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

Friday, March 4, 2011

Fertilizer Friday - 16 days until spring!

It's been awhile since I've had a chance to join in on Fertilizer Friday, but I made sure I had time to take pictures yesterday between rain and hail showers.  Every so often the sun would pop out and then shortly after it would pour rain again.  In between showers I ran outside to fill the hummingbird feeders with fresh sugar water.  This was made a bit tricky by Gracie, our dog, trying to to drink it every time I set the container of it down.  I ended up balancing on a step stool half sinking in the soggy dirt reaching for the feeders with one hand and holding the sugar water in the other.  As much as I love our dog, she definitely makes simple jobs much more difficult when she's around.  But, it was worth the circus act because I was greeted with a beautiful male Anna's hummingbird drinking from the feeder this morning.  I've only been seeing females lately, so maybe his arrival means they are thinking about nesting soon.

First thing I did outside was check the winter sowing.  I've now got Verbascum, Hollyhock, Lupine, Foxglove, Flax, Canterbury Bells and Poppy 'Lauren's Grape' germinating.

This Pulmonaria has been way ahead of the rest so far, the others have lots of buds now though.

Hellebores under the Cedar tree.

Pansies in the window boxes.

The shed garden coming to life.  This will be the first spring in this garden and I've already found Hellebore seedlings here!  Lots of bulbs are coming up too.

One of my favorite parts of the shed garden.  Daffodils, tulips and Bluebells are all coming up.  I'm beginning to doubt the variegated rhododendron will ever bloom, good thing I bought it for it's foliage.

Mexican Orange (Choysia ternata) was one of the shrubs I moved when I put the path through the front garden.  Aside from constantly being blown over with all the wind we've had, it's looking really good.  I've got it staked up better now and hopefully the roots will have a chance to take hold.

I'm really hoping for some dry weather this weekend, we are planning to finish off most of the front garden project and moving soil in the rain just doesn't sound like fun.  I've looked at four different weather forecasts, and all four have different predictions for the weekend.  I'm going with the one that says "cloudy with a bit of rain".  I like that better than the one that says 70% chance of rain.
I hope you'll visit Glenda/Tootsie to see what she and other gardeners are sharing today for Fertilizer Friday.
All words and photos in this post are property of A Gardener in Progress. Pin It

40 comments:

  1. Catherine you really have a lot going on there don't you? I still have nothing except a pink viola blooming it's little heart out. The Hellebores buds are getting bigger. Oh and I did see some Pulmonaria buds yesterday.
    I just love your new shed garden. Looks nice and big for lots of flowers too.
    I finally got around to posting for my 2 year anniversary giveaway yesterday. Just a bit late.

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  2. I know you are ready for a dry spell. Congrats on your winter sowing, must be starting them in the kitchen that does the trick, lol. Despite your weather as of late your gardens are looking springish!

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  3. The little seedlings indicate that Spring is really coming, and gardening is getting in.... ~bangchik

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  4. All those sprouts! I don't have any yet in my winter sown experiment.

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  5. Things are looking up, Catherine! Soon, it's going to be me wearing an upsidedown smile as Autumn, now officially on its way here, makes make to Winter!!! Then, I'll be needing LOTS of colour and cheering from your garden :) I'm really excited about that, as this will be my first Spring & Summer visiting your garden!

    Your windowbox pansies are looking BEAUTIFUL!!! What a delightful scene!

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  6. I tell ya it so exciting to see the new in a newly build garden area. The area is so fresh and just saying Here - Here plant me here. I did a bad thing probably but I had a lot of seeds left from last year and I spread them out randomly and am hoping for some flowers. I hardly see anything at all in my gardens from the plants I let go to seed. I'm really disappointed in that I see nothing however the seeds I put out are germinating so we'll see. have a good weekend.

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  7. Wow, look at all that sunshine first of all! Looks like it was a pretty day when you took these photos. Your garden looks so beautiful. I hope you get your wish with the weather. I'll send you some of our dry climate for the weekend. Happy Friday!

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  8. Congrats on your win at Becca's Dirt!

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  9. Your shed garden is looking wonderful. I did not know there were variegated Rhododendrons. I have so much yet to learn. LOL! The pansies in the window box are so pretty. I love how they reflect off of your window in the picture. You and the little gardeners have a wonderful weekend.

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  10. Cathrine, I love your window box with he pansies, too bad that I didn't have the time this year to plant pansies in my garden. Your newly planted shed bed is really looking great, to me it just says "spring is here and can't be stopped anymore"!
    Christina

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  11. I love all your happy spring blooms and that shed...how cute is that!!

