So... How's it GROWING with you?

[DixieDreamer]

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My gardens are racing along now (finally). The first flush of spring display is happening - and I can hardly decide which plant is my candidate for the Plant of the Week post! So many to choose from.

The veggie garden is doing well, but could use some attention this weekend (weeds, thinning, and cages for the tomatoes). My walkway garden has become colorful too - the pink evening primroses (oenethera) is blooming and they look so delicate - really softens this hot dry section of my yard.

The big flower bed project is still under way. We moved the piles of dirt into the bed with a "bobcat" we rented. I am now redistributing the piles in the bed and mixing in compost by hand. I hope to have that completed on Saturday. In the first bed that I planted up last Saturday - the plants are doing well for the most part. I think I will lose about 3 of the salvia plants (just did not do well in the transplanting) and one of the Monarda plants is showing afternoon wilt/stress but keeps consistently reviving by the next morning - not sure if it will hang in there or not. Those and my lilacs not blooming due to a late freeze - are my failures so far this growing season.

So that is how it is GROWING in my garden. How's it GROWING in yours?!

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[Mamu]

Things finally seem to be growing well. It's be a very difficult year. Extreme drought through the winter and into early spring. Some plants were showing signs of stress.

Then hot, hot weather in April just when the plants were starting to sprout. Some of my bulbs look like they actually melted in the heat.

Then came the rains, much needed rain, very heavy at times.

Then just when you think spring has arrived, Mother Nature says "NO" you now need a good frost and some miserable cold weather. Hey this is suppose to be my planting season.

Finally this past week the weather has warmed up, but it's threating showers all day. Good for planting though. Do the neighbors think your NUTS when your out planting in the rain. I think so!

I did get the tomatoes and peppers planted, but there is a skunk who likes unplanting them nightly. This is beginning to become a problem I have to replace plants daily. Today I had to replace 2 peppers and 5 tomatoes today . At this rate I'll be lucky to see tomatoes in September. Plus I'm running out of seedlings. Sometimes nature can be very difficult to live with.

 

[Saffron]

Well, I'm all excited because the Pineapple Lilly I planted a few weeks ago, has started to emerge! I wasn't so sure how it would do, but it is doing well. LOL!! So, my little garden is growing right along.

 

[Tiggerkeeper]

The zucchini is blooming and the cucumbers are climbing. Peppers and tomatoes are blooming too! Looks good so far.

Does anyone else have a ritual walk around the garden? I am out there about three times a day! The neighbors probably think I'm crazy, as if those plants will have noticable growth between strolls!!

Happy gardening everyone!!

 

[sorcerormickey]

I'm glad everyone's garden is doing well! Mine is doing very well this year - my perennials are huge! The spring started off very disappointing - hardly any of my bulbs (tulips, daffodils, etc.) came up - not sure if it was the funky weather, or if they were dud bulbs. I'm gonna replace all my bulbs this fall. Got up the courage yesterday to dig out and toss those sad mums and replaced them with Mallow and Miniature Hollyhocks, so I think my planting for the season is done (yeah, right! ) I work in a nursery and get free shrubs and plants all the time - just got a burning bush the other day - so I'm sure I am not done planting - but there's no more room! My foxglove has 5 stalks coming up and I can't wait to see the color. I planted it in the fall of last year after it was done blooming - got it really cheap because the nursery lost the tag and did not know the color. My shrubs I planted last year as little guys are getting taller and fuller - a Rose of Sharon, 2 Lilacs, a Rhododendron, and a pointy-type Hydrangea. Gotta love those shrubs and perennials - hardly any work for tons of beauty!!

TIGGERKEEPER- Yes, I am out there at least twice a day. Usually once in the AM or early afternoon before work, and once in the evening/night if it is still light out. All kinds of things happen between walks! Yesterday I found 3 giant buds opening on my Rhodo that were not there the day before. I love to just hang out in the garden!

 

[amid chaos]

I am a garden walker also...I do the rounds several times a day.
I am looking pretty good in the garden but i have some big ideas in my head I am excited about starting.

The asiatic lilies a friend gave me took their time but the ones the squirrel didnt get to are finally coming up.

My white dames roclets is such a pleasure against my late soring purples...whoever (my sister) said it was a weed is missing out on some beauty.

My lilies are starting to pop and I just love the variety...need to post some pictures of those.

