Heuchera

I have never had so many good ideas day after day as when I worked in the garden. ~John Erskine

New Plants! My idea of a great weekend is adding something new to my garden. Above I laid out 5 Heuchera's under my tulip tree.

Heuchera 'Caramel' - I love the unique color of this coral bell. It blooms white flowers in early to midsummer. It grows to only 8" tall, so would be great for borders. The leaves are golden orange that become more apricot with warmer weather. Heat and humidity tolerant and deer resistant too.



Heuchera 'Brownies' - This Coral Bell blooms creamy flowers in midsummer and grows to 16" tall. It produces huge chocolate-green leaves with rosy red undersides. It is heat and sun tolerant and a vigorous grower.

In Front of the Barn - A New Flower Bed

Last year W.J. and his brother built a mini barn or large shed. As you can see the paint job is a little dull. This year we are going to paint it barn red and white ..... hopefully he will start on it soon.

So of course a flower bed has to be done in front of it. The above picture I am edging the outline and going deep so grass doesn't creep into the bed.


I decided to lay newspaper on top of the grass where I won't be planting anything, it's much easier than digging the sod out and I don't like to use plastic or landscape fabric, as I'm always adding more plants later on. Ripping out the fabric later to make room for plants is a pain. Newspaper also helps the soil when it decomposes, it's like adding compost. Four or Five layers overlapping each other usually will do the job. Make sure you wet the paper as you go along, or it will fly away....

I also make sure I tuck it into the edge.



You can put mulch, top soil or both on top of the paper.


Here I laid out my plants. I planted 3 Hydrangea 'Annabelle' and double impatiens, red and white.



Finished and it looks great and no back breaking digging to remove the sod. I decided at the last minute to leave the corners open with mulch. It seems my kids and well... yes myself tend to walk through that way to get on the porch... I'm going to add a couple of round stepping stones in the corners.


A view from the porch looking out.

Tulips After The Rain

"April's rare capricious loveliness."
- Julia Dorr

Hosta and Viola

"It's spring fever. That is what the name of it is. And when you've got it, you want - oh, you don't quite know what it is you do want, but it just fairly makes your heart ache, you want it so!"
- Mark Twain

'Thaila' Daffodil

Tulip

Hosta 'Eskimo Pie'

I created a flower bed last year under my Tulip Tree on the North side of my home. I have been slow on planting in it as I keep changing my mind as to what I want so I started with a few plants. Some pictures here last year of the flower bed. Saturday I planted Hosta 'Eskimo Pie'. This Hosta can tolerate a little sun, which it will receive from the East in the early morning hour. It reaches 20-24" high and 30" wide. White flowers on 30" scapes in midsummer.


As a companion plant I planted Viola 'Cornuta Purple Showers'. It is also a shade loving plant that reaches 6-8" high and about 12" wide. Its evergreen leaves support star shaped flowers and if cut back in the summer can produce a second blooming. I thought the purple would be a beautiful contrast to Eskimo Pie's pale yellow centers.


The rest of the day I spent spreading a yard (pickup truck full) of mulch. Ugh! But once finished the flower beds look so pretty. This year I will be able to sit back an enjoy the garden more. As some of you may know I spent last year planting about 70% of my flower beds. ....... but I will confess I am one to always find a new flower bed or landscape project. LOL

April Days

"The sun was warm but the wind was chill.You know how it is with an April day.When the sun is out and the wind is still,
You're one month on in the middle of May.But if you so much as dare to speak,

a cloud come over the sunlit arch,And wind comes off a frozen peak,

And you're two months back in the middle of March."- Robert Frost, Two Tramps in Mud Time, 1926

First Day of April

A lovely little daffodil

Some early wild tulips getting ready to open. I noticed the seed there on the ground from the bird feeder. Uh-oh!

Vinca

Hmm I 'm not sure what this is I believe I planted some bulbs here, but didn't mark it. Heck this could even be a weed. We'll wait to see....

And this will be the first year for this liatris. At least I think this is what it is? I planted in a flurry last fall and didn't mark everything. Which is ok to me because I do like surprises sometimes.