Mid-Atlantic Gardening: Spring Projects - Show Us Yours!, 1 by rcn48

rcn48 wrote:
LOL, I might be "gay" but I'm proud of it and having so much fun! My daughter rolls her eyes every time she's with me and I'm shopping for garden objects - tell her everyone needs some garden whimsy in their life and her "day" will come :) I don't usually post photos of Rick and I but our friend took this one this past weekend and when my daughter saw me in my hat, her immediate response was - you're NOT wearing THAT when you come to Maine! LOL

I love the Misty Lace Aruncus - looks similar to Astilbe but not nearly as fussy - our Astilbe pouts when we experience droughts like the past two years. I'm hoping the Heart Throb Viola make it! They have a little protection this area being under the pines so keeping my fingers crossed, it's so pretty! And yes, the tall canes are black bamboo - beautiful but after almost 15 years they're vigorously invading this area :( I would have had this project completed a long time ago if I hadn't had to fight with all the roots! The corner next to the driveway was the worst - right where the grasshopper is sitting on the rock. I started digging up the roots two years ago and gave up but decided to tackle it again this year. A lot of the mulch is pine needles from the trees overhead and those that line the property along the road but the bamboo drops its leaves very late every spring and that's probably what you're seeing that looks like straw - makes a mess along the rocks and moss but I've been raking it up to use until I get 'real' mulch :) The backdrop of Peonies are more of Rick's grandmother's - a very nice white which open later than the rest but again, get floppy. I've got to figure out something to plant on the other side of them toward the bog, just high enough to help hold them up but not too tall so you'll still see their blooms!