What is really going on in my garden? Not much! I am looking around and bulbs are poking through and my Early Sensation daffodils are blooming (almost two weeks now - I will certainly plant more of these next fall),, but my Tete-A-Tete daffodils are struggling to bloom.
I am beginning to feel disapointment that many of the bulbs I planted in the fall are not coming up and were probably taken by the squirrels before I could cover them with chicken wire. I am using a new product (in three different gardens) for me called Plantskydd for Critters. It is a granular, non toxic dried blood type material. They guarantee that it will work and also make a deer repellant. It is expensive, but if it works it will save many of the plants those little rabbits and squirrels (bulbs) feed on. This is a bummer, I am definitely going to win next fall!
I am going to begin feeding my evergreens, boxwood (boxwood take a general fertilizer not acid), shrubs and roses. I used to buy spikes, but I haven't been too happy with the results in the past few years, so this year I am going to do an organic granular. I have pruned all of my roses and cut down the perennials and the hydrangeas that grow on both old and new wood. My Endless Summer Hydrangeas look good this year requiring very little pruning. The Salome daffodils that surround these hydrangeas look good this year, just coming up through the mulch.
Bleeding Hearts have poked through, no hosta yet, daylilies up in the vegetable garden and elsewhere. There is no Astilbe, no Foxglove, Phlox poking through, no Coneflowers, some Clematis showing buds, no grasses showing any growth, some roses budding, Shasta Daisies lots of green leaves, Hyacinths and Tulips poking through, no ferns, Heuchera showing growth, no Astrantia showing, no Polygonium (Soleman's Seal) , no Peony buds, no - Why am I doing this? It is making me so depressed! I guess I will just have to wait like I do every year.
Good morning Eileen. Your daffodils are looking good. When a little warm and sunshine comes they will pop right open. Looks like we are heading into a fantastic week ahead weather wise.
ReplyDeleteMy Bleeding Hearts are about your size too and just coming up along with the Jacobs Ladder.
Jacobs Ladders! I haven't had this plant since my old old house. This would be a great plant for that narrow north side strip. I was at the point where I thought just Astilbe and Hosta for over there, but I am beginning to believe I can put in many of the plants I had in a larger shade garden.
ReplyDeleteEileen
I would be happy to see any of these. My snowdrops just started blooming. I have read quite a few good thing about the Early Sensation, they will go on my list for this fall, always looking for the earliest.
ReplyDeleteToronto's weather is not too much different than ours. Are you a zone 4 or 5? It has been a long time since I have been in Toronto, but it is a lovely city.
ReplyDeleteEileen
It's still early Eileen, and I hope you may yet see some of your bulbs come up. I can definitely commiserate on the critters eating the garden and digging stuff up. I never had so many problems with that as I do here. It's very frustrating!
ReplyDeleteThat bleeding heart's going to be gorgeous! Mine have been here for four years, struggled the first two, and are tiny compared to the size of that clump.
Hi Garden Girl,
ReplyDeleteYes it is still early, but since a few came up I think they are gone. The bleeding heart in the picture is about six years old so maybe they are slow to really take off.
Eileen
Hi Eileen- thanks so much for faving me!! Regarding your tete-a -tete daffodils... I once planted a huge number of them and not a one came up... I assumed they weren't as hardy as other choices. We still have so little bloom, but that is about to change with 70's by next weekend. We so need rain... first possibility a week from tomorrow! Larry
ReplyDeleteLarry, you deserve more than a fave for all of the work you put in on your property.
ReplyDeleteIn regard to bulbs, I buy them wholesale from Van Engelen (large quantities) or from John Scheepers (smaller quantities). They are sister companies, and their bulbs are very reliable, or they replace them. Tete-A-Tete should have been hardy in your area. Are you a zone 4 or 5?
Eileen
Beautiful daffodils ... not something I see here so I think it's a fabulous display.
ReplyDeleteLet's hope that new product works for you ... and you get all the bulbs come up next autumn.
It is probably way too warm for daffodils and tulips. Bernie, did you every try Blotanical again? They said they fixed my account.
ReplyDeleteEileen
I can understand your impatience Eileen. It's different here in the UK, our spring takes a while to take off and the garden is still mostly green and budding. I was happy to see some sedums poking through. The daffs and hyacinths are out and the tulips are not far behind. I noticed some tiny buds on my apple trees as well!
ReplyDeleteSorry to hear that you have been unlucky with some of your bulbs but you are being compensated with some other lovely plants.
Jeanne
x
Yes Jeanne,
ReplyDeleteI will have to restrict myself from tulips next year or put down lots of chicken wire over them.
Eileen
Toronto is very warm probably a Zone 6, especially the downtown area where I live. But my garden is 2 hours north of the city (weekends only). It is a Cdn Zone 5b, but US Zone 4b,according to the charts, but they are not always accurate. I have redbud, mags and cornus kousa in my garden and never a problem (so far).
ReplyDelete