Gardening

This is another photo from the Kitty Coleman woodland garden at Comox. I think this is a magnolia. I was quite far away from the tree and used the zoom lens. I must have had the flash on to get that black background, but at the distance I was from the tree, I don't know how the flash was even effective. Just a lucky muddle through, I guess. I like the white on black, which is usually a very difficult light situation.

I have added more sand and some pea gravel to the new little rockery, as all the plants will want good drainage. I think this soil mix I have in layers is going to settle a bit yet, so I will probably add more of that fluffy top soil and some more sand before I consider it ready to plant.

I planted 2 rows of spinach at the bottom of the garden where there will be most shade, a row of dill at the top of the bed, by the other herbs. I put lobelia seed in the cracks along the bricks by the new little rockery and planted a row of decorative sunflowers next to the strawberry patch. The vegetable patch is ready to be seeded. On the left side, I am just going to move the mulch back and plant seeds. The right side is dug over. I must fiinish putting soil on the little rockery before planting any more on this side, as I need the space to work.

It is good practise to vary tasks when out in the garden. I did a variety of things today. Besides the seed planting, I moved another round cement stone from the thyme circle to the back and dug it in and levelled it. The stepping stones on this path are now much more stable and durable than the little ones I had last year that have mostly broken up. I am using them under the big stones for fill. After setting this final stone I spread some pea gravel around between the stepping stones. I have the little mint and irish moss to fill in around the stones.

While digging the stone out of the thyme bed I did a bit more weeding around the stone paths at the front. I might resort to putting round up on the paths, as there is some very persistent weeds like a little clover that are taking over the path, and covering the rocks. I don't mind a few of these little plants in the path, but there are just too many of them right now.

After finishing these things, I watered at the back. We got some quite high winds later, so I hope the watering held the seeds in place. We could use more rain yet, too. It was a cool day, good for getting things done, but not a great day to encourage seed germination.

I must do photos of the progression of the rockery and veggie patch... tomorrow, perhaps.

Gardening

One of the anemones that need a bit of special attention. I have this one potted but out in the anemone bed. I have another tiny one in the little lewisia rockery. Both are in bloom. They are a fine plant and are often seen at the rock and alpine garden show.
Tent catapillars! I have only seen this one nest, in the plum tree, so far this year. I hope it is not going to be a big year for these bugs. I found that I could reach the branch from the deck, so I tore it off, bagged it and burned it.

I have finished putting the bricks along the veggie garden edge of the new little rockery. I dug over a bit of the veggie garden and am into the area where I have put grass clippings down as mulch. There are very few weeds where I have put down this mulch. I found 3 gladiola bulbs while I was digging over the bit of veggie garden and have moved them to a big black pot. I won't dig any more of the garden, but will just pull back the mulch and plant seeds. I should plant the spinach, lettuce, swiss chard. These plants should be able to take more cold. There have been threats of more cold for us yet, this spring, so I will wait a week before planting more things. I do want to spread the lobelia seeds along the edge of the rockery, between the bricks and the rocks. I will be planting the marigold seeds next to the strawberries, perhaps. I have 3 big black pots that I might put the cosmos into. Sunflowers can go next to the marigolds.

I moved 3 of the round cement stones from out of the front thyme bed, into the back by the anemone bed. I need to move 2 more of these stones and the path should be good to walk on again. The little decorative stones I had put in there last year are broken. I guess they were not really meant to carry any serious foot traffic. The thyme was almost grown over the stones in the thyme circle. I added a bit more dirt to the empty spots and hopefully the thyme will just fill in. When I have the last of the round stones moved to the back, I will add pea gravel between the stones and encourage the irish moss and the little sicilian mint to grow. This mint is a lovely, fragrant little plant. It needs sun, or I would use it as a substitue moss in the Japanese garden area.

We had rain yesterday. The pond looks pretty good. I did not water the front plum tree, as I hope the rain we had will do the trick. I am watering it by letting the hose run in the general area, so hopefully, after the fertilizer spikes and the water, we may get fruit this year.

I spent some time this morning getting a few of my emails caught up. I have a couple left to do, but it feels good to have these done. I really must finish all of them, though. I owe Peanut, Jaromey, Bev and Irene, yet! Tomorrow!!

On my walk and in my garden

This lovely spirea, bridal veil, is in the front of my front garden. I have it pruned into a round ball. If I did not prune it the branches would fall over the plant in long sprays. But if left unpruned it would become ratty and stringy in appearance. The bright white just glows against the dark hedge.
white fawn lillies in their natural habitat, except for the ivy that is very invasive and is taking over the planet.
This is an armeria or thrift and a couple other little rock plants. You can see the work I have ahead of me in cleaning up this rock path, though.
The tulips all over the garden are blooming. They are so late, I had thought the squirrel had got them.
I seem to have only one of these lovely red anemones blooming this year. I must get more.
The trillium turns reddish as it ages. It is growing old gracefully.
Every year I see holes eaten in the buds of this peony. Ants making those big holes are out of the question!
the fern leaf peony is putting on a great show now

Yesterday I did quite a few things out in the garden. Mowed the lawn and did some of the edging. Put the lawn clippings around the strawberries for mulch, over the compost. I mixed a bag of sand with a bag of topsoil and added this to the little rockery areas I cleaned. Cleaned up two little areas of rockeries in the front and started the trimming of the thyme circle, which is long over due. I watered a bit in front and back. I did the transplants of the little lupine, the new thrift, an iberis, a phlox. I dug out the old rosemary and replaced it with a new one and a lavendar beside it. I may need to keep both of them pruned to fit the space. Was really quite warm out.

Today was a lazy day. I finished reading my Deverell book last night and stared this new one about identity theft. I am barely past the first chapter and finding it very interesting.

I tweaked a few photos for the Victoria Grid group on Flickr but my heart is just not in it!! Flickr can be so slow and the glaring white makes my eyes hurt. I just cannot seem to find the time or inclination to keep up with commenting friends or group pool photos. The garden beckons and the books, too.