Spring Garden

Spring butterfly on the lilacs

I've been away for a week or more, and I did not schedule an automatic posting during my absence. I apologize to all who looked for a new posting. Not much has happened on the construction and redecorating front due to some family events, so I didn't have any new and interesting changes to share. As of today, the story is the same. At the same time, I do have some developments in the garden, so I will share them.

The garden awoke from winter doldrums. What a pleasure it is to find my old favorites yawning and stretching to prepare for the new season. I have had some surprises like this early butterfly on the lilacs, and lots of disappointments.

cauldron pot with day lilies and daffodils, sitting in garden

On the disappointment front, I can say that my daffodils are the biggest disappointment. No matter how much I work at it. I just can't seem to get daffodils to take a foothold here. There is something about this plot that they just don't like. I have planted hundreds, in beds and in pots, and neither has been successful. Along my front path I planted yellow Tulips, mixed Daffodils, Grape Hyacinths, and blue Chinodoxia and nothing but grape hyacinths have returned. I have officially given up on that project. A watering system, mulch, fertilizer, and weeding have not improved their lot. What more can I do? One brave little multi-headed daffodil did actually bloom in the pot seen above this year, maybe things are improving. I hope so. Daffodils are such the symbol of spring.....I want them! When I planted the tulips I layered in some other plants to build the garden at once. Over the daffodils I put Stella D'Oro day lilies which have multiplied like rabbits. They have formed a dense foot wide swath of yellow-orange day lilies. On top of that ,I planted variegated green and white myrtle which bears blue flowers. I thought the periwinkle blue flower would go nicely with the yellow daffodils and tulips, but it all fizzled, all except the Periwinkle.

Heirloom Iris

I have a Bleeding Heart that has been struggling since its planting. Our plot is very dry and windy and I suspect that these conditions are having a negative effect on the success of my perennials. In examining the yard I find that three years later, some plants are getting a foot hold and multiplying, but many of my favorites are still behind the eight ball.  The Bleeding Heart is one of these, strugglers. I have a small strand of flowers this year, and, there is good leaf growth, but it is small and skimpy. In my New York Garden. it was queen of the Spring Ball.

The Irises seen here are dependable and colorful These are legacy Iris, they came with the house, though my green thumb has brought more color and shape to this bed and these flower. More spring bloom next time.