Spring is here.....what made it, what didn't?

Ding Darling and the Bubble Room?!!! Are we back in the 60's? ^_^

Sorry to hear, Bill. Surprised.

Sorry to hear that, Bill.

Victor - yes, you might think so. It is a really fun place and the food is great. Thankfully, we had the stamina to resist the awesome desserts! LOL

Never heard of a zenobia

Yes you have - I posted many pics!

i actually think it died the end of last year - it lost its leaves all of a sudden - was hoping for a resurrection

Right time of year for it.

Sorry to hear about your zenobia Bill. I was happy to see the JM that I planted late last fall is alive and putting out leaves already. Also the balloon flowers are sprouting and an O&L gaillardia that I thought had not returned has started pushing up some green as well. Waiting for tulip buds to open and hope they make it open before any critters think they would make a tasty snack. Tulips can be a gamble from year to year but some usually survive to flower.

Great news ngam

I have no checked for my L&O yet.. thanks for the reminder

when should I start seeing the crocosmia?.. don't see either of mine yet

Sorry Bill about your zenobia.
Thats good news Pat, I know one of my JM made it but not sure about the other one yet.
I noticed my quince had buds, and so does the little weigela Bill gave me last fall!! Out of 3 magnolia tree's 2 are budding one is not. Brian thinks it's a gonner. :(

This message was edited Apr 13, 2010 6:50 AM

My crocosmias are out on the southside and against the garage.Might need warmer weather Allison.

ok thanks

The crocosmias planted on the open garden on the west side arent up.

I am not having high hopes for the yellow one I planted last year... it didn't look happy by the time fall rolled around

My yellows are dwindling from a disapointment to non exhistant. Its not you. The plant just doesnt like it here.

I gave up on them. They always peter put quickly.

who is this Peter Put... I don't like him!!!!

LOL

Hee hee - it's a male thing.

I think I have my first ever vole casualty. I was pulling some mulch away from some gold hakone grass that I had tucked near the edge of a bed. It came right out when I touched it and the only thing there is the crown and some new growth...the roots look like they've been gnawed off.

For those of you with Japanese Maples, is it normal to get a fair amount of die back to the branches. I noticed quite a lot of dead branches with one of mine that was planted in '08. We had a very mild winter here. It happens to be very near the gnawed on Hakone grass so now I guess I'm wondering if they could be nibbling on those roots too?

there is always some die back - what kind of jm is it - vole would most likely eat the jm roots - i would eat the bark and could kill the tree - i try to protect the small trees in the winter with plastic guard rings

It's Butterfly. I'll have to examine the bark...how high up do the guard rings go?

6 to 8" i got some at hd last fall - you should only need them over the winter - butterfly does die back a bit more than most - i just trim off the dead twigs and it does fine.

Ok, thanks. It was actually too dense to I guess this will force me to prune it anyway. The bark looks okay but I'll look for those rings for next winter.

I always get a little bit of dead twigs on mine too. I only have one, Crimson Queen. I actually lost two of the bigger branches. One when I originally planted it - woops. and one that looked like something burrowed into the base of it. I have a friend that lost 75% of one the winter before the past, due to all the snow and ice. Now he puts a wooden contraption over it to protect it!

I have a 'Red Dragon', a lace-leaf JM, it's never suffered any die-back whatsoever, but then again I'm in zone 7a...

think I killed a columbine

:(

not sure what it is yet... but something is green by the yellow - summer glow agastache

I only have four rose bushes as I simply am not meticulous enough to keep them growing. Thirty years ago I planted about ten of them in a double dug bed ( I wouldn't even try to double dig now) They died at the graft and I found that around here people put foam cones or something over them, these just grew up wild roses from below the graft. Finally, a few years ago I saw some Explorer roses in a super market, on their own roots. Tried them, John Cabot still growing. Morden Blush not leafing out but since it's on it's own roots I think it may come up from the base, at least there is a shoot down there. I will mulch and ignore for the time being, if no sign of life in a few weeks roses are history unless I try old shrub or those old semi double thorny ones. Woods near here thick with thousands of trillium so I just wander there in the Spring when the Spring Beauty and Dutchmans Breeches and violets bloom.-------------------------Weedy

Envy you the wildflowers.

Does anyone know if Agastache Blue Fortune is a late emerging plant?

Yes it is. Mine are up now but they are usually a bit slower than other perennials. Mine are growing well but they are well established plants. They can be picky about drainage and like a little lime now and again if you have acid soil. Once they are established they are pretty reliable.The butterfly weed and Joe Pye Weed are just now showing a little life.

Thanks Pat I wont panic yet.

One wish, did those Columbine flower last year? I know a lot of times Columbine are short lived and after they have a peak bloom year they die. Hopefully it dropped it's seeds and you should see some babies by next spring. The seeds sometimes take a couple years to germinate. I've had a hard time trying to get the straight red species ones going here. However the Little Lanterns seem to be happier. :)

Oops put dropped seedlings instead of seeds!

This message was edited Apr 20, 2010 7:40 AM

The weather was so wet last year the columbines had a hard time here to produce a flower. I planted several and they have came back up but dont look like they are jumping for joy yet.

yes they did bloom last year.. I had no idea they were short lived...thanks.. don't remember if I deadheaded it or not...I am obsessed with that... might have

:(

Was very disappointed to find my Don Egolf redbud did not return. What a bummer.

boo

Sorry to hear that Victor, I wanted one but it was only a z5a and I don't dare chance it. I'm looking at 'Appalachian Red' as it's hardy to z4a, better chance of suviving here I think.