Flower Beds

 Monday, April 1, Fool's Day (how appropo) I planted the flower bed. From this angle the rows look more or less even. But when they fill out, they will look spiffy. Why even mention this? Because for the first time, I am trying to make it look 'professional' vs slapdash, as I usually do it. In fact I believe that this is the first flower bed that I've done right in all my years of gardening. First, having the sod removed and having compost brought it, and then topping that with a thick layer of mulch.  Then planning ahead and putting in the tree first.  Of course separating the sunny part from the shady part also took some thought.  So, I'm pretty proud of my little, exhausted, 76 year old self.

 Here's a view of my Charley Brown Japanese Maple, with kinked trunk. The leaves are green (surprise!) and they have a skinny red edge, which might mean that they turn a pretty color in the fall, I hope.  Here's the plant list starting at the left in this picture. First a pot of Lavender from my pal Patsy, then Easy Wave petunias, 6 red and 6 white, supposed to spread 30" . We'll see, but I did space them out instead of my usual crowding. Then a closer spacing of 32 green leaf begonias, which have pink edges to the leaves. The next row is 18 Victoria Blue Salvia and on either end of that row are Baptisia Australis (blue), and Plum RosyBaptisia  (lavender+white). Behind the Victoria salvia are 6 Black and Blue Salvia which I am hoping will become perennial here, as they did in my previous garden. Now we are in zone 8a and my perennial hopes are reinforced. The final row in the sun garden is Stella D'Oro daylilies. Oops, forgot that it starts with a few sprigs of Creeping Jenny, from Patsy.

There is a break after those and then the shade garden begins. I am thrilled that the 4 Bleedling Heart roots I bought in a bag from Walmart have all become wonderful little plants, and one has even sprouted blossoms! I gush. Hollyhock roots are also leafed out and I have some seeds which I will add to that spot, since they are biennials and the seeded plants won't bloom til next year. German Iris in dark purple (yet to show buds) from my pal Patsy, and a group of Dutch Iris are next and then 12 Asiatic Lilies followed by 6 Calla lilies both from bags which are up and growing fast, and 4 pink German Iris (bagged) and one Ostrich Fern which is unfurling daily. There were 3 roots in that bag but so far the other two have not risen. And the last row is 3 potted Heuchera from Home Depot, and lots of Hosta, from bags and one super big potted one from Lowe's that survived my total neglect and spurred me to make this garden.  And at the very back corner, a Hellebore from Patsy's garden which is showing signs of being alive. 

 I splurged on this fancy schmansy Japanese Maple and have yet to find a spot to plant it. 

 Ranunculus from Lowe's half price shelf. I am thrilled to have them and will save the corms and plant them in the flower bed.

 Another view, with that vigorus blue Baptisia, which will become bushy in years to come.

 But wait, there's more! I was gonna use that wood frame that I garbage-picked, but changed my mind and decided to go permanent. These concrete blocks from Lowe's are the big ones. 16x12x8. I've used them before and liked them because they have bigger openings to grow things. For this bed, I thought ahead and put down cardboard as a weed barrier and laid the blocks on the board to keep straight lines. I made my own potting mix from coconut coir, perlite and compost. Filling that bed took about three hours and I was pooped. I tossed in three packets of zinnia seeds and a packet of snapdragon seeds, the tall variety. As they sprout I will decide if I need to add more seeds. The block 'holes' will get basil and nasturtiums and maybe some impatiens for the west side which might be in shade a lot of the day. I have a few lettuce starts which I might put in a few spots too. Lettuce is so pretty as it forms a head.

 Then I have this bare spot which is full of roots from some previous tree. I will spread some potting mix over it and sow portulaca seeds. It's surrounded by weeds, so it's better than nothing. I really don't care that our 'grass' is so overtaken by clover and wildflowers. It's green most of the year, and isn't Bermuda grass. 

 I still have lots of compost to use in my veggie beds, which is another story. More on that later.

I've said this before in my previous houses, "This is my last garden".  But my age is catching up with me and my endurance is pitiful. I have to have a day off between bouts of work. As I lie in bed, I keep dreaming of what I'll do tomorrow and only get half of it done. On the other hand, I am making progress, just turtle style, not jack rabbit.