Foliage and Follies

This time of year I am so busy in the garden. It seems like this year I have been particularly engrossed in the garden.  This obsession will wane when the weather heats up.  I am enjoying every minute out there while it is cool and comfy.

One of my projects was to make a trellis for some of the Sweet Peas I have started. This is the trellis I put up for the Norili Sweet Peas.  I am so happy these peas got started and they seem to like where they are planted becasue they are growing.

Another trellis I made was a little more elaborate. It also has Sweet Peas to grow up it. As you can see it is  near the Casa (screen house) so hopefully we will be able to see and smell these.

My design for this one was inspired by Robyn Gordon, at Art Propelled, who is an artist that carves totems. Her work is absolutely marvelous to me. She uses found objects in her work. So you can see that I have used some RR spikes for the top of the trellis. When this is no longer needed as a trellis I am going to make this a wall where I can place found objects like in this picture I tore out of a magazine 2 years ago. I hope to have a wall of 'stuff' at some point.

Another project I have done was lining part of the path that goes to a side gate with concrete that my DB busted out of the patio area.

I like that we didn't have to take it to the dump and it serves a needed purpose here by keeping the pea gravel in the pathway. When the flowers all fill out you won't see much of it either.

It seems that eveyone is talking about the explosion of blooms

and then of course the foliage that then will take center stage.

Even Lincoln seems a bit surprised at the way the ivy seems to want to overtake him. I will evenually have to get out there and rescue him.

Do you have any frivolous foliage or any garden projects keeping you in the garden longer than usual?

April's Joys and Disappointment

April was a lovely month here in SW Indiana. We only had one really bad frost, the temperatures were June-like for a week and there was enough rain to charge up the garden. The garden responded to the lovely weather by popping out in blooms. The White Lilac that I stuck into the ground as short stick had its best bloom since I planted it. A happy surprise was that the Camassia bloomed right along with it.

The Peony Tree always starts out with the big fat buds full of anticipation.

Then the huge beautiful blooms appear shortly after the buds swell. While the blooms are gorgeous they just don't last long. These gorgeous blooms were open for only three days.

Then we had some rain and they turn into such pitaful ragmops. They are just the most disappointing flowers I think Ihave. Maybe I expect more from them but the tree doesn't set new blooms after the initial blooms have budded and bloomed. I wouldn't advise anyone to grow them unless you can find a more forgiving variety than I have. This one I have written down as Tree Peony paeconia. The other disappointing thing about it is that it was supposed to be purple. Maybe to someone elses eyes but not to mine. Other than this little disappointment there has been no high drama in the garden. Just me and my Dearly Beloved out there waging war against the weeds. What are some of your joys and disappointments of April??

Blooming Weather

This spring so far has been a little warmer than usual, great for blooming plants. However that is to change tonight. I decided that since the weather is reverting to winter, with freezes forcast for the next couple of nights, I had to get out and take some pictures of things that are blooming. They might not last much longer.
This Saxifraga Bergenia 'Perfect' is blooming for the first time. I have been so thrilled with this plant. I have tried to grow it several places in the garden but it didn't take until this last attempt. It might have been the 21" of rain last spring that helped get them established.We have a few new tulips blooming. I find these most enchanting. They have wrinkly leaves and only stand about six inches tall. They haven't opened all the way yet because it has been so darn cloudy and cool. I hope they survive the freeze and open wide when the sun does come out. Another shorty but cutie is this red tulip. It is even shorter than the first I have shown you. It has some lovely foliage too. It is spotted with maroon.

The 'Jack Frost' Brunnera is beginning to bloom. Hopefully it is in a protected place where it won't be damaged by the cold.These pretty little white daffodils are not protected.

I can't for the life of me find the tags for all of these plants. I planted this little narcissus several years ago. It just blooms and multiplies. I wish I knew what it was called.

Our white lilac bush has the most buds on it that it has ever produced. I am afraid that the freeze will do away with what looked to be its best show ever developing. The wind is so fierce I don't think covering it would be an option. That might damage the bush itself. We will just have to take our chances.

The ole double daffodils are blooming away. They are interspersed with the blackberries. I hope the blackberries will give them enough protection from the frost/freeze.

Of course the dear sweet violets will not be detered from blooming. They might pout for awhile but they will be back like gangbusters. This is one delicate looking toughie.
I can say goodbye to the Serviceberry tree I would imagine. It is about ready to go to making berries. I hope the freezed doesn't completely do away with its fruit. Many of the birds in the neighborhood like to dine here. I hope they aren't disappointed.

I hope you all have a good week. I will be sitting her fretting about the freeze.