Arkansas Blue Star and Strawberries

Today I planted 3 bareroot Arkansas Blue Star (Amsonia Hubrichtii) and 6 Sweet Kiss strawberry (Fragaria) plants. The Amsonia arrived from Bluestone Perennials last week on Thursday or Friday, but since I didn't have time to plant them right away, I moistened them a little and kept them in the  plastic cling wrap which protected them from drying out during transit. I saw them at the Van Vleck gardens in Montclair this summer and thought that their graceful and airy form would screen the cars in the driveway.

After I thought I had my hands full with the Arkansas Blue Star and was wondering when I would have time to plant them, the Sweet Kiss strawberry plants arrived this week from Park Seeds. I'm looking forward to trying these. "Fire-engine Red & Candy Sweet" is how these were advertised on Park's website. I don't normally like fruits because they usually do not appeal to me, but the Alpine strawberries, although not plentiful, were sweet enough that I actually enjoyed eating them. I'm hoping that these won't disappoint! I planted these near the backdoor next to the Alpine strawberry plants. Hopefully they will be OK there since it's not the sunniest spot in the garden. I'm thinking of adding a raised bed in the front where I can grow Nice Things to Eat. Once that is done, I suppose I can move the plants there where they can get more sun.

I also removed the Lily-of-the-Valley plants I managed to grow in a pot from bareroot this spring. It seems that for some people they grow like weeds, but I seem to have the most difficult time getting them to grow - probably because I want to them grow so badly, lol! Maybe I'll have better luck this time since they have some leaves and their roots have also filled out.

The yellow orange daylilies are going strong since it hasn't been too cold in the evenings.

No pictures today since I was busy trying to plant everything before the shipment of tulip and daffodil bulbs arrive from Colorblends. Although they have sent me catalogs in the past, this is my first year ordering from them. I feel like a kid looking through a toy catalog when I look at their selections. So many colors and forms and such beautiful color combinations! Which one(s) to pick?! Good Lord, do I even have enough time to plant them all!

It's not easy trying to keep on top of everything so that I don't have an overwhelming pile of plants that I need to get into the ground before it gets too cold. Over the years, I've learned to pace myself better during the planting season. I don't buy as many varieties for the season anymore, but I now try to order at least 3 plants where it makes sense to do so.

I think next year, I'll concentrate on bed in the front of the house. We had the porch newly painted earlier this month and that bed has been neglected while I concentrated on the back entrance, which is the entrance we use most often.

Flowers in April

So far, the muscari by the mailbox has come up and is looking beautiful. The daffodils are getting ready to open. I should probably plant a different variety since the ones that are currently there seem to have week stems which don't support the flowers very well. I don't have pictures now, but hopefully I can take some pictures tomorrow.

Bleeding Hearts and Jacob's Ladder

Sweet Woodruff, Hyacinth and Primrose

Jacob's Ladder

It seems that the Jacob's Ladder that is planted in an area with part shade is doing a lot better than the one planted in full shade. Unfortunately, I'm planning to move it so that I can plant 3 Sweet Box (Sarcococca humilis Fragrant Valley) in that bed. Then again, maybe I'll just plant it near the wall, since it is supposed to do well in dry shady areas where it is difficult to grow many plants. Unfortunately, it seems to be a slow grower. Decisions, decisions! 

My shipment from Park Seed came yesterday. In the box were:

• Hydrangea All Summer Beauty (1)
• Sarcococca humilis Fragrant Valley (3)
• Gaultheria procumbens Creeping Wintergreen (1)

I'm hoping to get them in the ground this weekend. 

Another sweet surprise came from Uncle L and Aunt J who surprised us with a tall Persian Lilac shrub on Easter. I've been keeping it watered and trying to figure out the best place to put it.