columbines. The loose dirt should help with germination and growth. More weeds will sprout as soon as it rains. I did find a bunch of plants I had forgotten about.
Lavender, grown from cuttings over the winter.
Lantana from cuttings.
Divided bee balm. I don't remember which one I took this from. It could be the red. It might be the pink. There's supposed to be a purplish color out there somewhere too.
From all the seeds sown, only one of the annual monarda citriodora made it. I probably weeded out a few today that were just getting started. I'll have lots more next year as these reseed heavily.
I moved on to the red dogwood next. It's been dying for a couple years. I really hate to cut down a dogwood, especially one this old, but it needed to go before it fell into the street. This year, only half of it leafed out. The other half has been falling into the yard and street whenever the wind kicks up. There were very few blooms.
The stump shows the center has already been eaten away. Carpenter ants scattered when the chainsaw passed through the center of the tree.
Now, if I could just do something about those things on the neighbor's property. Next time I see the mowers, I'll ask them who pays their bill. I'm going to need to get permission before hacking those back.
From the street, the house seems more inviting for now. Along the top of the slope, I've planted gardenias that I rooted from Carla's shrubs last year. I think six survived the month without rain. Another two were planted this morning along the stone retaining wall that borders the property. Two dogwood seedlings were planted between them. I consider it penance.
It's 82 degrees and muggy. The clouds haven't disappeared like we were promised. Instead, the chance of rain has been extended through midnight. I had hoped to spend some time today at a pool in Charlotte.
Tackling the weeds.
I've been ignoring the task of weeding the front slope for a long while now. At first, it was because of the dying daffodil foliage. Why bother weeding when those yellowing brown straps continue to persist? Then it was too wet. I tried once and was pulling seedlings from the surrounding areas whenever I removed a clump of crabgrass. Today, I'm just going to hunker down and get it done. At least some of it. I'll use a hand trowel to loosen each clump. There are a lot of clumps.
Mulch and newspaper would help, but I want plants to reseed next year. Even covering the bed shredded leaves reduces the number of seeds that germinate. Maybe in a couple years I'll have enough plants on this slope to mulch the bed. Until then, it's just me and my trowel. I really should get started.
But first, here's a sample of the concrete countertops I want to use in the kitchen. The color isn't there yet. I poured the concrete straight from the bag with no coloring. Instead of dark, I plan to go towards "buff" with streaks of darker gray. I'm thinking a mottled surface would be best given the floor tile I'm going to be living with for a few years. It will also make choosing a permanent flooring material easier later in life.
The sample piece is about 12" wide, 6" tall. I still need to work on the edges. I have an idea about that.
A close up reveals a perfectly smooth countertop with very little color variation. You almost have to inspect it with your fingers to realize it's concrete. Vibrating the forms removed all the imperfections my first trial contained. I'm not sure which one I like best. I could always use a patch material to fill the voids, but it would make for a weaker countertop, more likely to crack or chip. So many decisions.
It's 63 degrees. The sun has just appeared over the trees out back. I should get started on the hill. Rain possible in the next hour with sunny skies returning for the rest of the day.
Mulch and newspaper would help, but I want plants to reseed next year. Even covering the bed shredded leaves reduces the number of seeds that germinate. Maybe in a couple years I'll have enough plants on this slope to mulch the bed. Until then, it's just me and my trowel. I really should get started.
But first, here's a sample of the concrete countertops I want to use in the kitchen. The color isn't there yet. I poured the concrete straight from the bag with no coloring. Instead of dark, I plan to go towards "buff" with streaks of darker gray. I'm thinking a mottled surface would be best given the floor tile I'm going to be living with for a few years. It will also make choosing a permanent flooring material easier later in life.
The sample piece is about 12" wide, 6" tall. I still need to work on the edges. I have an idea about that.
A close up reveals a perfectly smooth countertop with very little color variation. You almost have to inspect it with your fingers to realize it's concrete. Vibrating the forms removed all the imperfections my first trial contained. I'm not sure which one I like best. I could always use a patch material to fill the voids, but it would make for a weaker countertop, more likely to crack or chip. So many decisions.
It's 63 degrees. The sun has just appeared over the trees out back. I should get started on the hill. Rain possible in the next hour with sunny skies returning for the rest of the day.
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
New beds to fill.
By my calculations, I should have about 1000 new seed grown plants to place around the property this spring. Lots more seeds have germinated over the past few days since it has warmed considerably. I need new beds to plant them all in.
On Sunday morning, Carla and I spent a few minutes laying out the edgers for two new potager beds. I moved one of the wooden beds I built last fall. There was a reason I never hammered the rebar. I now have 128 sq ft of space to grow tomatoes. They still need final setting, soil, and some adjustments. I've got a month to get that done.
