"One of the most delightful things about a garden is the anticipation it brings."

Friday, April 9, 2010

Frost free Fertilizer Friday.

Another week has flown by and Spring break is just about over. Yesterday, which was forecast to be stormy and even started with a little snow, turned into a beautiful day, cool but sunny skies. We spent part of our day at a fruit market which I discovered sold many plants as well, and at a very reasonable price. So we picked up Dill (to hopefully attract butterflies), Campanula rotundifolia 'Olympica', Dianthus 'Plumerius' and Chocolate Mint. All but the mint will go into the butterfly garden, mint is always planted in pots to keep them contained in my garden. We once rented a house that someone had let mint run wild in the garden. It was everywhere and impossible to remove. Even something that smells like Chocolate needs to be kept contained. ☺
The buds on so many plants are beginning to appear; Hydrangeas, Iris (a real surprise), tiny Rose buds and Columbines and the Dogwood are very close to blooming.
April 9th is supposed to be the last frost date for where I live, and that means I can begin sowing some more seeds outside now. I've got lots of things sitting and waiting to go in the ground and it looks like this weekend the weather should cooperate for me to be able to plant.

Pink Flowering Currant (Ribes sanguineum) is still looking good, although it's just past it's peak time. It bloomed early and the hummingbirds haven't found it yet, although I did see a hummingbird at one of the feeders yesterday. I always love how the flowers look against the bark of the Ponderosa Pine.

I never tire of looking at the Bleeding Hearts (Dicentra spectabilis).

Spanish Bluebells which I remember hearing had become invasive in certain places. The clumps get larger every year, but I never find them in any new places.

Bergenia 'Winter Glow' which was planted last Fall. I planted several of these along the front of the bed. These flowers are hot pink and the foliage turns reddish in the Fall. I actually didn't used to like these, they reminded me of lettuce, but somehow they've grown on me.

Apple blossoms getting ready to open. I don't think we'll have as many apples this year, I haven't found that many buds. I think with the mild winter it didn't set as much fruit.

Daffodil 'Sempre Avanti' just starting to bloom in my front yard. It has a really nice scent. After having such great luck with Daffodils this year I plan to add lots more for next Spring.

Jacob's Ladder (Polemonium) has grape scented flowers. They smell like candy.

Camellia japonica 'Kumasaka' is still blooming.

Pieris japonica 'Purity' is a veeeerrrry slow grower. I'm just glad it bloomed again.

Leopard's Bane (Doronicum orientale)

Fertilizer Friday is hosted every Friday by Tootsie at Tootsie Time. Visit her to join in or see who else is "flaunting their flowers."
I found this quote the other day, and for some reason it struck me as funny. I think because this time of year when so many plants are coming up it's hard to know if something is a real plant or a weed.
"When weeding, the best way to make sure you are removing a weed and not a valuable plant is to pull on it. If it comes out of the ground easily, it is a valuable plant." ~Author Unknown

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43 comments:

  1. What gorgeous photos! I love the look of the Pink Currant against that bark too. Sometimes I think rough bark was created just to be a great backdrop for flowers!
    And I loved that weeding quote too ... so true! :D

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  2. I think you are right. I didn't yank that hard on my Iris and it came out of the ground. I quickly put it back. It looked just like a blade of grass.

    You have so many pretties showing up there. I looove that bleeding heart. I planted white bleeding heart "Alba".

    Have a good weekend.

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  3. Hi Catherine. Oh, your flowering currant is just so pretty and I cannot wait until mu Bleeding Hearts get as big as yours.They are starting to get little blooms though, yeah!.
    Wonderful pictures of your blue bells and daffodil. I know you were on your belly or did Sweet Pea get those LOL!
    Oh to be able to have a camellia. One day they will get one hardy for my zone five. You hear that growers!

    Is Leopards Bane hard to grow? They look so pretty with your mushrooms.

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  4. I too, am sometimes surprised at what plants I find at small markets. I am very excited that your hydrangea has some leaves budding. It is definitely one of my favorite plants :-)

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  5. I never get tired of seeing the bleeding hearts either. Beautiful photos. Thanks for getting up close to them.

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  6. aloha catherine,

    everything looks gorgeous this friday, i love how you did some amazing macro shots of your blooms, thanks for sharing.

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  7. So glad that you are just about past your last frost date. These photos are very pretty. Daffs are very addictive...What a neat quote!

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  8. Love that weeding quote, Catherine, I've seen it before!