I am off to the town composting area to get some compost...this stuff is beautiful and it's free!!!!!. DH is coming along to help lug it. This will only be my second trip this spring because it flooded in one of those nasty rains and was closed for 2 weeks.

 

[crazyforpooh]

I thought I was the only crazy one. I say I'll be in in a minute but sometimes depending on the mosquitos I'm back in when I can't see any longer due to darkness.

I must say after 8 years of doing these beds this is the first year I can say I really like them. Of course, my husband keeps telling me if I would stop sharing and moving stuff they would have time for me to like them.

I still have a few more areas to do then decide what I will put down on all the paths (I want no grass in this garden yard) Wish I knew how to post pictures I'd love to show it off to you all. Hard work is finally paying off.

More to come.


My irises are starting to bloom. Hurray


Laura

 

[Bildmouse]

I do the walk several times a day also and was wondering what the neighbors think!! The iris are absolutely beautiful today and the rose buds grow larger by the day. Can't wait until they open! DH and I put two new roses in yesterday and I planted a pot with three cherry tomato plants to put on the new deck once it gets finished. Everything seems to grow just a little more by the time I get home from work. Hoping for some rain tonight.

 

[kathymc]

MY LILACS ARE IN BLOOM
MY LILACS ARE IN BLOOM

just planted a new bush at the beginning of the month and wasn't too sure if they would open (its a little late here) but this morning when I let the dog out I could smell them!

as for the annuals I planted in my new landscaping this past weekend - two big rain storms wiped out a whole section of them and I won't be able to get to them until Saturday!

 

[DixieDreamer]

I just love reading about all of your gardens.

 

[Tulirose]

I agree DixieD. This is an enjoyable thread. You can just feel everyone's enthusium over their garden's successes. I can also feel the disappointment too when things don't work out as planned.

My garden is going well but I still have so much I want to do. My irises (last week's POTW) are still blooming. My peonies (this week's POTW) are now blooming. My Kousa dogwood that we planted last year is blooming. The Rhododendums are blooming. We are just blooming all over here.

But, I have yet to plant my new container for the side door. I have yet to plant the deck rail container. I have yet to plant any annuals at all. I had big plans for planting more perenials and that has not happened yet either.

What has happened is DH picked out a beautiful Fuschia hanging basket with two different types of flowers and I picked out some wave petunias and put them in an old hanging basket I have (much cheaper than buying them as a basket). We then went to the new Lowes' store and bought Shepherd hook hangers to go on the deck railing posts and hung our two baskets on the new hooks. Pretty neat!! We could use one more and so that is on our list and then we will have to get or make another basket for that one.

 

[DixieDreamer]

Hi tulirose! I could USE a few more annuals to fill in the HUGE flower beds I am creating! LOL! Too bad you are not closer - we could work out a deal!

 

[Snowwark]

Okay all you garden walkers, time for a new motto! How about, "Who cares what the neighbours think!!"

The Lilacs are wonderful, the Geums, Moss Phlox, Bleeding Hearts, all look happy and healthy!

I haven't done my containers yet, and have several flats of annuals, and some perennials, sitting on the deck just waiting for me to make up my mind about who's going where with what!

 

[Mamu]

My story today is the good, the bad and the ugly.

The bad just found out the town is widening the road and adding sidewalks. Actually some of this is good but we will be losing a parking area in the front. Maybe I can get these ugly pine trees down now. Was quoted a price of $3,500 to remove them, I think I can get the town to remove them for half the cost. This is good. The bad is they are not putting in sewerage. I live on the outskirts of town and was hoping.

The engineer has told us our new septic system is going to be right smack in our veggie garden. Oh well I kind of knew that. It will have to wait until the fall I am not going to disrupt my veggie garden. We have to build up the back yard 4 feet. This system is going to cost $25,000. Oh poops there goes my vacations for a while.

Now hows it growing. I have lots of antique urns that DH have gotten at yard sales over the years, some very large. They are all ugly green and I keep telling him I going to paint them, well not this year. I potted them up yesterday.

The 2 in the front are finished. I planted a 1 Fancy Leaf Caladium, 2 white Elatior Begonia's and a pale yellow Calibrachoa, in each. I like the way they looks so far.

Oh Kim I love the Sweet Potato Vine, it's filling out and looks beautiful with the blue Lobelia and the yellow and pink Lantana. Thanks.