FIRST FLOWERS OF SPRING 2015 'Mid Spring'

I direct-sow zinnia seeds but will be planting petunias and other annuals in containers and along the edges of my front beds. I guess it's time to get those seeds down!

I'm going to put the Gigantica Purple zinnias and the Italian White sunflower together, probably with a few direct-sowing tall perennials, in the hopes of creating patches of tall bloom behind the fruit trees and around Joyanna's little "playhouse" area (with tall sunflower walls, I hope). The other zinnias (Oklahoma mix, Peppermint, and a bunch of different varieties from swaps) will be scattered back there as well.

CAM, Lowe's up near Wegman's had a couple of small viburnums they were about to clearance (for $3 or $5), might be worth a stop to see if they're still there. I don't think my 'Shasta' has started sending out water shoots yet (rooted bits that I could prune off), but I'll look.

Ahh--that's the name I forgot--"Gigantica Purple zinnias"...

Those seeds took off and this plant overpowered everything else
I planted. Bummer--but it is still in my cell packs..need to get it out and in a bed.
Same with a couple of my Tomatoes (2 extras) that are still in cell packs.
The Sub Gold is now about 18: tall--A very long stem.
Hmmm...Can a tomato be cut back and will it re-grow a bit more bushy?

Just can't get to planting things....too much to do this time of year...

Thanks, Jill... I'll be doing some rounds at nurseries in the next few days looking for a few things, will be thinking of where to but a Viburnum Shasta in the meantime... those get pretty big. At my last house, I had two of them on either side of my deck stairs and I allowed space for them to grow 8 feet wide and I had to constantly trim them. They grow like weeds on fertilizer.

Definitely include the Lowe's up near Wegman's in your rounds.... I think they have the best selection of any "big box" store in the area.

I go there at least once a week and can't help myself but to tour through their garden department. :)

yeah, funny how they are now the place I go when I need to pick up a couple of screws...

And they see you coming and say to one another "Here comes that lady missing a few screws". ;-)

This message was edited May 8, 2015 7:24 PM

GT--You are TOOOO funny! Sharp mind--that's what it takes.....

I have not looked into Lowe's for ages.....I like to check their clearances too.
When I get out of work, I am lucky I can even walk. My feet hurt that badly.
So--side trips are not in the plans--even if Lowe's "can be" on my way home.
I would just take another way home...it is only 2+ miles way.

My Swap list is all checked twice and I put everything closer to my car
in the shade. I just pray that the 4 of us (me--Robin--coleup and sally)
find [places for all the plants.
Coleup will sit in the back-back seat--buried under all the plants and pots.
I am sure many things will go under the seats-or in someone's lap..

That's funny, I just had a mental image of Coleup under a pile of plants in the back of a wagon...LOL

Sally's DH Mark will be driving--so there are, actually, 5 of is in the car.

I am always so grateful that Sally is willing to schlepp us all to Swaps.
If I had to drive--not sure I would go.

Well I'm sure glad she brings you all as well :-)

Actually- Mark is taking a rain check on this time. So maybe coleup can sit in the FRONT with the big people!
More room for plants, food, chairs...

OH? Should have read this post first......

Tell Mark we will miss him. G.

Thanks Gita! He likes seeing everybody, but his ADHD kicks in after a couple hours. Sitting and talking doesn't cut it!

Haa..Ha,,,,

Mark and I would make a great, fidgety couple....

I am not much of a sitter and talker either. Yup! ADHD here too.

G.

Yet we had such a lovely visit with you on your swing! But he was probably looking for little helpful chores to do....

Thought I'd show you how the teepee looks today in honor of the swap.

SSG, Here is a pic of that azalea. Too tired to walk up stairs and look for the tag right now. LOL

Wisteria, Didn't get any takers for the one I brought to the swap. They are pretty but you really do need a spot for it. LOL
Also the Pink Pussycat Dwarf Bearded Iris that I gave away at the swap as well.

We missed you, Jan. Our new folks had no idea how to get the dirt out from under their nails.