    I have heard that Bergenia is a slug magnet, have you found that to be true? I like it, but was warned off planting it. The Leopard's Bane is such a simple flower, but so cheerful. Does your Pieris attract a lot of bees? We had one at our rental house when we first moved here, and it was always just crawling with bees. Hard for a gardener to admit, but bees do scare me. What do you think, should I plant one? I do like it, but.....

    The Jacob's Ladder is pretty too, I've never seen the blooms so close before.

    So many questions, don't worry if you don't have time to answer.

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  9. Stunning. Love the Bleeding Hearts. Mine are coming along, but not even close. But, it's time to get out and dig around.

    Cheers,
    Kate - The Garden Bell

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  10. I will enjoy your garden, it is so lush looking, as my last frost date is still over a month away. Hope you get your seeds in this weekend. Happy Gardening;)

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  11. That's a nice quote, Catherine. I like it too. Great looking blooms. I like the Daff's close-up and wish you had done a closeup of Jacob's Ladder too. It's lovely.

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  12. Gorgeous flowers! Is your 'Chardonnay Pearls' getting ready to bloom? I think of you when I see mine. Mine has buds. I just purchased a 'Little Leo' the other day. It's so cute I hope it survives here. Have fun planting this weekend and I hope you get it all done. Want to come plant for me too?:)

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  13. It looks like Spring is really here after all. I just love your beautiful flowers - even though Matron doesn't DO flowers - I can still enjoy other peoples!!

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  14. The joys of Spring are many. Is Gracie enjoying the delicate sunshine?

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  15. Beautiful pictures! I absolutely love the camellia... :)

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  16. Those bleeding hearts are absolutely extraordinary.

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  17. Dear Catherine, Your garden really does go from strength to strength, Catherine. What I do so admire is the way in which you mix rare plants with those which are more usual to such great effect.

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  18. Hi Catherine

    Pieris japonica 'Purity' is a veeeerrrry slow grower. HA HA, veeeeerrry slow then.

    My bleeding heart just appeared as if from nowhere this week.

    Au revoir the frost!!!

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  19. Thank you all for stopping by to visit. We've been busy potting up lots of seedlings.

    Lona - Leopard's Bane has been tricky for me. I planted another one at the same time, but I think it got too dry. They seem to like the soil a little moist.

    Allison - I haven't noticed the Bergenia attracting slugs yet, but I never have too many slugs in my backyard. I think the birds must eat them. This Pieris doesn't have many bees on it, it's the only one I've ever had bloom here. I think you should grow one :) I personally love how they look in bloom, plus their new growth is usually really attractive. You should try Jacob's Ladder, even if just for their smell.

    Tina - Yes, it is about to bloom. So is my Deutzia 'Pink Minor' I think you have that one too. It's funny now how certain plants make me think of other bloggers now.

    Prospero - Gracie is a wimp :) She likes it to be much warmer before she wants to stay outside.

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  20. Your garden is inspiring! I have got to get some Jacob's Ladder. I haven't grown it in such a long time. I am replanning an area that I had not thought of as a shade garden, but I think it will work.

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  21. Catherine, I always love to look at your bleeding hearts, too. (Mine are just showing the first of their foliage.) Is it just my imagination, or have yours been in bloom for quite a long time?

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  22. That's a whole lotta "F's" in that title! Love your flower flaunting too!

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  23. Everything is so beautiful...I miss the drastic change from winter to spring with all the new flowers popping up.

    www.wildlifearoundus.blogspot.com

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  24. I never tire of looking at your bleeding hearts either, Catherine! That is truly perfection in a flower. I won't allow it to be my favorite, however, as we cannot grow them here. Love that pieris as well! And your camellia japonica, which I have a special fondness for, and CAN grow here. I am in utter amazement that you keep such nice flowers during snow and frost!

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  25. Wonderful words of wisdom here, haven't we all done it!!! Gorgeous flowers...I love a Bleeding Heart more than anything and have never been able to grow one!!!!

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  26. PLANT???? you are super lucky if you get to plant...I have to wait till after the long weekend in May...which this year is the last weekend!!!! grrr!
    Your flower flaunt this week is just wonderful friend...I love visiting your gardens...it's diggin season for me so I don't get a lot of blogging done...but I do love what I do get time to do!
    have a great weekend and thanks for linking in this week

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  27. Snow...I'm glad it turned out to be a pretty day. You have such pretty flowers in your garden!

