Arrrgh!!!

The chives are are just about ready to pop into bloom. I've trimmed the clematis canes back and created a twine guide to help the plants get to the top of the trellis. The Jackmanii clematis is wonderful, and the Nelly Moser is there, but tiny. I've cleared out the Lemon garden of the dead annual roots, and ordered the annual lemon scented plants to replace them. I'll talk about that bed again when I plant it.

The iris at the sidewalk next to the garage are showing buds. Not all of the iris are that far along, but the varieties near the brick wall of the garage bloom the earliest, and it won't be long before they are in bloom. The vinca that jumped ship from a basket that my brother gave to my mother is blooming and trying to take over the entire garden. I nipped the vines back a bit to give the other plants a chance. The purple coral bells looks wonderful in this cool weather. I've got to find a way to shade that plant, or move it to a shadier area. It suffers in the heat.

The snowbells are in bloom. The cat has taken to laying next to them. I wonder if a chipmunk has made his home there. The last of the tulips are blazing a wonderful coral/peach/orange color at the curve of the garden. I really need to get more planted.

Last Sunday I planted some of the lilies that came from White Flower Farm. I have three potted lilies that Mother received as gifts that I want to try to get into the ground.

I have a bag of dahlias that I bought at Costco that I want to get into the ground. I think they will be the focal point of a purple and yellow summer garden along the sidewalk. I have Homestead purple verbena coming yet from White Flower Farms.

Dear Husband has rototilled two spots for me, twice! A week from Saturday, while he is motoring up the Chicago River, I will be on my hands and knees, planting seed mats for a cutting garden on one of those spots. We've covered the veggie boxes with black plastic to burn out the weeds that have taken them over, so I'll have to use part of the cutting garden area for my tomatoes and zucchini. I hope to have the veggie beds back in time to plant Fall spinach and lettuce.

I was all set to plant Joe Pye Weed as a visual barrier between us and the path to our east, when I discovered that my supplier had lost their entire crop! Joe Pye grows over six feet tall, and it draws butterflies. It was supposed to go in the second of the rototilled areas. Luckily, a friend shared a website with me, and Prairie Nursery in Wisconsin says I should have five plants by May 11th.
Perfect timing!

I weeded the garden closest to the house last weekend, and did some prep in the herb garden. Now I need to get out into the two driveway beds. The peonies are absolutely gorgeous.....full and glossy. I can't wait for them to bloom.

I tried a Lasagna bed to kill off grass in one of those gardens, and it sorta worked. Unfortunately, Soapwort is growing up through the layers. I am determined to kill off that plant! It's hideously invasive, and it incourages yellow jackets and poison ivy and all sorts of bad neighbors. I'm going to paint the individual stalks with ROUNDUP! Kill those suckers DEAD!

And, I splurges and bought TWO buddleia! One is a dark purple and one is a dark raspberry shade. They will be planted this weekend, without fail! I've tried to get one started for the past few years, and always waited too long for it to get settled before the heat hit. Wish me luck!

You know I could co on and on....but it's coming up on two hours past bed. If you made it this far, you are amazing. I hope your gardens are beautiful, and that you are well rested!