Project 1: This is the year! The remaining grass is outta there!

Project 2: Move the half-barrel pond. It is not going to be so much a pond any more as a water fountain. I received a great cast iron pump from my parents for my birthday last year. That should give Duckie some swimming to do! I'm still not quite decided on the new location, though.

Project 3: Fill in the old pond area. Really easy. I'm just going to expand this daylily area with divisions.

Project 4: Narrow "planter". We leveled the patio last fall. It always seems to sink at the house, so I figured it would be easier to keep filling a strip up with dirt than re-levelling the bricks all the time. We built a short retainer wall, about 8 inches high. I'm going to plant hostas, interspersed with impatiens.

Project 1: April 26 - The grass is gone!

May 2 - Finished digging out all the remaining grass and weed roots (I hope). Placed the landscape timbers as edging against the driveway. Distributed a yard of topsoil (about 1/2 stayed here) and leveled it. It is now ready for planting!

May 3 - Bought 6 stepping stones to angle across the garden. The reason was twofold: (1) access for working on the middle of the garden; (2) mid-garden is approximately where the second car in the driveway is parked and we're quite used to just angling across the former lawn and/or too lazy to walk around in either direction. The stepping stones are quite cool looking - they have been made to look like tree trunk slabs.

May 9 - Slowly but surely planting divisions. I took this past week off to get as much done as possible. This is how it looks so far. The top arrow indicates that the picture on the left is a closer view of this section from the opposite direction (did I word that right?). The bottom arrow shows the point at which the new garden begins.

May 19 - Well, I think I've gone as far as I can go here. I want to leave some room for the flowers to expand next year. This summer, I will fill in any open areas with marigolds and sweet alyssum.

Project 2: This is the new location. Orange lilies used to live here; they have been moved to the front garden. The pump was hooked up and project completed on May 11th.

May 15 - My new garden pet, Brisket the frog, will make the platform his home. I added salvinia natans in a floating planter. The first bunch I put in did not do so well, the nights are still too cold, but this stuff multiples like crazy in my aquariums so I can afford to keep replacing it right now.

June 1: The floating plant idea is out. I was having too much trouble keeping the water de-grossed. I dumped in one of those pool chlorine tablets instead. Now I have Goldy swimming around (meet her in more detail in my Garden Pets section). Ah, there's nothing like a plastic fish (and duck and frog) and the relaxing scent of chlorine wafting in the breeze to bring one closer to nature.

Project 3: Completed May 5.

Project 4: This is how the patio planter looks. It was planted May 17 with hostas and impatiens as planned (pic taken June 21).

New Members of the Garden!

First, a recap of last year's newbies.

The following are all growing really well:

- Loosestrife 'Alexander' (Lysimachia punctata, varigated foliage); from 1 plant there are now 12!
- Solidago canadensis 'Baby Gold' (goldenrod)
- Cranesbill Geranium
- false Solomon's seal
- wild violets

Silver Lace Vine, Polygonum aubertii (Fallopia aubertii)
- a Zone 4 plant that survived the winter.

Astilbe, Simplicifolia 'Pink Lightning'
- nothing yet, why am I not surprised? This was the last chance for this plant.
- May 19, I apologize to my astilbe, today I saw some shoots. I guess this plant is even slower to rise than hostas, but it is alive. Yay!
- July 19, it is blooming!

