Thursday, April 21, 2011

A Reversal Of Fortune

I never thought we would have a situation where spring was taken away in an instant.  The winds picked up, rain began and it all ended with snow on the ground.  We were down in the low 30's again with a high in the low 40's for the day.  It has been quite a week!


The Chanticleer Pear is ready to flower if only the weather will cooperate.


Luckily, I had moved some David Phlox the day before and planted some new clematis and Bleeding Hearts.

Snow Queen (which will take some shade) Type I and Dr, Ruppel Type II both from Home Depot


They all seemed to have survived the ice and snow.  I have been hardening off my Silver Tidal Wave Petunias because they are less susceptible to the cold than my other seedlings and the zinnias Zahara Double Orange and Highlight.

The hardening off usually takes a couple of weeks, not time for impatiens yet and the snapdragons and amaranthus are still too small.  I will bring them into the garage each night.

I received my bare root David Austin roses Mary Rose and soaked them in a bucket of water.  I have very good luck with bare root roses, just as good as the potted roses, but there is a short window of planting with bare root, like now!

I had to order these direct from David Austin.  Mary Rose is not available locally even though I think I purchased the first three I had from Home Depot - go figure!


Hyacinth Harlem will last another week or so if the temperatures remain cool.  The shriveled flower stalks can be cut but the green leaves need to remain to make food for next years flowers.  I have grasses planted in this area which will hide the hyacinth leaves.


The containers have been a bit of a disappointment because of the cold weather.  Hopefully, I will be able to show some flowers next week.


Muscari Blue Spike


Muscari Valerie Finnis
Thought this was Valerie but it looks a little light, maybe will change as it opens up!


Emperor White and Yellow

Daffodil Salome
The cup will become pink as it ages

Euonymus Wintercreeper looks great as it leafs out but it has had scale problems, used a dormant spray about a month ago and will use a systemic in May.  I would hate to have to pull this out!


Heuchera Plum Pudding

Heuchera Georgia Peach
I lost one of these and overall they don't seem as hardy as my other Villosas.

Heuchera Southern Comfort
This huechera seems to be the hardiest and keeps its color all year, even under the snow.

I replaced my yew in the middle and it is as close in size as was possible, planted up a little higher this time.


Pachysandra Green Sheen
It looks great this year and is even flowering more than usual.


Have a great weekend and visit Tootsie for Fertilizer Friday!

37 comments:

BernieH said...

Here am I rejoicing in our weather conditions which have changed for the better and you're putting up with such unpredictable weather. Still, everything looks fabulous out in your garden despite the reversal of fortune.

I'll keep my fingers crossed that your new roses can go out soon. The Hyacinths are brilliant and the Muscari are putting on a terrific display as well. Love the colour of Georgia Peach and Southern Comfort ... great names too!

Fishtail Cottage said...

Everything looks so pretty! i so get where you are coming from regarding the temperatures...Hope we will still see a summer? Hope you have a fantastic week! xoox,tracie

Darla said...

So sorry to read of the latest winter push through your area..perhaps this may be the last one? Lovely blooms today...:)

Anonymous said...

Beautiful muscari. You have lots of healthy, beautiful plants. Have a wonderful Easter.

Jennifer@threedogsinagarden said...

Hi Eileen, It is too bad about all the cold weather! We are experiencing the same- the weather man has called for rain all weekend which might easily turn to snow.
I like your new clematis and Mary Rose is my favorite David Austin. (You have reminded me that I need to place a last minute order for a few new roses.)
Your seedlings are coming along so nicely. I can't wait to see these interesting varieties in flower!
Have a great Easter!

Lona said...

Crazy weather! We have been getting so much rain,storms and tornadoes all around us. I would not mind the rain so much if it would stay warm. I am sick of complaining about the weather this year all ready. LOL!
I think your container is so pretty Eileen. I like the bare root roses too and usually get those. I like your new Snow Queen clematis. Have a wonderful Easter!

~~Rhonda said...

Thanks for sharing your lovely blooms. The muscari look great. Love those. One of my favorite spring flowers. Looks like you are a couple of weeks behind us. I am in southern IL and our daffs and tulips are done. The muscari are setting seed. The apricots and apples have finished blooming. Now we are looking at cooler rainy days for the next week, so things may slow down a bit. We shall see! ~~Rhonda

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Hi Bernie,

I did get the roses in and just in time for more thunderstorms. I am just thankful it is not snow.

