The weather has been downright tropical around here lately in New England, and working in the garden has been an absolute joy this past week. Yesterday I finished weeding the area in front of the potting shed and planted a few packets of cottage garden type seeds. Hollyhocks and white sunflowers for height, pink, red and orange poppies for color, and 2 short rows of strawberry corn along the fence to harvest in the fall.
So far the only blooms I’ve seen in this area are peach colored dwarf bearded irises and daffodils. I have identified 2 peony plants and possibly some day lilies, but it will be fun to see what pops up in the garden over the next few months.
Okay, garden sleuths, are you ready for this week’s round of name that mystery plant? As I’ve mentioned before, I have not been much of a flower gardener in the past {I’ve always been more of a team vegetable kind of person} but I seem to have inherited a floral oasis, and I need help identifying the plants so I can draw up a proper garden map of our property. Any suggestions you have would be helpful.
Mystery Plant #1 –
I can’t help but want to shake this flower every time I walk by. I keep hoping the blossoms will ring like a bell or something.
Mystery Plant #2 –
Mini hydrangea? The flowers or so tiny though and the branches are really thin.
Mystery Plant #3
This was found in the overgrown {future} corn patch area. I’d hate to pull it out…. Maybe I can transplant it?
I’m going to miss cherry blossom season.
We have Lily of the Valley!
And about a zillion and two hosta plants.
The only problem is, I’m afraid to clean up around the hosta plants because I don’t want to mistake a perennial plant for a weed. It’s painful to see the 3 large flower garden beds in such a state…. But I don’t know what else to do besides play the wait and see game.
Is this a weed? Because the beds are filled with this plant!!
Darrrrling. The peonies are almost ready to bloom. I am planning to serve afternoon tea to celebrate {with the proper assortment of pastries and finger sandwiches of course} just as soon as I can pick a bouquet for the kitchen table. It’s going to be lovely. And I’m totally looking forward to it. I might even put on a dress. And now that I think about it, maybe I should find a proper hat to wear to my peony party as well.
Meanwhile…. back at the Money Pit, as soon as the weather warmed up the wood contracted on the aging plant holders attached to the side of the potting shed and left my little pots of lettuce in peril.
Mr. Handyman said the wood {which had been held together by glue} had to go and suggested we move one of our giant galvanized tubs in it’s place. Which of course I think is a fantastic idea and just as soon as I can get the wood cleaned up and painted, we’ll do.
If you’ve ever had to pull weeds out of pea gravel or along brick paths than you know what an incredible pain/time sucker it can be. We had been using a product called Caseron back in Washington for years until it became hard to find, and then we switched to a product called Noxall and it seems to work just as well. I like it because once you spread it around the problem areas, nothing and I do mean NOTHING will grow there for at least a year.
We aren’t big on chemicals, and don’t use anything but compost in our vegetable garden, but I have no problem using Noxell to keep the weeds at bay in pea gravel or walkways. So if you are looking for a similar type product, you might want to give it a try.
I think you all know about my disdain for rhododendrons, and maybe you even know that I can’t stand juniper bushes as well. But in addition to giant rhodies and junipers, we had a giant {4’x20′?} holly bush growing alongside the house. Which, I’m sure was lovely when it was a mere 2′ high and manicured. But we aren’t holly people. Not one bit. We are the snooty boxwood type. So we pulled the giant holly hedge out and are planning to install a new hedge of dwarf boxwoods in it’s place.
Buying a new {to you} home can be tricky. Especially when there are established shrubs and trees on the property the homeowners before you planted but you have zero interest in. Some people think you HAVE to keep them, or move the plants to another spot on your property. But sometimes they’re just too big to move, and chopping them down and turning them into wood chips is the best {and easiest} solution.
Gardens, they’re kind of a personal thing don’t you think? I say, GROW WHAT YOU LOVE, because after all, you are the one who has to maintain your property, cut the flowers, pick the vegetables and cook the dinners. And in my book, time spent doing something you love, is time well spent.
Wishing you the happiest of Wednesdays…
~Mavis
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