This year's newbies:

- Japanese Painted Fern
- Persicaria (Red Dragon, tricolour); planted in the new front garden
- Alyssum: Montanum (Mountain Gold); planted in the new front garden
- Eupatorium (Joe Pye Weed); planted in the new front garden
- Creeping Thyme; I used to have this. It did well for a few years and then completely died out one winter. I thought I'd try it again in the new front garden.
- Cerastium alpinum 'Lanatum' (snow-in-summer)
- Lamiastrum Galeobdolon 'Hermann's Pride' (Yellow Archangel); It says it grows well under trees which is just what I need.
- Lamium maculatum 'Pink Pewter'; I had this once before, its performance was mediocre for a couple years and then died. I love the foliage, so will give it one more try somewhere new.
- Euphorbia cyparissias (cypress spurge); yes I know this is like a weed. I got a few strands from my friend, Mary-Ann, last year and this year it is a thick carpeting, but it is blooming right now (mid-May) and it is beautiful. Besides, everything else I have tried planting in this area has died (across from the very end of the driveway, just in front of that cedar).
- Leonurus cardiaca (motherwort) A late arrival, July 20.
OK, first off, this picture is not from my yard but from alongside a road at the cottage area (in the bush) on July 6th. Today, walking back from Rocky Point with my mom and son, we saw more, still blooming. So I said, "I want that!" and Mom and I drove back and I dug some out. I looked in the Audubon wildflower guide to get the name.

Just a side note, before anybody has a problem with me digging up these and the wild violets (below)... They were both taken from beside a new road, where the land will be eventually be cleared for new cottage lots.

Disappointments!

This is the very first year my hens & chicks have not totally survived. I have enough left to start areas over (maybe about 1/8 of what I had). In previous years, I even had planters of them above ground level that survived, so this was a real shock.

My rock soapwort didn't make it, either. I have a couple of babies growing but I don't think they'll be big enough to bloom. (P.S. June 21 - One of the wee babies is in bloom!)

Irish moss, thrift & 'multicolour' ajuga - very little of each left; might be time to say bye-bye. Their winter performances have been less than ideal. After initial good results, each year their patches have reduced in size. I don't have the patience for it.

Notes!

May 19 - Eeeeek! Frost warning!

May 24

This is my new wild violet patch. I am absolutely enthralled with them. Such beautiful spring bloomers. The violets I already had for years that seed and grow everywhere are very low, hugging the ground and dark coloured. These are lovely, about 10 inches high and an off-white purple, loaded with buds. The leaves are heart-shaped. The ones I planted last year were so beautiful that I drove out to the cottage yesterday and dug out some more from the bush. I planted them where my ajuga 'multicolour' used to live. P.S. May 31 - Wanted to get even more of these (they're still blooming!) at the cottage today but it's fishfly season. No way was I going into the bush to dig. I don't fancy fishflies stuck in my clothing, hair, nostrils... well, you get the idea.

This is a little area I've never shown before. It is the sedum patch located between the air conditioner and the patio. The plants here all have to be low because of a basement window. The cinder blocks were necessary when we raised the ground for the air conditioner.

LEFT - From the bench looking toward the patio. RIGHT - Beside the patio looking toward the bench. (The bench has since been relocated to the patio.)

One of my bergenia.

May 30 - Geez. Frost warning again. I have 14 planters of impatiens strewn about the shade gardens, so now I have to haul them into the shed for the night. Plus I'll have to cover up the plants I can't move - the ones in the patio planter and my baby marigolds.

June 6

me!

June 16

LEFT - cranesbill geranium RIGHT - hostas

honeysuckle vine (a little top-heavy)

the new front garden
It's all planted but my seedlings don't show up, they're still puny.

June 19 - We've been pretty good weather-wise with rain coming in a timely fashion up until now. Today was the first time I've actually had to drag out the hose and water. Anyhow, behind the shed were 2 baby bunnies. Here's a pic of one (he got a little wet - not on purpose on my part)

LEFT - Loosestrife 'Alexander'
RIGHT - there are always lots of these empty clam shells on shore and it suddenly occurred to me that it was strange I didn't yet have them in my garden somehow. I found this appropriate basket at Value Village for $2.

June 26

LEFT - The new front garden path. Between the first 4 is creeping thyme; it has increased tenfold from the 3 bitty plants I bought and planted in spring. I have already taken divisions for alongside the path. (Now if it just overwinters!) Between the last stones (far end of pic) is perennial alyssum, also doing very well.
RIGHT - The crib planter, this year with marigolds. It's looking better than last year, I think.

