Less and less bare earth makes me more and more happy.
The Bluebells are in full bloom and a blue sight for sore eyes along my front walkway. Question for you all: Do you recall where all your plants originally came from? There was a time when I could, but this old man’s memory has taken a hit. I have no recollection of ever planting these bulbs and where they came from. May need to scour my old posts to get the answer.
‘Espresso’ geraniums are all flowering with those pink flowers shining against the chocolate background.
Speaking of ye old cranesbill, the wild geraniums with their first flowers and the promise of many more to come.
The Golden Ragwort plants are all blooming. They’re nice and all but did they ever take over a few years back. F’n bullies. They grow on top of and underneath everything. I’ve been trying to eradicate most of them but left a few in strategic places for the flowers in early spring. That shortsighted strategy unfortunately resulted in more unwanted plants. I may dig ’em all up and use as a section of large filler in the waterlogged area of the garden where nothing survives.
The first to emerge, allium flower.
The Baptisia have popped through the soil and before long, I’ll have massive quantities of those killer blooms. I do have a few that seeded and showed up in unwanted places and realize these gals have a very deep taproot so it won’t be easy to move them. But I’ll try.
The Ninebark ‘Amber Jubilee’ (no, she wasn’t named after a stripper, at least as far as I know) shines with killer new orange foliage. The white flowers in late spring are ‘eh’ but the dynamic leaf color changes in spring/summer/fall are worth the price of admission.
The willow leaved sunflowers are heaven on earth. Close to ten feet tall with ooodles of blooms in the late summer but almost as important, the foliage provides great cover against weeds in early spring. This makes me very happy.
Another great weed cover is bee balm. I have it everywhere and you’ll get no complaints from this guy. If any of the plants get attacked with powdery mildew in summer, you know what I do? Nothing. I don’t care. They did what they needed to do. That’s called progress for a once obsessive and neurotic gardener.
Speaking of weed cover, daylillies do the same but I so don’t like them. I may painstakingly cut off the flowers all spring/summer and just allow the foliage to act as filler. I can’t toss them but those blooms are so ugly and yucky and boring and mushy and …
A few weeks back I wrote a post about Britt-Marie (Ligularia) and how the foliage never delivered the promised dark purple color. Well, this isn’t too shabby and I’ll be paying close attention to see how this changes as the weather warms up.
Could Amber Jubilee be a nine bark (Physocarpus spp.)?
It is and I just quietly made the correction to the post. That is an inexcusable mistake on my part, ha and thanks for the heads up!
EspressoGeraniums are straight-up glorious. As for plant origins, you might have to just try to recall when you had a big crush on bluebells. Play old sentimental songs and drink old sentimental cocktails. Where you met should emerge through the haze. But the happy timez have bloomed out and it’s a toast to your good taste in that happy hour. Viva la spring!
I share your ragwort woes! Delighted when first saw it unexpectedly in the garden, looking so bright and cheery, then more, then everywhere! Now I pull it religiously but still have it coming up in the lawn and occasionally the garden after several years–very viable seeds! (I garden in Zone 7a.)
I keep the receipts from my plant purchases in a very disorganized binder. It used to be divided into sections, but very quickly I just started shoving the papers in. Still, it has come in handy.
I like daylilies. The flowers have a nice sparkle in the sunshine. It helps to rip off most of the deteriorating foliage after they bloom. Maybe the foliage would stay nice if I cut off all the flowers! Ha! Nope.
I envy your ninebark. Mine got such terrible mildew I had to remove them.
I sure don’t understand why you, a man who loves grasses, would allow the daylilies to take up valuable real estate when you could replace them with small ornamental grasses or sedges or any number of other plants. Grow what brings you pleasure!
John, the leaf color of Ligularia ‘Britt Marie-Crawford’ has nothing to do with temps or age of plant, I believe they sent you the wrong one. I have grown it in years past and the leaves were always purple form the beginning. Enjoy it for what it is.
Gotta’ fess up that a different Ninebark variety knocked ‘Amber Jubilee’ off the my favorites pedestal. It’s called “Ginger Wine’ and the leaves hold their cinnamon color through all 3 seasons. It’s flowers aren’t bad but it’s all about the foliage. Love those bluebells…you’re so lucky your younger self brought them into your garden.
It all looks beautiful. The Geraniums, especially, are bright and cheery this time of year. Love Baptisias, too. Lucky you to have so many in your garden!
I love everything! It looks beautiful! Great pics as always and mixed with humor.
Thanks for sharing!