For semi-shade loving plants, I have a shady corner where many of the rooted hydrangeas have disappeared over the winter. If they return, great. If not, I have plants.
The meadow will be home to things like Ox Eye Daisy, Rudbeckia, Echinacea, grasses, etc. Direct sown seeds will also be tossed out with an emphasis on orange cosmos.
The upper meadow, behind the upper potager, will hold orange and red blooming plants that should contrast nicely with the fall color I get from the maples back here. More cosmos, Salivas, and reseedings annuals will be sown here.
The front slope will become a butterfly garden. Buddleia, coneflowers, rudbeckia, and lantana will be the foundation for this bed. 200 daffodils are already pushing through the soil. Deadheading will be key to keep this bed blooming through the fall.
The final bed is new. The stones have been adjusted. The greenery has been sprayed. In a couple weeks, I'll add cardboard and leaf mulch. Scented plants like nicotiana, four o'clocks, datura, and brugmansia will be planted here. This is by the garage door where I enter and exit most of the time. Coming home at night will be a joy.
There's a lot of new growth out there today. The overwintering plants have been shuffled out, covered with a white bedsheet to minimize sunburn. It's already 61 degrees and warming quickly. We should see a high in the low 70s. The garden center is busy as can be. Our last three days have seen a significant increase in traffic. Perennials will begin arriving this week. Shrubs, trees, and cool weather annuals are already on the tables. In another week, it'll look like a true garden center again. Time passes quickly when you're busy.
When I get home, I might spend a couple hours trying to level and place the edgers for the lower potager beds. I'm loving the weather.
On Sunday morning, Carla and I spent a few minutes laying out the edgers for two new potager beds. I moved one of the wooden beds I built last fall. There was a reason I never hammered the rebar. I now have 128 sq ft of space to grow tomatoes. They still need final setting, soil, and some adjustments. I've got a month to get that done.
For semi-shade loving plants, I have a shady corner where many of the rooted hydrangeas have disappeared over the winter. If they return, great. If not, I have plants.
The meadow will be home to things like Ox Eye Daisy, Rudbeckia, Echinacea, grasses, etc. Direct sown seeds will also be tossed out with an emphasis on orange cosmos.
The upper meadow, behind the upper potager, will hold orange and red blooming plants that should contrast nicely with the fall color I get from the maples back here. More cosmos, Salivas, and reseedings annuals will be sown here.
The front slope will become a butterfly garden. Buddleia, coneflowers, rudbeckia, and lantana will be the foundation for this bed. 200 daffodils are already pushing through the soil. Deadheading will be key to keep this bed blooming through the fall.
The final bed is new. The stones have been adjusted. The greenery has been sprayed. In a couple weeks, I'll add cardboard and leaf mulch. Scented plants like nicotiana, four o'clocks, datura, and brugmansia will be planted here. This is by the garage door where I enter and exit most of the time. Coming home at night will be a joy.
There's a lot of new growth out there today. The overwintering plants have been shuffled out, covered with a white bedsheet to minimize sunburn. It's already 61 degrees and warming quickly. We should see a high in the low 70s. The garden center is busy as can be. Our last three days have seen a significant increase in traffic. Perennials will begin arriving this week. Shrubs, trees, and cool weather annuals are already on the tables. In another week, it'll look like a true garden center again. Time passes quickly when you're busy.
When I get home, I might spend a couple hours trying to level and place the edgers for the lower potager beds. I'm loving the weather.
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Daffodils and muscari
I spent most of the day planting bulbs. It's currently 69 degrees and, um...breezy. It feels like spring. I had 400 daffodils to plant and 150 muscari, or so I thought. Here's the final tally, so I can be disappointed in the spring when nothing comes up.
Daffodils:
* 200 on the front slope
* 100 scattered in the shrub island, rose garden, and around the lilac.
* 35 in the shady corner where a frost killed brugmansia still stands.
* 33 around the legs of the swing.
* 35 behind the upper potager/hoophouse.
* 6 in the neighbor's corner.
That's more than 400, right?
Muscari:
* 90 on the front slope.
* 10 along the backyard fence
* 60 in the crape myrtle bed.
Yes, I can add. Along with the bulbs I planted last year in the perennial bed, the bulbs that pop up here and there, planted by someone else years ago, and whatever spring flower plants I may or may not have, it should be a colorful time in the yard in just a few months. Christmas is just around the corner. Then there's New Years Day. I'll be busy all through January sowing and planting out early sprouts from my wintersowing. In February, it'll be really cold for a couple of weeks. Then there's my birthday. Peas will be planted in the lower potager about that time. Next thing you know, it'll be spring. It's like 2 weeks, tops.