LEFT - lychnis (red), matricaria (white) and lady's mantle (yellow); foreground, left, hosta and creeping jenny (yellow leaves); foreground, right, Jacob's ladder.
RIGHT - My pump fountain viewed through the lilies.

July 10

Different views of the new front garden: LEFT - street to house and RIGHT - house to street
It's looking pretty good for the first year, I think.

July 14

Today I was very sad. I went outside to find the marigolds in my crib planter destroyed. All the blooms were pulled off and shredded and also strewn over the lawn. At first I thought it was the mean work of human vandals, but my mom informed me the vandals were most likely grackles. Sure enough, I subsequently learned grackles and some other birds are attracted to marigolds because they have a "natural insecticide" that help the birds rid themselves of mites. The birds move the petals through their feathers, thereby cleaning themselves. This was pretty disturbing news to me. And I'm supposed to be impressed by this intelligent and intriguing behaviour?!? I think not!

July 15

Brushstroke lilies

LEFT - Lilies, yarrow and baby's breath.
CENTER - My out-of-control kiwi vine.
RIGHT - Rock garden, with campanula in bloom (blues); white lilies in foreground.

After I took the above pictures, my digital camera died. Don't buy an HP digital camera. Their service sucks. They don't repair cameras or sell parts to allow them to be repaired. If you don't buy their extended warranty, you are out of luck. I don't buy extended warranties. I don't believe in them and I have probably saved myself thousands of dollars. I tend to feel shoddy products will show themselves within the manufacturer's warranty. (Which it did. My original HP camera purchase broke after one week and was replaced. This one was 2 months off regular warranty. So obviously this product is crap.) I was willing to pay a repair bill but they don't even give me that choice. That is like being forced into the extended warranty, too close to extortion for my liking. [/rant off] OK, well maybe not that bad but I am pretty angry and flabbergasted at their repair policy. I still will never buy another one of their products.

July 26

Isn't this lovely? (I borrowed a camera for this picture.) A friend of my mom's at the cottage, Jean S., makes these flower-painted rocks; she gave one to each me and my mom. I put mine on the patio. I think I'm going to start a new hobby this winter. [Side Note: And I did! Visit my Rock Pets site.]

August 9

Still no digital camara. Too bad. There is a monarch butterfly that has made the purple coneflower patch in the front garden its home. That butterfly is always there, either dancing above the area or resting on a cone!

Today I trimmed the creeping thyme from between those front stepping stones. Incredibly fast creeping thyme! It has spread so much, it's practically unbelievable. There was barely any stepping stones left to step on, though I told the family we could trample the overgrown parts, such a nice scent with every footstep! It has creeped around the stones and into the marigolds on one side; into the yarrow, matricaria and mini-iris and over a log (that was supposed to be a partition) on the other side. On a happy note, my crib marigolds have fully recovered and are blooming profusely again.

August 15 - Project 5

No, this wasn't a plan in the original map up top. It is a late-breaking project. I keep getting IDEAS and this one popped into my head last weekend and wouldn't go away. Some background, I guess... The interesting picture on the left was taken at the cottage. The lake levels are the lowest they've been in decades. Consequently, some new marsh-type plants are suddenly appearing along the shoreline. I don't know how they got there, but there is a marsh across the road. There are dozens of arrowheads with pretty white flowers; some very fine short grassy bunches with pretty seedheads; and some tall grasses, one with flat spiky leaves like on irises. Who knows if they'll still be there next year if the lake level rises? And the marsh across the road is too marshy to access. I thought they would make a beautiful little garden arrangement - not a water garden but a marsh garden. The plants are growing on dry land but close to shore... so, the problem was how to keep their feet wet. I dug a deep hole and lined it. It was very hard to dig as we have clay here. And of course it had to be the hottest week of the summer with temps in the 30's C. Blik! Anyhow, it is done and I am filling the hole with a combination of some of the dug out clay, good dirt, coarse sand from the shore and peat moss. Once the plants are in, I'm going to add a top layer of coarse sand (more like fine stones) with some pretty rocks in between, just like how they are growing on shore. My parents gave me money for my upcoming birthday. I was thinking of buying a concrete pelican - that would fit in so well, although sandpipers would be even better but I've never seen sandpiper statues. Eventually, the existing garden edge will be amended so that my marsh isn't sticking out like a sore thumb. A project for next year. Of course, I'm assuming that these new additions will over-winter.

