I Want To Play Outdoors!

I feel like a bored kid with his nose smashed against the window wanting to go outside to play!

Last week we warmed up to 87 degrees and even the evenings were warm.  I knew it wasn't going to last so I resisted temptation to plant any of my annuals but not it's only 47 and rainy today and I would like to get out there and do something!

The extra warmth really gave a push to the garden though and I can hardly believe how much progress everything has made.  We added hardwood mulch to the beds which dressed them out nicely.  

I see lots of little flowers coming to life.  This Dwarf Nikko Deutzia has been slow to get going and look good.  I'm happy with it now and try make sure it gets watered well.

This Autumn Joy Sedum is coming up fast and looks great. 

Somehow some of my daffodils ended up over here!  

The iris are growing quickly too!

 I piled a bunch of stones around this bird bath because when we rinse it out the splashing water washes away the dirt around the base.  

My Annabelle Hydrangeas are making quick progress too.  

My little Primrose is blooming like crazy now- what a joyful little plant!  I need more!

The daffodils are blooming and what's left of my tulips are coming along too.  The other sedum by the rocks are growing nicely.

These daffodils have a very pale apricot center.  A couple of years ago the voles were eating things in this garden bed and then either a rabbit or a deer ate my tulips last year!

The Jack Frost Brunnera have double in size in a week!  I love them because they bloom a long time and their pretty periwinkle blue flowers are a favorite color!

The hostas are on the march too!

I whacked off one of my coral bells when I was cleaning the bed a couple of weeks ago…still hoping it will come alive yet!

 My first fairy garden is waking up.  Looks pretty scattered right now…needs some TLC!

 This Japanese Spurge (pachysandra) always does well and amazes me how green it is when the snow melts.  It was putting on a good show last week.

Sweet Woodruff mingles in here and there.  I believe this is the "Remember Me" hosta.  It has never gotten very big.  I moved it to a new location 2 years ago hoping it would respond better to the location.  

 I had a lot more tulips before- something has definitely thinned them out!

Pretty narcissus/daffodils.  Soft white with yellow ruffled centers edged in white.  I did not keep record of the bulbs I planted so I don't know their name.  These might be called Ice Follies.

The new birch tree we planted last year is awake and looks healthy.

The island has come alive.  Just a week ago there was barely any green out here!

The peonies are really coming up fast!

Zagreb Coreopsis- very reliable!

 Delphinium with Black Eyed Susan's mingling. 

 Columbines 

 This is the giant blue delphinium that has been coming back now for several years (yay)!

The Stella de Oro Daylily are really coming along nicely and of course the hosts.  The blue oat grass has been thinned but it needs some more coaxing to release the brown grass.  I just comb it with my fingers and pull and it comes out nicely.  I've already done it twice this spring but it needs another going over.

I bought this new coral bell which has been in full bloom for two weeks.  They told me to wait at the garden center since it's way ahead of the ones growing in our area so I will plunk it in the ground real soon.  I like the variegated leaf and hot pink flowers it offered.

I bought this pre-made arrangement at a small garden center that I need to remember to go to more often.  Their prices are very fair and I will have a nice re-usable basket for next year!

Orange will be in my color scheme this year!  I have new urns by the garage this year.  My other ones were literally coming apart.

I can't believe how green it's getting!  We spent a few days in southern Michigan this past weekend and their trees are leafed out more than us but we aren't far behind.  My lilac topiary tree is loaded with blooms- can't wait to smell it!  Last year I didn't trim it like I usually do because I was barely getting any blooms.  I gave it a trim right after the lilacs were done blooming and that was it.  This year it looks much better so no more shaving it into a shape!

I really don't want to rush through spring but I am anxious to get outside more and enjoy each step of the way through the blooming season!

 

Just in time...

Wouldn't you know I caught a cold!  I made it through the whole winter and just in time for spring  when I should be outdoors I've been stuck inside with a box of tissues and coughing.  I spent most of Mother's Day inside lingering from the sofa to the chair but did go out for a bit and take a few pictures.