I love the color of that azalea; it looks purplish-blue to me, more blue than purple.
That's a great photo of your tulip, Holly.

Yeah that azalea looks more like a small leaved rhodi. Perhaps a Blue Baron? Beautiful regardless.

Pat, you're too funny!

We did miss you today Jan.

Holly, your blue azalea looks great! I'm just glad that mine's not completely dead.

Seq, I think you may be right. I got the same rhodie from Holly. I'm pretty such it's a 'Blue Baron.'

A lot if blue and purple in the garden right now.

Lupines.

Ajuga

More Lupines.

Salvia.

Purple Heuchera and Japanese painted fern.

Missed you, Jan! Fabby teepee!

ssg, I didn't know Lupines could be grown around here.

Lookin' good SSG! I like your Lupines and if you ever want to get rid of some Ajuga, let me know.

Thanks guys, I missed you, too!!!!

Ecnalg, I am sooo glad I didn't have any tea in my mouth when I read your post. Heehee. I know that next time we meet EVERYONE is going to be checking out my beard. heehee. I'll have to make sure I trim it well. Oh, boy! What have I started?

Holly, Iris 'Pink Pussycat' is a Standard Tall Bearded Iris, your Dwarf Bearded Iris is Iris 'Pussycat Pink'. Thought you might want to know to avoid confusion. I'm sure that the similarity in name has caused a lot of head scratching (and clean fingernails).

Thanks GT I will have to look at my tag and see if I have it right on the tag and just mixed it up or if my tag needs changed. Really appreciate the heads up.

Thanks GT I will have to look at my tag and see if I have it right on the tag and just mixed it up or if my tag needs changed. Really appreciate the heads up. I wonder how I marked them on the pots I gave them away in.

You marked mine 'Pink Pussycat'. It is really lovely, thank you so much. "A rose by any other name...."

This message was edited May 10, 2015 5:53 PM

Some of our Aqulegias (Columbines) in bloom:

More;

OOPs, My garden marker is right, so I guess it is just me being confused as usual. LOL

Oh my goodness David, those Columbines are to drool for! ID please: First grouping, third one from the left (or right), you are holding it in your fingers. What variety is that one?

The Obedient plants you and Pat shared with me last Fall are coming up SUPER well! They're nearly a foot tall now and looking fabulous; can't wait for them to start blooming. Thank you both again! =) I have them together in a group of three, like a triangle, with one Achellia (don't remember whom from, at the same swap), at the front and center. That Achellia is also coming up really beautifully as well, looking forward to them blooming together. :)

Mystery Achellia donor, thank you!

Ooh, I love double columbine blooms!

Sally, I've been pleasantly surprised with these lupines. They're Russell's hybrid seed mix, wintersown several years ago, but only these blue/purple shades have survived. I wonder if the other colors are not as well adapted to our climate.

They've handled our hot summers very well in a very sunny part of my back yard.

Seq, I've had some bad luck with ajuga! Most of my noid ajuga died of some sort of phytophthora rot a couple of years ago, which was the impetus for putting in a paved pathway by the side of the house. The surviving ajuga were transplanted to this spot where they seem happy. Remind me again in the fall! I haven't seen any sign of phytophthora for at least year now.

Shrubs now blooming:

1 - Azalea

2 - Azalea

3 - Rhododendron 'Fantastica'

4 - Rhododendron

5 - "Rhodosaurus rex", approx. 10 feet by nearly 20 feet, devouring our side yard.

More flowers

1 - Baptisia 'Purple Smoke'

2 - Iris 'Pussycat Pink' Dwarf Bearded Iris

3 - Centaurea montana - Cornflower

4 - Allium 'Purple Sensation'

5 - Heucherella 'Redstone Falls'

David--
I have a double, pink Columbine. I think it looks like #5 in your first set.

Mine was ID'd as "Dorothy Rose" a long time ago.

Here it is--can you tell if that is the correct ID?

I have/had the Winky Purple (blue?) also--but I think I have lost it by now.