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First let me start by saying this was one of the best birthday presents I have ever received. My friend and co-blog writer Chris, gave me time to help me in my garden. These days I value time more than I have ever in my life.
Plus spring is a busy season for us dirt diggers. Here is what we did with that time in the garden. Two gardeners are always better than one.
Check out the before and after pictures: Incredible.
BEFORE
Look at this lonely chair that actually was missing a slat. I painted it a couple of years ago and really haven’t done anything with it.
AFTER
WOW….we took chairs, pots and plants from around and look how it all turned out. We even used my “Tiki Bar” sign.
Here is the to do list:
AFTERNOON 1:
- We started with one bed at a time. We weeded, added fertilizer and cut back all the perennials.
- Then we assessed if plants were happy in their spots. We moved 4 shrubs into new homes. WARNING: be careful how many you move in the spring. You must water them religiously during the summer.
- We moved pots and furniture around. Chris has vision…I haven’t developed mine yet.
- We stopped, had some wine and celebrated our accomplishments. We scheduled next session.
Adding the bird feeder and pots together helped with the structure.
AFTERNOON 2:
- We planted the shrubs and trees I got from various plant sales and swaps- another 5 in total.
- We added soil conditioner and mushroom compost to my soil…it was a little dense. Good tip to remember.
- We planted my fruit bushes – blueberries and blackberries.
- We turned the rest of the veggie bed to prep for tomatoes and other summer goodies.
Beds have new blueberry and blackberry bushes. Bring on the tomatoes!
AFTERNOON 3: …which was a bonus and not really part of my present
Chris showed up with her wonder-man husband Bill to help limb up some trees to offer more sunshine. It is a amazing what one can do with a bow saw, tree pruners and a ladder. NOTE…I held the ladder – it was a very important job!
WOW…it was transformative. Thanks Chris. Thanks Bill. Best gift ever…
You should find a pal and help each other in each garden. It’s more fun and you get soooooo much more done.
Happy Gardening!
m
Big Splash in my tropical garden – the plant everyone wants to steal.
What a name! Bear’s Breeches…being from the south “breeches” reminds of my grandma. It is a common word in her vocabulary. For those who may not know what it means…breeches are pants. You use it in a sentence like this – “Your breeches are too big and are falling off of you.”
Now that we have had a southern language lesson, let’s get on to the plant itself and why you should grow it in your garden.
Just look at it…it rocks. It is big…big leaves, showy stalk-like flower shoots. Every time someone comes to my house and has a festive beverage on the deck, I can almost guarantee they will comment on it. What’s that? I want one…
Acanthus Mollis is the latin name. It is natively found in the Mediterranean. It likes partial sun and good soil. It is a perennial so it comes back every year. The flower stalks are taller than me…I would estimate almost 6 feet tall. The leafy part of the plant is about 2 feet tall. It does require watering in the summer…but this plant is worth it.
You should grow your own Bear’s Breeches. It will be all the rage in your garden.
Happy Gardening.
melissa
PS: It would make a great Mother’s Day present.
Often I get overwhelmed by weeding and watering…but when things bloom in my garden, it all becomes worth it.
So here are the blooms that are rocking in my Raleigh garden–despite some minor neglect from my day job 
Amazing purple flowering tobacco dominates my garden.
Pretty in Pink...these roses not only dazzle but are fragrant too.
A biennial you all should grow - exotic yet classy--my chinese foxglove.
The term "wall flower" has a bad rap - but these yellow flowers offer such color in my garden this time of year.
I decided to take my own advice…and enjoy. Yes, still lots of planting and mulching to do…but these buds keep me going.
What about you? What is blooming in your garden? What should we add to the list?
Happy Gardening.
melissa
So this time of year is awesome for watching things “pop,” but the opposite can be true too. The next month or so will reveal what actually survived our super hot summer and do I have some exciting dirt from my garden.
So I tragically thought 2 trees I planted last year bit the dust. They looked horrible. I knew I was going to have to go and dig them up and decide if I was going to replace. Well in the last week are so, proved me wrong. They survived.
Look at this baby pink dogwood- it will still need some major attention this summer, but it made it.
This one looked like a goner...but it made it.
And this Chinese Fringe Tree came out with a vengeance.
I just knew this winter that this one wasn't going to make a come back. So glad I was wrong.
So take a lesson from me…don’t give up quite yet. Your plants may surprise you.
Happy Gardening.
melissa
I love my mini bed by my mail box. It is like my little lab. I have tried all sorts of annuals and have recently added some perennials so I don’t have to swap it out as much.
As I went for my morning walk, I noticed the most fabulous combination. I still have my summer snapdragon (Angelonia) blooming…only one survived because I neglected to water after planting. But this petite flower juxtaposed against my peach pass along aster mum is brilliant.
As I have confessed many times before, I am not a fan of the formal mum. I know it says fall. I know it is a favorite of many. But this peach aster mum is tops. It isn’t formal…it is loose and free flowing. Co-writer Chris gave me one when she was doing some spring cleaning last year and it has become my number one fall plant.
The Angelonia will soon go away because it is an annual, but one you should put on your spring and summer list. It is so petite and sophisticated. And the purple-peach combo is a slam dunk.
You should grow that.
Happy Gardening.
m