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  28. In my garden Spanish Bluebells are a huge problem. Every year I fill the yard waste bin with them several times, yet still they appear everywhere, crowding out other plants. I can't see them without a sense of despair. They were probably introduced into my garden 80 or 90 years ago. This is also true throughout my neighborhood: Seattle-Mt Baker.

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  29. What a beautiful garden you have!
    The bleeding hearts are amazing and I now know that I will have to get myself a Dicentra plant for my garden. We used to have in our garden when I was a child, and I remember being fascinated by them.
    Nice to see the Polemonium. I have planted them for the first time this year and I can't wait for them to bloom.

    Greetings from the Netherlands!

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  30. I've never heard of Pieris japonica, but it's just gorgeous. Can't stop looking at it. The white flowers and dark green leaves are so, so pretty.

    donna

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  31. Oh Catherine, you have some gorgeous blooms! When I see lovely gardens like yours I have to draw on all the patience I can find because I want my garden to look like that NOW, not when it's ready, lol. That's the trouble with creating a garden from scratch, it all takes time.

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  32. There are so many goodies in your garden. I liket the Spanish Bluebells, I don't think that I've seen them before. Bergenia is a plant that I hate to love (do you see what I meen?) I love the foliage specially in winter and fall. But I dislike the awful pink coloured flowers mine has. It's so bad that I cut them of when they are in bloom. Last summer I bought a variety with white flowers 'Bressingham White' instead. I hope they turn out better looking so that I can divide them and remove the pink ones. Your Pieris japonica is real cute. I have one with red flowers myself 'Rosalinda' very beautiful with a foliage where the new leafes are dark red in spring. But they grow real slow. I've had mine for about three years and I think the size is about the same as when we bought it.

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  33. That bleeding heart makes my heart skip a beat, Catherine! You photograph your gardens so well. Shows that your love for them is something to behold.
    Brenda

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  34. I will enjoy your bleeding heart vicariously! My shaded area is so small, and they take up so much room, so I'll just enjoy yours. I had one at my old house and they just got enormous!

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  35. Hi Catherine,
    You have a wonderful assortment of blooms. Leopard bane doesn't live long for me, but I continue to try it again from time to time. I planted one or two last year, and this year, only one small one has come up, and it has one small bud on it. Yours is looking good. One of my 2 bleeding hearts has buds on it. Our average frost free date is May 15ish.

    Yes, we did get a little snow not that long ago, but are finally getting some warm temps. They're even predicting the lower 80s for a couple days this week. Yippee!

    That quote about weeds is funny.

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  36. Weather is amazing, isn't it? We were so far behind you and now my apple trees are done flowering while yours are starting.

    I have *got* to get that species of Dicentra. It is spectacular. You have got a lot of beautiful blooms now.

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  37. Catherine, Gorgeous photos..I was just wondering if you have moist, well draining soil? The soil I dream of;) You can grow beautiful plants like Pieris japonica, Leopards Bane, hydrangeas! That's not jealousy you hear~~just appreciation! gail

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  38. We're cold and rainy here, so I'm happy you got a bit of sunshine there. Lovely pics as always but I particularly like the bleeding heart photo - I think of it as a plant that's all about the up close detail.

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  39. Gail - Thanks. I wish I had moist well drained soil, it's fairly dry but I try to keep some of these moisture lovers watered a little extra. This Leopard's Bane is under a bird bath, I think when I rinse it and refill it the water overflows enough to keep the soil moist.

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  40. Sooo true, Catherine. At least mint is fairly shallow rooted. I've found that if the soil is moist it will pull. This doesn't mean it will go away though. There's Agent Orange for that. LOL It's that damn Bishop's Weed I find so tenacious. Grr....

    I used to hate Bergenia too. I think it was because I'd always see it growing in huge clumps in full sun. Another case of right plant-right place. When well tended in shade or a little sun, it looks fabulous.

    Your Daff looks like one I might need to have. Fragrant too!

    Love your last photo. The statuary and the whimsical mushroom with the happy, casual look of the Doronicum and Heuchera. Yep. Nice!

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  41. Your trip to the fruit market sounds like a lot of fun. Hopefully you had a nice weekend for planting. It was perfect weather here this weekend. Thanks so much for sharing these bright and cheerful blooms today. Enjoy your week Catherine.

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  42. Your garden is looking great, as usual! :-)

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  43. Beautiful photos of beautiful flowers. I tried to pick a favorite but I loved them all.

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