Eileen

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Tracie,

We are having another day of thunderstorms and rain, can't get outside to do anything.

Eileen

Alison said...

So sorry that winter came calling one last time (it better be the last time)! It's always such a shock to us, but the plants seem to do fine. Yours are lovely!

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Thanks Darla.

Some years we are out grilling for Easter, too wet and cold this year.

Eileen

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Thanks Rosie,

Happy Easter to you and yours.

Eileen

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Thanks Jennifer,

I did get the roses in right before it began raining again. Mary Rose has such a wonderful smell. I lost two of them, one left, over the past years so these are replacements.

Eileen

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Hi Lona,

I try to stay aways from Type I clematis, because they are more work trimming out the dead parts of the vine. However, I really liked the fact that it can take some shade.

I may even move it into another area that has more shade than the walkway.

Eileen

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Hi Rhonda,

You really are ahead of us. Many of my early tulips have not bloomed yet.

Eileen

The Tablescaper said...

YOur garden looks like it is coming along beautifully, despite your weather conditions. Your clematis look amazing fo new ones. I never get very many blooms off of new ones.

Thanks so much for your visit and kind thoughts. Hope to see you at Seasonal Sundays.

- The Tablescaper

Beth said...

You have a lovely garden! I look forward to continuing to watch its progress over the spring and summer. Happy Easter!
Blessings, Beth

Rosie Gan said...

Love the muscari and hyacinths and...oh, everything. Happiness is a blooming garden!
Rosie, my garden haven

Val said...

Love it all! Your gardens are just heaven.

Karen said...

Eileen, I'm sorry to hear your weather has been as persnickety as ours, this has been such a messy Spring so far.

Your flowers are such a welcome sight. The shrub matches in size so closely. I love your container plantings, they are beautiful!

Sissy said...

I LOVE your container with pansies and hyacinth! Good to meet another gardener that is a fan of pachysandra! I think it is a glossy green delite that I would not do without!
Hang in there, I just know spring is coming...

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Hi Tablescaper,

The blooms are there for now, but I never expect to get very many the firstp year.

Eileen

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Thanks Beth,

We did have a nice day today, lots of work in the garden.

Eileen

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Hi Rosie,

The Muscari are always a welcome sight because they come a little bit after the daffodils.

Eileen

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Thanks Val,

Visit again!

Eileen

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Thanks Val,

Visit again!

Eileen

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Karen,

We don't have snow but the rain has been nonstop. Today is the first day all week we could work in the garden.

Eileen

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Thanks Sissy,

The Green Sheen is a really nice variety. You don't see it very often in the nurseries.

Eileen

Mel_Cole said...

I love your hyacinths. I have been wanting to have those in my garden someday. :) Been busy for Easter. Sorry for my late visit but my post is not late :) Hope you can visit my Fertilizer Friday here.

Anonymous said...

Beautiful garden and planters even with the crazy weather!

We wait for our annuals until Mother's Day, just in case.

I loved seeing all these photos, Eileen.

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Thanks Mel,

The spring garden looks lovley right now but we know that the least little bit of heat and it will be gone quickly.

Eileen

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Pat,

I know you have had some crazy weather and we are getting rain just about every day. I will be very hesitant to put out my annuals this year not knowing what will hit us.

Eileen

Dogwood trees Tennessee said...

Gorgeous! Everything so pretty!! I like this garden and i will we try my home garden..
Thanks for sharing..

Rosie Nixon Fluerty said...

I hope the weather has been improving since you wrote this. Your seedlings look to be doing very well and I hope it won't be too long before you can get them planted outdoors to make room for more things in the green house.

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Hi Dogwood,

Thanks for visiting. We are finally get spring in slow motion.

Eileen

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Hi Rosie,

The weather has improved temperature wise, but we are having storm after storm. What is happening with out weather?

Eileeen

Lily said...

Lovely blooms and the container combinations are great. Hoping for a sunny weather this weekend!

BTW, that is a fantastic shot of Salome!