Rain For Tomorrow

When we first started this garden, Crocus were planted in embarrassing numbers.  Cages kept the deer away but this single flower is nearly all that remains now.  Voles moved in and we have been unable to end them.  We need to accept that this plant is here no more.

 

Bluets have been introduced to our gardens many times.  A friend had a lawn area filled with them downhill from the septic drain field.  Constant moist ground and frequent hits with the lawn mower prompted them to spread wildly.  These four plants placed themselves in this gap in the stone wall and continue to hold on but just barely.

This wire cage may be responsible for their continued existence here.

 

This plant is either Squirrel Corn or Dutchman's Breeches.  The correct identity will wait until the plants are larger and perhaps in bloom.  The pulled to the surface root mass went unnoticed until the picture was seen.  The deer hoof prints caught and held my attention.  A wire cage can be seen nearby but protects something else.  Following tomorrow's forecasted heavy rain, this will be replanted.

Kathrine Hodgekin's Dutch Iris are protected by a wire cage.  We have no tenable explanation for why these remain while the nearby Crocus are almost gone.

This Hepatica plant was nearly stepped on by a deer.  The invasion of wire cages is hard to look at but so is the near destruction of a treasured plant.

Our Shooting Star has a dandelion for a very close neighbor.  Loosening the soil before removing the interloper will be attempted but we fully expect the deep dandelion root to break guaranteeing that plant's return.

We went nonnative for this early blooming treasure.  Wind Flower is its name and very soon its bright blossoms will cover this ground.  Here we use a wire cage to mark its location  protecting it from both animals and the sometimes careless gardener since it will soon disappear..  We expect impressive growth following tomorrow's southern rain.  Who said that nothing worthwhile ever came from Delaware? 
 

Underway

The appearance of a wild bee on a crocus flower speaks more about the arrival of Spring than any number on a calendar.  The protective cage is required to block our herd of deer from eating these beautiful blossoms.  Recently thirteen deer were seen taking their evening meal near these plants.

Purple Bee Balm was planted behind the bench  in our new shade garden last year.  That location gets generous amounts of sunshine each morning.  We selected that spot near the bench since Bee Balm flowers attract Hummingbird Moths.  Human presence does not bother these hovering insects so when the flowers appear we will be able to sit on our bench while surrounded by feeding moths.

This plant native to a far away continent was also intentionally planted here last year.  Using a more natural approach we simply scattered mature seed heads on the surface of the ground.  That method was clearly successful but flowers may be one year away.  Native plants hold most of the ground here but these very early bright yellow flowers simply could not be denied.

Early Meadow Rue occurs naturally across the valley.  Plants come in either male or female form.  Becky knows the difference and that impressed the operator of a nearby native plant business.  We purchased both genders but have yet to see the second plant.  Our experience with these plants is limited to May visits so we have no way of knowing if the cluster of new growth will open as flowers or leaves.  Leaves might be what appears here next.

Jacob's Ladder is an impressive plant.  This one may be large enough to divide now but we will most likely buy another plant or two.  Strong winds filled with large raindrops sent us up the hill before all of the desired pictures were taken.  Rain now will only improve the size of the new growth.  We will return when pictures are possible without getting the camera wet.  It just feels like our gardening habits will take us outside.  Becky pointed out small Catnip plants that are sized for successful transplantation.  That may well be the first work done outside tomorrow weather permitting.

Tired And Happy

This was without question the best day that we have spent outside this year.  Temperatures near or above 70 degrees just made everything seem right.  My first task was to carefully cut a wheelbarrow load of conservation roses and wild berry canes.  At the top of the lane we have a decent start on a border stone wall.  Transplanted Periwinkle is spreading nicely but briers make the area look nasty.  The briers are nearly gone and a drive up the hill will now make a great first impression on all who see it.

This is the first Pickwick Crocus blossom of the season.  Freshly open today, this may just be the best picture that we have ever taken.

This other first flower is either Glory of The Snow or Giant Glory of The Snow.  These two names are on either side of the same stone label.  With the ground ice finally disappearing, we began the huge task of cutting away Siberian Iris leaves.  The how to book for these plants recommends cutting the foliage in the Fall but the author lives in a southern state.  We believe that the crown of dead leaves insulates the plant parts from our severe Winters.  Our timing is perfect since no new growth is present.  We have far too many plants so some trimming will require working around new growth. 

We used the truck to make the trip to clean out bird nest boxes.  That required a 1.8 mile drive so the truck was a big help.  Interesting rocks were spotted and the truck provided the means to move them to the developing shade garden at the other end of the property.  The pictured rock is unusually heavy for its size.  It is obviously not native bedrock.  It gives every indication of having been in a marine environment.  The last glacier that passed by could have moved this rock from near Syracuse where salt mines and limestone are common. This interesting rock will look out of place edging one of the paths in our shade garden but we did find it on this land.

We took advantage of an end of season sale to purchase a new garden bench.  It surely displays the structure of business in the world today.  A company located in Texas is responsible for the design and delivery of this product.  The wood is similar to teak but grows in Vietnam.  Milling and partial assembly happened there.  Individual pieces are no larger  than they have to be.  The bench is solid but surprisingly light for its size.  The weathered teak chairs nearby are more than twenty-five years old and each is heavier than the new bench.  Working together, Becky and I moved the assembled bench from the basement to the patio using cooperation and a hand truck.  Both the bench and the people made the move injury free and no blue smoke ever filled the air.  They say that an old dog cannot learn new tricks but based on what transpired today anything is possible.