August 28

YAY! I got my camera back!

My marsh!

LEFT - My new wishing well (a great birthday present from my husband!). I'll have to extend the garden around it - next year!
RIGHT - Joe Pye weed

This is Sherman (handmade by me)!
Sherman has a long story about how he came to be. If you are at all interested, that "cat tale" is on my Garden Pets page.

September 24

The last of gardening in 2003. I think it's time to retire the shovel for another season. And dream of next year. We haven't had a frost yet, things are still green so there will still be the last major cleanup.

I got some trees cut down: the ones behind the shed and the ones at the very opposite end. On the yard plan, I just show them as single trees, but they were both doubles and huge. I specifically asked to leave the stumps; I will use them to hold planters and other ornaments. Also, I've kept several trunk pedestals, which I will incorporate into the garden as well. (I think one of them is big enough for Sherman to sit on. It will make him more visible than being on ground level, and you know how cats like to sit up high and look down on things.) The tree company has yet to haul away the carnage. Here are some pictures.

The saved pieces.

What's Blooming Now!

May 3 - wallcress, violets

May 10 - wallcress, violets NEW: bergenia, pulmonaria, chokecherry tree

May 17 - wallcress, violets, bergenia, pulmonaria, chokecherry tree NEW: primrose, moss phlox, flax, lamium, false Solomon's seal, cypress spurge

May 24 - wallcress, violets, bergenia, pulmonaria, chokecherry tree, primrose, moss phlox, flax, lamium, false Solomon's seal, cypress spurge NEW: periwinkle, chives

May 31 - wallcress, violets, bergenia, pulmonaria, primrose, moss phlox, flax, lamium, false Solomon's seal, cypress spurge, periwinkle, chives NEW: lilacs, lily-of-the-valley, dame's rocket, pussytoes, (real) Solomon's seal

June 7 - violets (wild only), bergenia, pulmonaria, primrose, moss phlox, flax, lamium, false Solomon's seal, cypress spurge, periwinkle, chives, lilacs, lily-of-the-valley, dame's rocket, pussytoes, (real) Solomon's seal NEW: yellow acre, bugleweed, kiwi, bishop's weed, lychnis, tradescantia, cranesbill geranium

June 14 - violets (wild only), flax, lamium, cypress spurge, periwinkle, chives, lilacs, lily-of-the-valley, dame's rocket, pussytoes, (real) Solomon's seal, yellow acre, bugleweed, kiwi, bishop's weed, lychnis, tradescantia, cranesbill geranium NEW: forget-me-nots, Jacob's ladder, penstemon, loosestrife, helianthus, honeysuckle

June 21 - violets (wild only), flax, lamium, chives, dame's rocket, pussytoes, yellow acre, bugleweed, bishop's weed, lychnis, tradescantia, cranesbill geranium, forget-me-nots, Jacob's ladder, penstemon, loosestrife, helianthus, honeysuckle NEW: soapwort, matricaria, sundrops, orange lilies, lady's mantle

June 28 - flax, lamium, chives, dame's rocket, pussytoes, yellow acre, bugleweed, bishop's weed, lychnis, tradescantia, cranesbill geranium, forget-me-nots, Jacob's ladder, penstemon, loosestrife, helianthus, honeysuckle, soapwort, matricaria, sundrops, orange lilies, lady's mantle NEW: baby's breath, creeping jenny, campanula, filipendula, daisies, Stella D'oro daylilies

July 1 - Happy Canada Day!!!

