Dear Husband let me sleep in today. In good weather, usually I do that service for him on weekends, but somehow we swapped roles. I think it must have been about a quarter after seven when I rolled out of bed and dressed. I made the bed, unloaded the dishwasher, reloaded it, started some laundry, folded laundry and moved it to our bedroom, bleached the counters, watered the houseplants, feed the birds, had some toast and read the funnies and then ironed the curtains for the garage and hung them.
By then, Defer's eyes were beginning to roll with the need to go out for a quick visit with the grass, and I was ready to get to my gardens. There was too much to do to accomplish all of it in one morning, so I started with the gardens that edge the sidewalk to the front door.
Last year I planted several collections of lilies on either side of the sidewalk, near the front door. Several of the lilies in the bed on the north side were killed off, either by ground squirrels, raccoons, or by a heavy footed dog or cat. I planted easily a dozen lilies this morning, and 6 crocosima, and then I started the first weeding of the year. I got MOST of the beds at the front of the house done. I deadheaded the daffodils, and pulled thistles. I plan to paint the thistles with Roundup this year and be done with them, but I'll have to catch the next batch that come up. By then we will be in drier weather, and the Roundup will work more effectively.
It looks like we may have lost two tender rose plants that made it through the winter. I uncovered the roses about a month ago and they looked fine, but since then, they have faded to dead twigs. I'll wait to see if there is any new growth as we get into warmer weather, but things don't look good.
I've ordered my first hydrangea, and I plan to buy a buddlea to join the one I wintered over. We enjoy attracting butterflies and hummingbirds, so my goal is to keep planting things that will draw them in.
I worked for about three, maybe three and a half hours this morning, enjoying the heat of the sun on a chilly day. The sky was a deep blue and cloudless. We expected a storm this evening, but it may have by-passed us.
Tomorrow, if it's not raining, I'll take Mother to the nursery, and pick up the first round of plants. We'll make several visits over the next six weeks. My goal is to get everything that I buy into the ground! No waste this year! Our frost free date is May 15, so for the following thirty days, it's plant, plant, plant!
Comments (2)
I listen to a gardening show on the radio when I'm driving around on Sunday mornings. One caller was asking Paul, the host, why she had lost so many rose bushes this year (even some that were 30 years old). He responded that this was the worst winter in his memory for roses and he hadn't met anyone yet that hadn't lost at least 1/3 of their bushes.
Me, I haven't lost any roses. Of course I only grow Rosa Rugosas, which are just one step removed from the true wild roses. I must admit that even these hardy roses have lost a fair amount of canes, but the bushes themselves have survived and will come back in no time.
Hopefully you will get some new growth for your plants from the roots.
Posted by bogie | May 3, 2004 9:15 AM
Posted on May 3, 2004 09:15
Our average frost free date is April 20, but I noticed that we had a rather heavy frost this morning. And the chill in the wind would have put some pep in my step had I not made the mistake of reading what all you accomplished in one day, Buffy. That really tired me out.
Posted by Cop Car | May 3, 2004 5:14 PM
Posted on May 3, 2004 17:14