Frosted Flowers Bring April Showers

When I saw distant purple, my favorite, from the living room window this morning, I knew it was time to get out there with the camera.  Last year I didn't get to see my dwarf iris bloom at all.  I was not going to miss their grand opening this year!  As you can see the flowers were a bit frosted.  Truth be told so was I.  I am so ready to spend time in the garden with  Ed, flowers, birds, butterflies and even weeds.  This morning the cold wind was too much for me.

I was not to be denied, however, so after lunch I went out again.  This time I was rewarded with just a glimpse of crocus pollen inside lovely purple striped Pickwick crocuses.  Their opening was rather tentative.  I totally understand.  Why flaunt the good stuff when it is too cold for the pollinators to be out and about?

A little more of the inner beauty of these little purple iris is showing.  Some years these bloom in March.  Some years they bloom magnificently in April.   For these little beauties and for me warm April showers would be such a welcome change from snow.

The purple leaves of my Virginia Bluebells have just broken the surface today.  I love spring ephemerals.  It is the beginning of their time . Don't miss them!

Eighty Degrees In The Shade

The past several days have been summer like.  Every house has someone outside happily cleaning up winter's debris.  Perennial plants are appearing everywhere and showing major growth changes each day.  Pleasant as it is to be once again working outside in shirt sleeves, we cannot forget the new growth turned to yellowish mush last year when seasonably cold weather followed early hot days.

Arbutus flowers appear to be only days away.  These plants have been under frequent watch since the buds first formed last fall.  The exposed white tips of the soon to be opened flowers are new.  Despite their location under a white pine tree, afternoon sun strikes these plants daily.  As a result these buds are developing ahead of our other more shaded plantings.  Huge quantities of work cry out for our immediate attention but the arbutus will be checked daily.  We want to see every stage of the development of arbutus flowers.

Our first snake of the season lives in a hole in the wall that separates lane traffic from the arbutus.  Becky spotted it without the ear piercing scream that usually greets the first snake.

Our garlic bed is a regular stop on our tour of the back meadow.  270 cloves were fall planted in this bed.  Leaves made small by an encounter with the lawn mower were placed over the planted garlic.  Soil temperature moderation, weed suppression and water retention were the goals of the leaf cover.  Still some of the emerging garlic leaf blades were trapped by the bigger pieces of mulch.  A helping hand set them free.  Very little work will be required here as this crop moves toward harvest.  Mulch will suppress weed growth giving the garlic a tremendous head start.

Here we see a piece of a Royal Jelly Siberian Iris removed from its former home.  The Smith & Hawkins spade purchased in Manhattan and transported to a Brooklyn apartment before being delivered here by daughter Amy is only used to divide plants.  We wish to avoid a broken tine that might result from contact with stones in the wilder sections of the garden.

The harvested iris was taken from the gap between the wall and the large clump.  It will not be missed as the older plant still holds a large spot in the planting.  Despite their being a common garden plant, the crocus are making a rare appearance here.  Browsing deer usually bite off the early green leaves before the cages are placed.  This year we won that race.

Many Happy Returns!

It is a very April day here!  Rain, thunder  and minor flooding in the usual places are all part of the spring experience here.  Yesterday was different.  It was so nice that spending time outdoors was simply irresistible!  

One of the things on our long, long list of outdoor activities was to clear out the rest of the bluebird houses.  This house had bluebirds in it last summer.  You can tell from the grassy nest.  The little balls of chewed up milkweed fluff indicate a mouse nest.  It can be quite exciting to evict these unwanted winter residents.  No one was at home here so it was easy to just flip the contents into the trug.  I have been seeing bluebirds so it's great to have this done!  In several of the other houses the rodent residents were at home.  Those evictions were far more exciting.  There was a lot of dancing around and squealing going on but Ed and I have been together for a long time and he is used to it. I might have terrified the mice.    Boy, those furry little critters are fast!

We did get some chores done, but I spent some time looking for signs of my returning plants.  I was so happy to see my pink trout lilies poking up through the leaves.  Red now, the leaves will turn green with spots one they have been in the sunlight for awhile. That is a Johnny Jump Up leaf to the right.  Soon happy little purple faced flowers will make me smile.

The shooting stars have broken through. One plant has been pushed up by frost or pulled right up out of the ground by deer  and is showing its roots.  Next time I am out there I will  replant it.

I'm always delighted and a little surprised  to see my squirrel corn come up in the spring.  Perhaps it got its name from the unusual flowers, but the name conjures up an image of the red and grey squirrels quarreling over who gets to eat my plant first!

I think this bright red plant is my single peony emerging.  I could be wrong, but I sure was happy to see it yesterday!

This is a Sea Holly plant.  This plant spreads by self seeding.  It attracts an amazing variety of pollinators to the garden and the lavender flowers last for a very long time.  I don't like to thin these out unless I have to .  This one can stay.  The tiny sedum plants you see here are from seed.  The original plants were given to me by Thelma H., a good friend of my mother. They are another reason to make me smile.

Last but surely not least are some of my Pickwick crocus flowers. April showers bring May flowers, but they bring April flowers too!

April Flowers For June

I can't remember a spring here when the early blooming bulbs have been so spectacular.  When I spoke to June today she said  she had no flowers in her garden now. These pictures are for her but also so that  I may remember their exquisite beauty that cheers me  in the early spring garden.  My  "Katherine Hodgkin" Dutch iris are a delight.

My solid color Dutch iris have been  mixed and names have been lost.  That does not diminish their beauty which this year has lasted more than a week.

We have been enjoying the crocus blooms as well.  They still close at night and open during the day when it is warm enough for pollinators to visit.   I don't know how much longer they will last, but it has been an extraordinary year for these hardy spring flowers.