Spring Garden Chores

I absolutely LOVE spring, even though it's the busiest time of the year for the gardens. Day before yesterday I was able to burn off part of the slope garden (it has been sadly neglected for the last two years.) The numerous bunches of daffodils weren't so happy-looking by the time the fire reached them. Did you know that daffodils melt? I tried to rake the dead leaves away from each group of daffs, but couldn't quite stay on top of it. Sadly enough I had to let the fire go out and then do a breathing treatment because of my asthma.

I'm ready to till up the garden and put out radishes. There's already three hills of potatoes in the ground. Normally I wouldn't till in the spring because it just brings up more weed seeds, but last fall I didn't get a chance to till in the leaves. They sat on top of the garden all winter long, thinking about decomposing but stubbornly not doing so. I will also add a few bags of commercial cow manure and compost (from my own bed) to enrich the soil.

Tomorrow, if Alana doesn't go into labor, I plan on mowing the west side. Last year the leaves were allowed to lay where they fell (I ran out of time) so I want to get them mulched up before they kill out the Kentucky Bluegrass. It's important to get the lawn cleaned up because there will be an Easter Egg hunt in the yard.

I can't wait for the wood pile to dry out. There's nothing better than hamburgers cooked on the fire pit! The winter winds and heavy snow broke off many branches, so I will have to spend quite a few hours collecting them. It would be easier if I had a wagon to pull behind my Sears Craftsman lawnmower, but I don't. I've had one on my Christmas list (and Mother's Day list, and Valentine's list, etc.) for the past two years. I miss my wagon!

It's a little too early to fertilize, but I have gone ahead and put out grass seed in the obviously bare spots in the lawn. I take the easy way out...instead of raking or tilling up the soil so that there is good seed-to-soil contact, I sprinkle the seeds and then cover them with a light coating of potting soil. The birds can't see the seed that way, plus it gives the roots a nice easy soil in which to develop. (That was an awkward sentence.)

I have hundreds, if not thousands, of dead stems to remove from the gardens. I leave the purple coneflower and black-eyed Susan stalks on during the winter because the birds enjoy eating the seeds, and it gives interest to an otherwise flat garden scene. Obedient plant and hosta stems also need to be removed and put into the compost pile.

There are many other spring chores to do (spread mulch, distribute Preen) but my hands are going to be full over the next few days taking care of the basics.

I'm SO glad it's spring!
shel

Daffodils!!!

A few years ago I planted 500 daffodil bulbs. Now I have hundreds of 'Baby Moon' in bloom, plus a few of the 'King Alfred' (at least I think that's what they are...the marker was missing.)

Crocus are still blooming in the back and east side yard as well. There are teeny, tiny bunches of lilac buds that are just waiting for warmer weather before they pop out.

I was able to get out in the yard yesterday and cut down more of the volunteer Japanese honeysuckle. That stuff is just horrible; it's terribly invasive. While the leaves are still a dream, I can get into the regular shrubs and prune out the junk.

Oh, how I love spring!

Hornbaker Gardens, Princeton, IL

Have you ever been to Hornbaker Gardens? If not, you definitely should go. Yesterday I received their newsletter and I'm chomping at the bit to make the trip.

Hornbaker has a beautifully landscaped ravine that has new steps meandering down through hundreds of mature shade-loving plants like hosta, astilbe, bleeding heart, and more. There is a gazebo set on the side of the ravine about halfway down. It's wonderful to just sit in there and rest my feet after walking thought acres of gardens.

I'd like to go during peak bloom of all of the plants. Acres of iris will be in bloom during the last two weeks of May (weather cooperating, of course.) I haven't been there for the iris bloom, but I have been during the daylily peak time, which is around the first of July. There are hundreds of daylilies to choose from, and seeing them in bloom, rather than reading the description, puts me in hog heaven.

Hornbaker Gardens is also known for their vast assortment of hosta. If I remember correctly, there are 600 varieties offered. Since my property is shade for the most part, I really get carried away by their fabulous hosta. The 'SALE' table is depleted quite a bit by the time I'm done.

If you want to see some beautiful pictures, or would like to find out more about this incredible garden center, go to www.hornbakergardens.com or visit them in Princeton. You won't be sorry.

shel

Oh What a Beautiful Morning, Oh What a Beautiful Day

I felt like singing today because the song was just so darn appropriate. Today WAS beautiful. I got to work outside all morning (after popping an apple crisp into the oven) and loved every second of it.

The black pussywillow is in full bloom. Unfortunately, I didn't trim it back last year so the branches are much too high for me to be able to cut them for a centerpiece. I will give the shrub a pretty strong pruning after it finishes blooming. (Spring bloomers like lilacs and pussywillow should always be trimmed right after blooming, so that you have a strong show for the next year.)

I was lucky this year. The rabbits missed eating about 20 of my crocus, so they are happily blooming in the back and side yard. Only the dark purple and bright yellow blooming plants were spared for some reason.

