Gardening with a hammer.

I started another new bed a few weeks ago. It began as an odd assortment of plants, some Yucca that needed a home, Euphorbia "Blackbird", and tiny pieces and bits of trailing and spreading sedums. Months ago, Carla asked if I wanted some terracotta pots she didn't want. I said no at the time. Clay pots dry out way too fast in summer and need to be watered everyday. I went back this week and told her I would take them. I used my hammer to smash them, creatively, and placed them around the area of the new bed.





On Sunday, I took a few hours to haul 5-gallon buckets of small stone from the gully, from the other beds in the yard, and from wherever I could pick them up in the paths through the backyard. I dumped them between the plants and broken pots.



Terracotta bricks in the gully were relocated and repositioned several times until it looked "right".



Wintersown grasses, yucca, and other drought tolerant plants were placed here and there between the stones and broken pottery. Yarrow, rudbeckia, and echinacea was transplanted from various parts of the yard.



Two large stones were maneuvered into place. The largest one took an act of Congress to get it where I wanted it. The handtruck will be retired with honors soon. A third stone still lives in the gully. I don't think I'll be moving it without help from a lot of friends.



Over time, I'll fill more areas between the stones with sandy soil. Sedums will be rooted as the plants I now have start to grow. This bed will change and fill in as years pass. I could go out and buy all the plants, but that wouldn't be as much fun. Down the street, I spied pups under a blue agave that survived the coldest winter ever (not really). I've asked Carla to keep an eye out for the man who lives there. If she can't get me one, I'll have to look elsewhere. It would make a great centerpiece for the bed.

It's 66 degrees and cloudy. Rain is likely this afternoon and into the evening. The plants are loving it.

From Sunday afternoon.

I took a quick stroll around the yard when I returned home Sunday. My nap lasted until morning.

Foxglove. The yellow turned purple.



Dianthus planted in the window boxes last fall, planted in the garden in late February.



Confederate Jasmine on the chimney trellis.



Wintersown in 2008, Blue eyed grass (Sisyrinchium montanum) is blooming this year.



Clearance plants. I started a new bed. Castor beans have been sown behind. Euphorbia "Blackbird", Yucca "Yellow Stripe", and eventually a few sedums will be used here. These are drought tolerant plants for an area that stays dry most of the year. It's hot and sunny all afternoon.



Self-sown Pineapple sage. I checked a leaf for the fragrance. Three of my plants from last year have returned nearby at the end of the driveway.



It's 73 degrees and humid. There's rain in the forecast today after 8am. Scattered thunderstorms are possible. I'm hoping it rains all day.

Foliage.

Butterfly bush in the shrub island.



A white spirea. This plant has been moved three times. It now resides in the shrub island.



Dame's rocket. A couple clumps are starting to push out stalks just a few feet away.



A mum, larkspur, and others at the arbor spanning the entrance to the perennial bed.



Golden Jubilee.



Yucca. I dug this one from my parents' property in SC. They grow wild in the woods here. I might regret that some day.



Something new that popped up next to the driveway. Any thoughts?



The new foliage of Ligustrum Howardii is tinged with gold.



More ditch lilies.



May Night Salvia. A clearance purchase last summer.



Elymus arenarius 'Blue Dune' grass. These are on the slope where I have knockouts and lavender.



Poppies, I think.



It's 48 degrees and cloudy. Today will be cooler reaching about 60 degrees. Tomorrow, the heat wave starts rolling in.



Majesty Palms and Peace lilies have arrived at the store just in time for Palm Sunday and Easter. The fragrant white lilies will be arriving in another week. Boston ferns are on the racks. Petunias will be available shortly. It's strange. We went from extreme cold to the middle of spring in just a couple of weeks. I'm not sure any of us were prepared for this. Obviously, the shoppers are happy about it, spending gobs of money just to be outside for a few hours. It's not a bad time to be paid to work outdoors.

Easter Sunday

I went home to the parents' house today. I took and planted many perennials and annuals in my sister's flower bed. My mom isn't a flower person, though she did mention something about hanging baskets. I have a few to spare in the basement. I'll see what I can whip up for her before Mother's Day.

I took a walk through the woods before I left. I found 4 small dogwoods. I dug them up and brought them back with me. I know it's a bad time to transplant these, but I'm thinking with enough shade and moisture, I can nurse them along till fall when I can plant them out. I also found two small yucca plants.



In exchange for planting the bed, I had to dig up some irises that haven't been divided for a long time. I brought back a few.



It's sunny and 63 degrees. Sunday's picture added to the Sunday Ritual.



My favorite part of this garden so far is on the street side of the trellis. Here I have a couple of hibiscus, some shasta daisies that should bloom this year, some Black Eyed Susans, and a few other things. The driveway has been lined with seedlings from my wintersown petunias. So far, all the plants are a deep dark purple. I may need to purchase a couple of six packs if we get any reds in the store.



I'm exhausted as usual. Planning to spend this evening catching up on some rest. I did manage to get the tomatoes set in their locations, but not planted out. Maybe Monday after work I can get this done although rain is in the forecast, again.