New Garden

Originally uploaded by fnkymnky

We started work on our garden but realized we couldn't finish it without the right equipment. So now we are calling local companies to come over and give us an estimate on how much it would cost to flatten out a portion of the yard, add a retaining wall and drainage.

Bleeding Heart

Survivor
Originally uploaded by fnkymnky

I bought two starters in January but didn't plant it right away like the instructions said to do. When I took it out of the box a week later, the stem had burnt and all that was left were the roots. I planted it anyway and hoped for the best after Mike's advice. Now in late May, we have flowers showing! I didn't kill it after all, hooray! Every morning in the last two weeks, Mike asks me "Have you see your Bleeding Heart? It's got flowers, you should take a picture of it." I finally got out and took a picture.

This Bleeding Heart is doing really well in the shade and in a container. I keep the soil moist and have fertilized since it's started showing leaves. Actually, last friday was Fertilizing Friday but didn't get around to it. Oops.

The weeds, they will rise

Undisturbed
Originally uploaded by fnkymnky

Our yard is covered with dandelions and moss. In the Winter time, the yard becomes soft and cushy with wet fluffy green and slippery moss. By early Spring, the dandelion starts emerging all over the place. In mid Spring, the dandelions go to seed and the first seed heads start spreading more joy around the yard. On windy days, the dandelions drop their seeds, they float in the air like angels, finding the perfect spot to nestle in to start the cycle once again.

I wish they would bloom all year round

I wish they would bloom all year round
Originally uploaded by fnkymnky

I wish they would bloom all year round, colorful trees, some measuring over 20 feet tall. The one on the farthest left is a hybrid variety called Cynthia. Mike's grandmother received it as a Mother's Day present years ago. I'm just amazed how beautiful they are. We have about 33 Rhododendron trees in the property including one that we added just recently. I don't know all the names of the Rhodies but little by little we are finding out more information on them. We know that most are hybrids. We believe we have a couple of wild Rhodies, one which bloomed back in February and one that is blooming this month.

Fertilizing Friday & Garden Observations

I fertilized all the potted plants including the wine barrels with Miracle Gro All Purpose fertilizer today. I also spread some Osmocote according to directions for slow release fertilizing.

Garden Observations

The Kumasaka Camelia that I bought two weeks ago, has many buds and the one flower that was blooming when I bought it, is on its way out, petals are turning brown.

The strawberries are showing new leaves and some of the tiny strawberries are showing pink areas.

The lilies are growing nicely, some are close to 6" tall now.

The alyssum are showing half inch long foliage. They have survived the chilly cold and looks like they are doing well.

The gladioli are busy growing, some as tall as 12 inches, no signs of flower buds yet, not sure when this is supposed to happen. Gladioli are growing wherever else I planted them.

The pink Clematis Asao has grown taller, and is wrapping around the new bamboo teepee that Mike and I put together. It has only one pink flower blooming but the flower is large.. about 4 inches wide.

The snowdrift Clematis is growing too. The flowers look brown, I think it is coming to the end of its blooming season.

The rhododendron next to the laundry room has all its pink flowers open. This should last a couple weeks or so more.

Tomorrow, Saturday, April 26th, we will have some warmer weather, around 68f. That'll be a good opportunity for all plants to grow grow grow!

Lilies

Some sun please?
Originally uploaded by fnkymnky

The Lilies we planted in February have started to pop out. Mike's Grandma says they'll be flowering by July 4th. I think we planted about 8 Lilies. I don't have record of the exact variety.

Prior to planting the rhizomes, I mixed in some bulb food to the soil, following directions on the box and watered them thoroughly. They are currently in wine barrel containers. We've had plenty of rain and I haven't had to water them by hand much. I did add some MIracle Gro fertilizer two weeks ago.

Heather

Heather
Originally uploaded by fnkymnky
I bought four 1 gallon containers of Heather earlier this year and placed them in wooden containers. They are hardy in Winter and Spring, making a dull spot on the deck look bright and cheery. It is a popular plant around here, I see it everywhere, used as groundcover or in containers.

The plant tag name descriptions says the following:
Erica carnea "Pink Spangles"
Full sun/partial shade
Trim to base of flower spikes after flowering.

So I guess I'll have to watch it closely and wait for it to finish flowering.

I sowed some Alyssum seeds at the base of this Heather. When it is done blooming, I'll have some tiny purple flowers growing just below it. ;) Well I'm crossing my fingers that this will actually happen.

Narcissus - Las Vegas

Originally uploaded by fnkymnky


I recall planting about 8 of these narcissus bulbs last October but only 4 actually survived. In early February, raccoons went through all my pots, looking for grub I guess. They uncovered almost all my bulbs and this pot must have been one of the victims. These are two of the four flowers that survived. They're beautiful. White petals and yellow cups, reminds me of breakfast. :) This inspires me to seek other types of narcissus for next year.

These daffodils are in 10" inch containers and sit in an area of the deck that gets morning and afternoon sun. They seem happy here. I haven't had to water them, almost daily rain through Winter and Spring and that has been sufficient.

Quince

Flowering Quince
Originally uploaded by fnkymnky


I don't know too much about this tree. When we first moved here in July of 2007, the tree was looking pretty chewed up and ugly. I told Mike that maybe we should cut it down. Then we noticed that the deer were chewing on it and then I definitely wanted to chop it down since I didn't want plants that would attract them to the yard.

Later, I felt bad and thought that I should just leave it there for deer. So we let it be and the deer kept chewing it up even more. Earlier this year, in January, I tried pruning it but noticed it had thorns. I said, "Forget that! I don't want to get poked!" The bottom half of the tree had short limbs and the top had really long limbs shooting from the center of the tree. Really weird.

Finally, last March, I noticed red berries on the longer branches of this Quince. By early April, the berries had bloomed, displaying these pretty pink flowers.

I saw the same tree in other people's yard, last week and it looked really nice. Ours just had a really bad trim. Next winter, I will try to make it look better. I read online that this Quince tree is supposed to give fruit after it's done flowering. I'll photograph the progress.

Update: According to the Western Garden book, two Quinces are required to have fruit. So no fruit for us.

Triumph Tulip

Any day now..
Originally uploaded by fnkymnky

I planted the bulb in October 2007 and almost 6 months later I have these delicate flowers about ready to burst open in mid April. This variety is called Triumph Tulip, I placed about 8 bulbs in a 10 inch plastic container. I watered it a little bit when the soil was dry but not too much. Here in rainy Washington, we don't water much in the Winter, it rains just about everyday.

I can't remember what color they are supposed to be but I'll be sure to take a picture as soon as it opens.