Last year I set this large stone at the corner of my pathway to the back patio and garden area. I've decided to bring some of my fairy garden accents over to this spot so I can see it more easily.  I'm at the beginning stages of planning and this piece of tree stump and cement house are my first steps.

July 2013

Now that I've reviewed this photo from last year I see I need to move the stump and stone house further back so all of the perennials I planted will be able to come back up.

You see that beautiful boxwood on the left?  Well they didn't weather the winter too well so I decided to remove all of them.  Even with winter protection I still ended up with severe browning and it just ruined their shape and attractiveness.

My big stone had also covered up these daffodils but as you see they managed to work their way up and find the light!  

The Jack Frost Brunnera is up (super reliable plant).  I did manage to pluck away the old dried stems from the hostas from last year after I took this picture.  It's so much fun this time of year to see the life emerging from the ground.  Each week it changes.

The Pachysandra, Japanese Spurge is flowering.  This evergreen plant is always a surprise when the snow melts- all green and ready to grow.  The bumble bees were enjoying it too so that's a good thing!

Bad thing is those darn oak leaves are tangled up inside of it nice and neat.  

I'm delighted that the orioles have already arrived and of course the darling finches are always a joy to see.  As you can see the orioles will gladly eat sunflower seeds!  

The Rose Breasted Grosbeaks are here too!

Photo bomber… LOL… 

Yes the turkeys are also visiting. They like to check for fallen seed and drink from my bird bath. 

I tiptoed outside a few minutes ago.  The daffodils are finally open. 

 It's beautiful and warm out there- my invitation to go outside and get some fresh air! 

I hope your week is going great!

 

Sunny Spring Mornings!

Every morning I love to have my coffee and enjoy seeing the woods and my garden plants come alive!  

I know a lot of you are way ahead of me, but this is where we are at right now.

It doesn't look like much but the Japanese Spurge (Pachysandra) is blooming with it's little flowers right now, and the Sweet Woodruff (Galium odoratum) 

has come alive!

I love how the sun was highlighting the Sweet Woodruff and how it seemed to glow beneath the Japanese Maple

This is a great shade loving plant and spreads with no effort and it's not hard to control if it moves where you don't want it!

I love how the moss is highlighted too...I can see it from the kitchen and it looks so interesting!  We never planted any of it.  It just appeared on it's own.

The ferns are growing in leaps and bounds

The grass is tall enough for it's first cutting....

The trillium have been blooming all week...so pretty to see their bright white faces in the woods!

A bright moment in my day...the elusive Baltimore Oriole visits...The moment I snapped the picture it flew off.  A very hard subject!

I didn't know they were attracted to my suet feeders.  It has some fruit and fruit flavoring in it which is drawing them in.  The female was here yesterday afternoon...she blends in so well to the scenery it's hard to notice her!

On the pathway my Jack Frost (Brunnera Macrophylla) are just getting going.  The cute White Crowned sparrows that are visiting and scratching through the mulch and literally littering the walkway with it!  I'm going to have to show them a broom!

Daffodils and soon tulips (or what's left of them)!  

A rabbit has eaten off 7 of my 12 tulips!  Not happy!

Out front the daffodils have been blooming

Tulips are popping up daily and I've inspected the little lilacs and they are forming flower heads!  

Last Saturday we made our way to a couple of the local garden centers.  I've staged them on my garden way card and have been acclimating them.  It looks like we're going to have some safe night time temps so I may jump in and plant them this weekend.  

I've decided to go with wax begonias around the fountain area.  I'll miss the impatiens plants but with the uncertainty of getting that Impatiens Downy Mildew I've decided I was going to have to avoid them.

Out the window from my office I see my Snow Fountains Weeping Cherry 

(Cerezo var. "Snolozam") tree is starting to bloom too!   

How's your spring coming along? 

I'll be joining 
Fishtail Cottage
Garden Party #3