With temperatures in the mid 80's for the past two days the Spring garden is as a peak. I have had to water the flopping tulips and hyacinths and the Star Magnolia has dropped most of it's flowers.
I have spent more time this year noticing the sequence and cycle of the plantings because of writing the blog and taking photos. It is interesting to take a group of photos one day only to see how much they have changed the following day.
Many of the earlier daffodils have dried up and I will have to snap off that little bulb so they don't put energy into making seed. Even though I have coverage from daylilies and other tall plants, I become very impatient waiting for all of the bulb foliage to die back.
22 comments:
Dear Eileen, I find it very difficult to believe the extraordinary temperatures that you are experiencing. It is indeed quite stressful for early Spring plants which are used to a milder heat.
As you say, there is always the difficulty of ensuring that foliage from plants which have finished blooming can be allowed to die back without the borders looking messy. I agree with you that the Hemerocallis can be very helpful in providing camouflage.
Hi Edith,
I do think I enjoyed them more this year because of being outside looking at them, taking pictures, writing, etc.
Eileen
Eileen, You've described one of the main reasons I enjoy blogging. We become so much more observant in our gardens as a result. As much as I've always loved gardening, I enjoy it even more thanks to blogging.
I have been staring at images of your spring garden all morning. Its raining outdoors, as I write, and your garden gives me solace.
Although you didn't expect the following comment, I must thank you for the AOL widget that you posted under the banner of your site. I clicked on and discovered a CD by one of my favorite singers. It was a real treat to listen to the music. Thanks! Now, where can I download that widget for my screen?
Thanks garden girl,
Blogging has made me much more aware of all gardens, some awe inspiring and some not so!
Eileen
Allan, so sorry is is a gloomy day by you. It rained here this morning, but the sun just came out.
I don't even know what widgets I have sometimes. I had better watch what is scrolling about my site, glad it was a good one!
Eileen
Beautiful blooms. I love the tulips.
Blogging sure does help you pay closer attention to the garden...I love it!! enjoy your weekend!
*hugs*deb
The Emperor tulips are really pretty.
I've noticed since I started blogging I've paid closer attention to bloom time too, and I've started taking even more pictures this year so I can enjoy the flowers once they're finished.
I started my garden blog for the same reason as you. I wanted to keep track of what was going on when. It's also interesting to see what's going on in other gardens versus your own. Like rhododendrons - they are still a long way off here.
Wow just look at those Rhododendron's bloom. Gorgeous. Mine will be a couple of weeks yet but the yellow Capistrano is opening now. Poor bush is half dead but has a few limbs blooming yet. It is dry here too and I had to water plants already. What happened to the April shower thingy. Your Monte Carlo tulips are so pretty.
Have a wonderful weekend.
Lona
Thanks Sandy,
I am afraid they will be gone all too soon.
Eileen
Hi Maureen,
I think the PJM's are pretty early. I have never had luck with them until this year, pretty finicky about conditions.
Eileen
Thanks Catherine,
I grow a few other varieties that also seem to come back each year.
Eileen
Hi Lona,
After the show the rhodies put on this year, I don't think my husband will mention cementing over this area again.
Eileen
Goodness, you've been having some high temps over there - it's averaging 14c here but we haven't had any rain for days - I like rain in the spring garden - not too much mind!!
Your blooms all look to be thriving despite the heat!
Jeanne
x
Jeanne, it has been pretty much instant bloom the last week. They come up, open, bloom, shrivel - gone. I am so glad that we had some cool weather for the daffodils. It is the tulips that have suffered.
Eileen
It's a real shame your bloom time has been short ... but I must say your photos show some absolutely gorgeous blooms. That hedge of Rhodos is stunning and I so love that Narcissus Thalia. So many beautiful tulips too ... something you'd never see around here.
Talking about watering the garden ... it seems strange to me that we're getting April showers almost every day here, so we don't need to water much at all. That's rather unusual for my corner of the world.
I know Bernie it seemed too fast. We are supposed to get a frost tonight, so it is still too early to put out the sensitive plants.
Eileen
Nice rhododendron! Until recently I wasn't ready to plant our shady area but rhododendrons like that would do very well there.
Hi Dave,
My rhodies face east so they get am sun. They don't like to be wet and have a shallow root system. I learned the hard way and had to replace them one-by-one. I also feed them an organic acid fertilizer.
Eileen
What a pleasure it must be to walk in your garden at the peak of its spring beauty! I especially enjoyed the Toronto and Orange Emperor tulips, although I would not have imagined such a red-orange combo in the spring garden would please me so much.
I think your rhododendrons are writing you a gorgeous thank you note for giving them the loving care they deserve. :)
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