July 5 - flax, lamium, dame's rocket, yellow acre, bugleweed, bishop's weed, lychnis, tradescantia, forget-me-nots, Jacob's ladder, penstemon, loosestrife, helianthus, honeysuckle, soapwort, matricaria, sundrops, orange lilies, lady's mantle, baby's breath, creeping jenny, campanula, filipendula, daisies, Stella D'oro daylilies NEW: other lilies (another orange, lolypop, red), creeping thyme, yarrow, spirea

July 12 - flax, lamium, dame's rocket, bishop's weed, lychnis, tradescantia, forget-me-nots, Jacob's ladder, penstemon, loosestrife, helianthus, honeysuckle, soapwort, matricaria, sundrops, lady's mantle, baby's breath, creeping jenny, campanula, filipendula, daisies, Stella D'oro daylilies, various lilies, creeping thyme, yarrow, spirea NEW: veronica, hostas

July 19 - flax, lamium, bishop's weed, lychnis, tradescantia, penstemon, loosestrife, helianthus, honeysuckle, matricaria, sundrops, lady's mantle, baby's breath, creeping jenny, campanula, daisies, Stella D'oro daylilies, various lilies, creeping thyme, yarrow, spirea, veronica, hostas NEW: liatris, purple coneflower, regular daylilies, obedient plant, goldenrod, bellflower, German statice, elephant ears, astilbe, motherwort (just planted)

July 26 - flax, lamium, lychnis, penstemon, loosestrife, helianthus, honeysuckle, matricaria, lady's mantle, baby's breath, creeping jenny, campanula, daisies, Stella D'oro daylilies, various lilies, creeping thyme, yarrow, spirea, veronica, hostas, liatris, purple coneflower, regular daylilies, obedient plant, goldenrod, bellflower, German statice, elephant ears, astilbe, motherwort NEW: monkshood, pearly everlasting, hydrangea

August 2 - On holidays

August 9 - flax (scarce), lamium, helianthus, honeysuckle, matricaria, lady's mantle, baby's breath, creeping jenny, campanula, various lilies, creeping thyme, yarrow, spirea, hostas, liatris, purple coneflower, regular daylilies, obedient plant, goldenrod, bellflower, German statice, elephant ears, astilbe, monkshood, pearly everlasting, hydrangea NEW: nothing

August 16 - flax (scarce), lamium, helianthus, honeysuckle, matricaria, lady's mantle, baby's breath, creeping jenny, campanula, lilies (just 'Black Beauty' and tiger lilies left), creeping thyme, yarrow, spirea, hostas, liatris, purple coneflower, regular daylilies, obedient plant, goldenrod, bellflower, German statice, elephant ears, astilbe, monkshood, pearly everlasting, hydrangea NEW: Joe Pye weed, sea lavender, red dragon

August 23 - flax (scarce), lamium, helianthus, honeysuckle, matricaria, campanula (scarce), lilies (just 'Black Beauty' and tiger lilies left), creeping thyme, yarrow, spirea, purple coneflower, regular daylilies, obedient plant, monkshood, pearly everlasting, hydrangea, Joe Pye weed, sea lavender, red dragon NEW: nothing

August 30 - flax (scarce), helianthus, matricaria, campanula (scarce), creeping thyme, yarrow, purple coneflower, regular daylilies, pearly everlasting, hydrangea, Joe Pye weed, sea lavender NEW: autumn joy

September 6, 13 & 20 - flax, campanula, creeping thyme, yarrow, purple coneflower (all previous scarce blooms), matricaria, hydrangea, Joe Pye weed, sea lavender, autumn joy NEW: This is funny, I have 1 single wee yellow bloom cluster on my perennial alyssum that I planted new this year.

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