Summer 2011

I've been so busy with work, that I haven't had a chance to really tend to the garden this year. Here is a short recap:

1/ Visited Rutgers Garden's annual spring plant sale for the first time. There was a very nice variety of plants on sale at very good prices. I brought, at least, three different baptisas and two lavenders. There was probably a few other things, but I forget what they were. This year I got them all into the ground within a matter of weeks (compared to times when I didn't get them in the ground at all and they all died. There is the exception of the astilbe though... it was still struggling from last year, so I figured since it survived so far, why not try planting it... I did and there was a small showing of white plumes which did not last too long... I wonder if the thing is rootbound). Unfortunately with work, I have limited opportunity to blog... hopefully that will change because I would really like to write more...

2/ Brought some snapdragons and ivys and salvias from a local nursery. They got off to a slow start but seem to be doing better now, especially the darker salvia near the arborvitae. Also spotted salvia farinacea at the local Home Depot. I wish I saw that one earlier... I prefer the lighter purple and delicate look of the salvia farinacea.

3/ The only seeds I started this year are the Lupine Sunrise, just because they didn't do so well last year and look so intriguing and pretty in the catalog that I wanted to give them another try. Last year I probably planted them too late. This year I planted them a bit earlier. Of the three or four that I put out in front of the house, one or two have died and the other two are struggling. I wonder if it is a matter of too much sun or not enough water or a combination of both....

4/ Some stray zinnia seeds fell near the edging. They seem to be doing really well and are bigger and stronger than the ones I planted behind the boxwood. It must be all that sun.

5/ The marigold seeds that I direct sowed have grown into plants, but alas, no flowers!

6/ The butterfly weed and swamp milkweed from last year have finally flowered! The butterfly weed is short and not very impressive. The swamp milkweed is really pretty and is maybe about 2 feet tall now. It's not a very bushy plant though. Two of my lavender plants from last year have also flowered this year! The ones farthest away from the house, which probably gets more sun, are doing a lot better than the ones closest to the house and shaded during the late evening. Maybe they wouldn't be a bad idea for the side of the house. I thought that a large lavender planting there would be nice...

Well... it is getting late and I should go. I just wanted to record my thoughts and observations here before I forget for future reference.

Watered rose bush and mulched new flowerbed of stock and alyssum. Also mulched three new So Sweet hostas at the side of the house as well as the three new begonias and strawberry plants from last year.

Thank goodness it is raining right now. Hopefully it is enough to penetrate the mulch and keep the soil cool.

The sweet peas have sprouted. I always wanted to grow them. Hopefully this year I will be successful.