I also spent an hour moving pavers from the driveway to the hoophouse. I laid down cardboard then three 16' long rows of pavers. These will heat up a little during the day and radiate heat back at night. At least that's the plan. They might not be thick enough to really warm up. Still, the roots of tender perennials not yet sown should be okay once it's closed up.
I've got a few left. The ones in the hoophouse will be stacked to create a couple of resting spots in the backyard when the hoophouse comes down. I'll reuse them again later. The patio idea is on hold indefinitely for now.
The front slope area where periwinkle was killed. Here's where I planted the majority of the bulbs.
I found a few sprouting daffs in a spot I thought would be perfect for some spring flowers. Guess I was right.
I collected moonvine seeds from the back of the house. I was surprised to find 8 seed pods. I don't recall seeing but a couple blooms all summer. Must have been while I was laid up with my leg.
Mr. Lincoln.
The "orange" rose.
Sunny Knockout.
After all this, it was time to have a sit...
and watch the clouds race by.
It's still 69 degrees. A gorgeous day.
I guess someone will be expecting me in Atlanta soon, and a bit further Southwest after that. I'm not sure my back can handle another 200+ bulbs.
Daffodils:
* 200 on the front slope
* 100 scattered in the shrub island, rose garden, and around the lilac.
* 35 in the shady corner where a frost killed brugmansia still stands.
* 33 around the legs of the swing.
* 35 behind the upper potager/hoophouse.
* 6 in the neighbor's corner.
That's more than 400, right?
Muscari:
* 90 on the front slope.
* 10 along the backyard fence
* 60 in the crape myrtle bed.
Yes, I can add. Along with the bulbs I planted last year in the perennial bed, the bulbs that pop up here and there, planted by someone else years ago, and whatever spring flower plants I may or may not have, it should be a colorful time in the yard in just a few months. Christmas is just around the corner. Then there's New Years Day. I'll be busy all through January sowing and planting out early sprouts from my wintersowing. In February, it'll be really cold for a couple of weeks. Then there's my birthday. Peas will be planted in the lower potager about that time. Next thing you know, it'll be spring. It's like 2 weeks, tops.
I also spent an hour moving pavers from the driveway to the hoophouse. I laid down cardboard then three 16' long rows of pavers. These will heat up a little during the day and radiate heat back at night. At least that's the plan. They might not be thick enough to really warm up. Still, the roots of tender perennials not yet sown should be okay once it's closed up.
I've got a few left. The ones in the hoophouse will be stacked to create a couple of resting spots in the backyard when the hoophouse comes down. I'll reuse them again later. The patio idea is on hold indefinitely for now.
The front slope area where periwinkle was killed. Here's where I planted the majority of the bulbs.
I found a few sprouting daffs in a spot I thought would be perfect for some spring flowers. Guess I was right.
I collected moonvine seeds from the back of the house. I was surprised to find 8 seed pods. I don't recall seeing but a couple blooms all summer. Must have been while I was laid up with my leg.
Mr. Lincoln.
The "orange" rose.
Sunny Knockout.
After all this, it was time to have a sit...
and watch the clouds race by.
It's still 69 degrees. A gorgeous day.
I guess someone will be expecting me in Atlanta soon, and a bit further Southwest after that. I'm not sure my back can handle another 200+ bulbs.
Friday, September 25, 2009
The Snake Pit
I'll get to the snakes later, but first a list of what I did this morning.
I built a compost bin. Sort of.
I put it in an out of the way place. I need two more regular sized pallets instead of those small 3/4 pallets.
I moved the crape myrtle. I know, I just couldn't stand it any longer.
I laid out a rough area for the recycled brick and concrete patio I plan to build this winter. I'm doing it now because I know I'll change my mind a few times during the process. It's inevitable. I can't wait to get rid of that dead oak tree. Three more weeks, we should be chopping it up.
I moved the pink brugmansia to the hydrangea bed. There are more brugs here now than hydrangeas, but that could change any day. They're rooted and ready to plant. Kongmansia has lost all its leaves again. If it survives the winter, good for it.
I planted a couple more white crape myrtles and mowed the front yard. That's where the snakes come in.
The snake pit. It's periwinkle and weeds. I thought I would like it, but this stuff is a thug. It's already 4' into the lawn and is just over a year old. I've got to get rid of it. I mowed it all down today.
The lawnmower claimed another victim. Don't ask me what kind of snake it was. I don't know. I don't care. It was a snake.