This morning I raked up all of the leaves from the garden area on the west side of the driveway, between the cars and the koi pond. I was able to get them burned, thank heavens. The bad part is that I have asthma and it really acts up when I've been playing in the smoke. I've had to take quite a few hits from my inhaler.

The ruts in the driveway are getting deeper and deeper. Pretty soon my van will fall in and disappear. Max wants to hold off on spending money for new gravel to go into the drive, but I'm afraid we'll end up with big problems if we put it off again. We have lived in his house for almost 10 years and haven't had the drive re-graveled, so it's well past time to do so.

I hope you were all able to get out and enjoy this wonderful spring day.

shel

I think I'll pick up some pansies tomorrow to put in the freshly emptied containers (I burned the evergreen boughs today as well.) Pansies and snapdragons thrive in cool weather, and can even stand light frosts. I hope I'm not jumping the gun, but I just can't help myself.

Flowerbulb Fundraiser...Oh, My!

My sorority, Beta Sigma Phi, is having a fundraiser through van Bourgondien. (They have both a spring and a fall fundraising packet.) Man, am I in trouble! There are many different flowers offered, both annual (glads and dahlias) and perennial (oriental lilies, coneflowers, phlox, and more). It's going to be tough trying to keep my order down to a respectable amount.

I think that I will order the 20 single Freesias mix for $10, and the 3 summer daffodil 'Erlicheer' for $10, but I'll have to quit there, darn it.

I've done this fundraiser many times before, for a variety of different clubs that I belong to. It's a great one because you get 50% as profit, and the bulbs/flowers are guaranteed. Van Bourgondien is also easy to work with, so I don't mind heading up the fundraiser each time.

For our other big fundraiser, Beta Sigma Phi will probably be hosting a 'Taters and Tea' booth at Clinton's Apple & Pork Festival. It brings in about 100,000 people each year and involves the entire city.

If there are any other great fundraising ideas out there, please let me know!

shel

Bambi Strikes Again!

I went out to the west side of our property today and was greeted by my five year old bald cypress. Instead of looking healthy and happy (and bald) as I expected, it was a mess! Apparently one of the many deer in the area decided to use my prized tree as a rubbing post. The bark was peeled from the tree all of the way around in a three foot strip. Doggone deer!

The tree will have to be removed, as the bark and vascular system were destroyed beyond repair. My only consolation is that I will be able to replace it with another tree. Hmmmm ...there are so many wonderful varieties to choose from!

On a side note, I received a catalog from Crintonic Gardens today. They specialize in hybridizing daylilies. There are many beautiful new daylilies offered, most in the $150.00 range. (Yes, you read that right...$150.00 for a daylily!) The plants are extraordinary. I won't be able to order any of the new introductions, but the older varieties are much more affordable. Oh, how I love daylilies and intensely dislike deer!

shel

Signs of Spring

It was a beautiful day today, the kind of day that makes it seem like winter is behind us. I had a leisurely walk in the front yard and noticed that the daffodil foliage is about 3" tall. My 'Rustic Rubra' magnolia has buds that are beginning to swell, and the two redbuds do as well.

Chickweed gives everything a nice green appearance. Oh, how I hate that weed! Saturday afternoon, if the weather holds, I will go around with my five-gallon bucket and dig out as many of the pesky weeds as possible. They will go onto the burn pile instead of the compost pile.

Today I noticed a red winged blackbird and a robin. Spring can't be too far away! I can't wait to get out in the gardens.

Happy day,
shel

Another New & Exciting Garden Catalog

I just received my Wayside Gardens catalog and WOW, I'm in love! There are so many fabulous plants featured that I'm drooling all over the keyboard.

Whenever I get a new catalog I grab my pen and settle down for some quality dream time. I first go through the catalog and circle everything that I like (there are 33 circles in this 55 page catalog.) Then I go through again and weed out what is really silly of me to want, like the $89.95 Phyllostachys nigra, which is a black bamboo and the Coreopsis verticillata 'Moonbeam', which is readily available at garden centers in his area.

This morning I narrowed my list down to two items. Origanum rotundifolium 'Kent Beauty' is an ornamental Oregano that is a spectacular plant that drips bracts which start out lime green, fade to lavender, and then change to bright pink. The foliage is heart-shaped silver that trails.

I also love the Larix decidua 'Pendula', a weeping Larix. This is an evergreen that grows up to 6' tall, perfect for the garden that is in the front east side of the yard. I fell in love with weeping Larix years ago and have always wanted one.

I have never seen an orange tree that is listed hardy in zone 5, but Wayside Gardens offers Washington 'Naval Orange' in a one-gallon container that is good for our area. The tree sells for $29.95, and I'd love to have it, but I just can't justify spending that much money for something that I'm not sure would actually thrive here.

I'll hang my order form, filled completely, on the refrigerator with hopes that hubby will surprise me for Mother's Day. Of course, I'd appreciate any hints that you guys give him about this! Otherwise I'll end up with a vacuum.

Happy spring,
shel