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  12. Oh Catherine, I am drooling over your blooms . . . every year I feel this way, when seeing your garden so full of life! Lovely. I adore the pansies and their reflection! Wonderfully cheerful photo! I can imagine your joy every day, when seeing and entering your garden!

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  13. Everything's looking so good there! My Pulmonaria is just showing a few leaves above the soil, no sign of flowers. But it's just a baby. Plus, I am 600 feet above sea level here, it's interesting what a difference that makes.

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  14. Catherine, I so enjoy watching the progress of your garden! Isn't it fun to see spring flowing in?? Your hellebores are beautiful. I need to get out and check on mine. I forgot to do that when we worked in the garden Wednesday! ~~Rhonda

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  15. Everything is really coming to life. I'd love it if you'd send me a picture of the hellebore seedlings so I can identify them when I have them- I'd hate to pull them thinking they're weeds! I think I figured we're about a month behind you- so the winter sown project will be interesting. I can't believe we're so close to spring!

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  16. I think I can deal with it being 16 days away. We have a lot of catching up to do. Your things look great in spite of the snow, rain, and hail.

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  17. A very cheerful and happy posting for a cold rainy day. Thank you for the lift.
    - Joy

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  18. It is all looking good! I had great intentions of seeding this past winter, but I did not. Oh well, my nursery people will love me when I drop a few dollars for more plants...

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  19. Catherine,

    Now the zones are hitting me in the face again. I see the difference, but at certain times of the year I just don't get it!

    Eileen

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  20. great pictures, thanks for sharing

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  21. You're really making me long for spring! Your garden is really coming along so well already.

    We've got the warm temps, but there will be frost again, so I do worry about the damage to come.

    Have a great weekend!

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  22. Gracie sounds like our dogs. Trying to be helpful, but more often than not, a trip hazard! ;) Considering the cold and erratic weather, I'm impressed at how much is blooming in your garden already. I really need to add some more early season blooms here.

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  23. Oh how I wish my garden had flowers. The gardens are starting to look great. Hope the weather co-operates with you. Happy gardening.

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  24. You really have the jump on spring with all the pretty blooms. Still having snow here, what is melting is only going to be replaced.

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  25. Love your pansies! SO cheery - I look forward to watching your garden grow this summer! Paula from Idaho

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  26. Dogs do make each little chore a little harder but they are such nice companions when you finally get to sit and enjoy the garden! Love that you're seeing hummingbirds - yeah! Have a great weekend!

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  27. Forget the calendar, it is spring in your area! I noticed Tessa asked you to send her photos of hellebore seedlings. I'd like to see them, too. Maybe you could post them on your blog.

    It is currently 14 degrees, and I am hoping we warm up to stay soon. I guess I can feel a bit of sympathy for you with all that rain, but mostly I feel sorry for myself. Still, I should see my first bloom of the season in the next few weeks.

    I love what you are doing in all of your different planting areas!

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  28. Tessa and Sue - I will try to get a picture of hellebore seedlings up this weekend. They are a very dark green and the first leaves are rounded.

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  29. Catherine, The pulmonaria and pansies look gorgeous! Spring has definitely arrived in your neck of the woods! Thanks for sharing views of your lovely garden.
    Blessings, Beth

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  30. I wonder if spring will be here in 16 days....hope so.

    Love your shots.

    Jen @ Muddy Boot Dreams

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  31. My fingers are crossed for great [okay, tolerable] weather. :)

    Love to see your garden come alive.

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  32. Hope that it was the 'cloudy with a bit of rain' forecast that materialised Catherine. Roll on spring :)

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  33. You're doing GREAT. I love the steady progress and your blue shed is darling.

    I'm hoping you got sunshine. We got warm sun today (the bees are busy pollinating), but we're expecting rain tomorrow. We could use some more.

    Sending warm hugs across the miles and up the coast,

    Sharon Lovejoy Writes from Sunflower House and a Little Green Island

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  34. You're off to a great start.
    Also I see winter sowing went very well...congrats. I can feel your excitement.

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  35. So Spring is finally coming by the look of your seedlings and those flowers showing their new shoots in your garden. Looking forward to beautiful colours soon!

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  36. Your garden is already so lovely. Here we still have a lot of snow, it's like winter hasn't decided to go away yet.

    I hope you'll have nicer weather over there.

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  37. I can't believe your pulmonaria is blooming already. Although I must admit mine is certainly starting to green up!

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  38. I love your primroses! Looks like you are making good progress. I keep checking in to see how it is going. There is nothing better than starting a garden from scratch.

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  39. Your pansies are so cheerful in your window boxes! We had a break in the rain today, hoping you did as well! Excited to see photo's down the road of your latest garden project :) Jenni

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  40. The delights of Spring are certainly showing in your garden.
    It's always a pleasure popping over to your place :D

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