I'm looking for suggestions of what to do on this sloped bank. It's shady, gets about 2 hours of summer sun along the driveway and none along the street. It's dry, heavy clay and stone. Against the house, I have hucheras, gardenias, tea olives, knockout roses, lavender, artemesia, some grasses, and bluish salvias. I'm thinking shrubs would work well on this slope, but the mulching...oh the mulching.
Other items worth mentioning today:
Spider lily.
Miss Huff and Yvonne.
Just waiting for the seeds to ripen. It went quick this year.
81, mostly cloudy. A good chance of rain this evening and overnight. Muggy, again.
I built a compost bin. Sort of.
I put it in an out of the way place. I need two more regular sized pallets instead of those small 3/4 pallets.
I moved the crape myrtle. I know, I just couldn't stand it any longer.
I laid out a rough area for the recycled brick and concrete patio I plan to build this winter. I'm doing it now because I know I'll change my mind a few times during the process. It's inevitable. I can't wait to get rid of that dead oak tree. Three more weeks, we should be chopping it up.
I moved the pink brugmansia to the hydrangea bed. There are more brugs here now than hydrangeas, but that could change any day. They're rooted and ready to plant. Kongmansia has lost all its leaves again. If it survives the winter, good for it.
I planted a couple more white crape myrtles and mowed the front yard. That's where the snakes come in.
The snake pit. It's periwinkle and weeds. I thought I would like it, but this stuff is a thug. It's already 4' into the lawn and is just over a year old. I've got to get rid of it. I mowed it all down today.
The lawnmower claimed another victim. Don't ask me what kind of snake it was. I don't know. I don't care. It was a snake.
I'm looking for suggestions of what to do on this sloped bank. It's shady, gets about 2 hours of summer sun along the driveway and none along the street. It's dry, heavy clay and stone. Against the house, I have hucheras, gardenias, tea olives, knockout roses, lavender, artemesia, some grasses, and bluish salvias. I'm thinking shrubs would work well on this slope, but the mulching...oh the mulching.
Other items worth mentioning today:
Spider lily.
Miss Huff and Yvonne.
Just waiting for the seeds to ripen. It went quick this year.
81, mostly cloudy. A good chance of rain this evening and overnight. Muggy, again.
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
A Quick Makeover
Ok, so I'll admit, I'm an impulse gardener. I buy plants because they're on clearance. I plant them with the understanding that it's only temporary. So goes the front bed under the living room window. This is also the most important bed in my mind because it's right beside the walkway to the front door. It should be a little more formal than the perennial garden. I also need things that do well in shade. For a few hours each morning, it gets spotty sunlight. Direct sun comes around 10 am and again around 3pm for just an hour or two. All told, I'd say 4 hours of sun is the average with some dirt receiving more, some much less.
A few weeks ago, I moved three knockout roses into the upper portion of this bed. I hated it. I filled in with purple salvias. I hated it more. The Green & Gold Euonymous was looking ratty. The roses weren't settling in well and had not bloomed again. Sure, they were in shock, but so was I. The plan had not come together the way I wanted it too.
When the lantana arrived at the store, I bought three kinds. The yellow, red/orange, and purple were planted on the slope with Provence lavender, a few variegated grasses, and several other really weedy looking plants. As of yesterday, I was still disgusted with the way it was filling in. I can't have this growing next to my front walkway. Dangerous as it may be with crumbling brick, I don't need people recoiling in horror at the sight of my mishmash. Here's the picture from yesterday.
Having been off on Sunday, someone at the store took it upon himself to pull a shelf of Forever and Ever hydrangeas that were not 100%. I took it upon myself last night to purchase two. At $5 each, who could resist, right? This morning, I moved a lot of things. Normally, I wouldn't do this with temperatures threatening 90 degrees. But the forecast for the next 4 days calls for heavy afternoon thunderstorms. If it doesn't rain, I'll water everything twice a day for a week until they regain their composure. What lives, lives. If it dies, another impulse will come along shortly.
The roses were moved onto the lower slope where they can get at least 4 hours of sun. The Euonymous went out into the azalea bed where they can die peacefully for all I care. The salvias were scattered in among the roses on the slope. The lavender was moved around to spread it out a bit. On the upper part of the bed, I planted the red hydrangeas where the Green&Golds were. I did leave the double yellow datura. It's about to bloom and I want to see if it's worth keeping before shoveling it.
The upper bed. I still need something to fill in the blank spots. I'd like a groundcover and some perennials, but I'm going to have to see what I can find on clearance.
Datura.
Persian Shield was planted in the front bed. I love the foliage. It doesn't love me.
Did I mention I planted a tea olive at the corner of the house. I didn't think so.
I still need some height. Hopefully the climbing hydrangea planted a few weeks ago will help soften this corner in a couple years. I plan to build a trellis soon for the chimney to replace my temporary wire trellis.
From the other direction.
So, impulses fulfilled for the day, I must admit I stole some ideas from other gardeners whose blogs I read. Cameron has Spanish lavender growing with her knockouts. I've had better luck with Provence (French), so I planted that instead. Nell has Persian Shield growing with Purple Queen. Along the top of the rocks I use to hold back the soil from the slope, I stuck some fresh plucked plugs. Last summer it rooted easily and should fill in quickly. I planted extra hoping it will spill over the top of the wall. The Pinks Maiden dianthus disappointed me in that space, but I left it anyway. Maybe it'll survive the winter.
Now I have to shower and get ready for work. Cycle counts begin today for every living thing in the store. If it's got roots, I have to count it. It's going to be a long 8 hours.
The lantana that came out? I planted it around the yard in various places, but mostly in the daylily border along the bottom of the wall. I also put the coreopsis Early Sunrise and Moonbeam in this border. I spread them out along the entire length with some in both sections. The purple went into the perennial bed where the Lemon Mint Bee Balm was. Some of it was uprooted on Thursday during a wind storm. What's left was sheared back and is putting out new growth.
A few weeks ago, I moved three knockout roses into the upper portion of this bed. I hated it. I filled in with purple salvias. I hated it more. The Green & Gold Euonymous was looking ratty. The roses weren't settling in well and had not bloomed again. Sure, they were in shock, but so was I. The plan had not come together the way I wanted it too.
When the lantana arrived at the store, I bought three kinds. The yellow, red/orange, and purple were planted on the slope with Provence lavender, a few variegated grasses, and several other really weedy looking plants. As of yesterday, I was still disgusted with the way it was filling in. I can't have this growing next to my front walkway. Dangerous as it may be with crumbling brick, I don't need people recoiling in horror at the sight of my mishmash. Here's the picture from yesterday.
Having been off on Sunday, someone at the store took it upon himself to pull a shelf of Forever and Ever hydrangeas that were not 100%. I took it upon myself last night to purchase two. At $5 each, who could resist, right? This morning, I moved a lot of things. Normally, I wouldn't do this with temperatures threatening 90 degrees. But the forecast for the next 4 days calls for heavy afternoon thunderstorms. If it doesn't rain, I'll water everything twice a day for a week until they regain their composure. What lives, lives. If it dies, another impulse will come along shortly.
The roses were moved onto the lower slope where they can get at least 4 hours of sun. The Euonymous went out into the azalea bed where they can die peacefully for all I care. The salvias were scattered in among the roses on the slope. The lavender was moved around to spread it out a bit. On the upper part of the bed, I planted the red hydrangeas where the Green&Golds were. I did leave the double yellow datura. It's about to bloom and I want to see if it's worth keeping before shoveling it.
The upper bed. I still need something to fill in the blank spots. I'd like a groundcover and some perennials, but I'm going to have to see what I can find on clearance.
Datura.
Persian Shield was planted in the front bed. I love the foliage. It doesn't love me.
Did I mention I planted a tea olive at the corner of the house. I didn't think so.
I still need some height. Hopefully the climbing hydrangea planted a few weeks ago will help soften this corner in a couple years. I plan to build a trellis soon for the chimney to replace my temporary wire trellis.
From the other direction.
So, impulses fulfilled for the day, I must admit I stole some ideas from other gardeners whose blogs I read. Cameron has Spanish lavender growing with her knockouts. I've had better luck with Provence (French), so I planted that instead. Nell has Persian Shield growing with Purple Queen. Along the top of the rocks I use to hold back the soil from the slope, I stuck some fresh plucked plugs. Last summer it rooted easily and should fill in quickly. I planted extra hoping it will spill over the top of the wall. The Pinks Maiden dianthus disappointed me in that space, but I left it anyway. Maybe it'll survive the winter.
Now I have to shower and get ready for work. Cycle counts begin today for every living thing in the store. If it's got roots, I have to count it. It's going to be a long 8 hours.
The lantana that came out? I planted it around the yard in various places, but mostly in the daylily border along the bottom of the wall. I also put the coreopsis Early Sunrise and Moonbeam in this border. I spread them out along the entire length with some in both sections. The purple went into the perennial bed where the Lemon Mint Bee Balm was. Some of it was uprooted on Thursday during a wind storm. What's left was sheared back and is putting out new growth.
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