Heather's Garden

WRITING THIS WITH THE WINDOWS OPEN

And I can't tell you how much I'm loving it!  It's been absolutely glorious here since Friday.  I'm starting to get tan!  More importantly, I have completed garden clean-up and I've got a nice blank canvas ready for planting:

 

And VPH mowed the lawn/marsh marigolds:

And cleaned up the patio (I cleared out the herb barrel saving any perennial herbs that survived the winter):

All the better to enjoy our awesome bulb border:

And the pretty marsh marigolds in bloom until the leaves on the trees fill in and they die:

I'm so loving the tulips (now appearing in yellow and orange):

That I can't stop photographing them:

I find it so peaceful sitting on the patio staring at this border, listening to the wind chimes, and watching the grasses move in the wind.  I wanted to share the experience with you, so I've uploaded a short video here.

Someone still has to weed this bed, though you can see that the hostas have come back, and the fence is down.  The reed fence we bought was too see-through and we won't be using it.  I think we're just going to have to deal with seeing the neighbors since we can already hear them:

In the perennial shade garden I've got bleeding hearts:

 

And fiddle-heads:

 

VPH has lots and lots of stuff to cut into small pieces for compost:

 

The grill is back in its proper location, but I can't get over how different the space feels without those 3 trees.  Granted, the leaves and brush haven't filled in yet and the marsh marigolds have yet to die:

 

But just compare it to what it used to look like:

Much bigger now, no? 

I just watched the weather for Tuesday, 80s at home, 90s at the office (62 miles north).  This is just odd for CT in April.  Then we're back down to the 60s (normal for this time of year) on Wednesday and hopefully then I won't feel so much like I'm behind on my gardening.

GREEN THUMB SUNDAY 04-26-09

I haven't done a Green Thumb Sunday post since August...oops.  This tulip is the only one of its kind blooming so far (the package was simply labeled lily flowering tulip) and it's a stunner:

We're really enjoying all the pretty flowers right next to the patio.  And look even SS2 got into the act helping out today.  He's repairing a foot stool:

 

While VPH cleaned the grill (now back in its normal spot and used last night to grill cheeseburgers):

 

Back inside I've got seeds sprouting.  Lots of basil, but also the cucumber and zucchini:

And marigolds:

Gardeners, plant and nature lovers can join in Green Thumb Sunday every week. Visit As the Garden Grows for more information.

APRIL SHOWERS?

Yes, but a 4-day deluge?  I'm done, sunshine now please.  Wednesday's weather fore-casted 4 straight days of sun starting on Friday, even hitting the 80s here this weekend.  I predict a sunburn and many seeds being sown.  SS2 is coming home on Friday, so maybe we'll even get ambitious and get that shed up, but then again maybe we'll just sit and soak in the sun. 

I haven't been entirely idle.  I did (on Monday, April 20th) get around to using the seed tray I purchased nearly a month ago.  It was fun to plant seeds while watching TV.  This spot on the kitchen table is about the only place in my house that gets any sun that has a flat surface that isn't a bed or a printer (we have a total of 3 windows that are not north facing or on the completely shaded west side of the house).  I love the little cover and that it came with 12 short plant markers, one for each row:

 

I planted 1 row each of zucchini, cucumber, purple ruffles basil, cinnamon basil, dill, fennel, cilantro, marigolds, coleus, and moonflowers, and 2 rows of sweet basil.  It's nice and humid under that little cover:

 

In news from outside of my kitchen...I'm dying to see this tulip really bloom:

 

But the daffodils have been one bright spot in a long, rainy week:

 

Now for a long weekend of sun kissed gardening.  I hope it's as nice in your area!

FINALLY...SWAG

I've had a few offers over the past 6 months to write reviews or accept pre-written content for my blog (not going to happen, I have zero interest in masquerading an ad as an original post for compensation).  But until just recently, I hadn't received an offer that I really wanted to jump on.  But finally...swag:

 

What you see there folks is a brand new pair of Muck Daily Garden Shoes courtesy of http://www.gardenshoesonline.com/.  My mission was to try the shoes out, review them on my blog, and link to their website in that blog post.  I can do that -- and probably would have even if they hadn't given me the shoes for free!

First, my compliments to Dave of Garden Shoes Online.  Our first contact took place at end of business on April 7th and I had the shoes in my living room on April 13th.  I chose Plum Vine shoes (not clogs) in size 10.  I wear a 9.5 wide, but since that's such an odd size I generally end up wearing 10 mediums.  The 10s were very comfortable, but without socks I was walking out of them.  I contacted Dave to see if people generally wore these shoes with socks and his response was to send out a pair of size 9s with a return label enclosed so I could return the pair that I didn't want.  Excellent customer service!  I had them a few days later and liked the size 9s without socks better (not a big fan of socks when I can avoid them and Dave did say some people opted for no socks).

I'm looking for a few things in a pair of garden shoes 1.) Comfort - not a big help if my feet hurt too much to garden; 2.) Stability - with our hilly garden I am climbing up and down more often than not and really don't want to turn an ankle; and 3.) Cleanable - without fail, if there's some nasty surprise in our garden, I will step in it.

1.) Comfort -- They really do feel like slippers on and really comfy on my wide feet, so those of you with narrow feet, this might not be the right garden shoe for you.  I wore them for a few hours on Saturday without walking around much, mostly crouching and sitting on a stool weeding, very nice.  On Sunday I spent a lot more time walking around the garden and developed a blister on my heel, but that's what happens when you get monthly pedicures and don't wear socks.  I'm sure I'll get used to them.

2.) Stability -- I climbed up and down the slope next to the house and even balanced on tree roots to plant a large container that I wouldn't have been able to lift once it was full of dirt.  VERDICT - I didn't fall on my ass.  I would not have been able to do that in Crocs.

3.) Cleanable -- I replaced all the non-working portions of my complicated hose system on Sunday, so with running water I was able to test the ability to wash these shoes.  I ran water over the shoes (still on my feet) and they rinsed clean easily -- and added bonus -- my feet stayed dry!

I will continue to wear these shoes as I garden and I'll let you know how they wear over an entire garden season. 

Bottom line would I pay $50 for Muck Daily Garden Shoes?  Yes, but I'm glad I didn't have to! 

And would I buy from http://www.gardenshoesonline.com/?  Yes, but I'm hoping they'll send me some more free stuff to review!

BEFORE MY ARMS GET SO STIFF I CAN'T TYPE

VPH really did most of the "heavy lifting" this weekend, starting on Thursday.  Luckily his school vacation (have I mentioned he teaches?) coincided with the first truly lovely days we've had this spring.  Call us wusses, but we're not gardening unless it's over 55 and sunny (or over 65 and cloudy)!

He got rid of all the leaves along both sides of the house on Thursday (believe it or not, we actually have more grass this year than we did last year):

For one reason and another I didn't end up helping very much on Friday despite taking the day off of work specifically to do so.  But on Saturday I jumped right in and cleaned up the Endless Summer hydrangea:

My next task for the day was to get this garden cleaned up:

 

First VPH vacuumed up the leaves for me:

 

But then I cleaned up all the old grass and day lily foliage by hand and weeded the rest of the bed (I hate marsh marigolds so much):

So much nicer, but I think I'll wait a little while to put down fresh mulch:

I also planted a bare-root clematis in front of the right-hand trellis.  I had planned on planting two, one in front of each trellis, but when I opened up the package only one was in there.  We'll see if the one I planted actually grows.  I may have to buy more mature plants down the road. 

I just love sitting on the patio looking at all the happy daffodils (the tulips look to be a day or two from blooming):

I did find a remnant of the wildflower garden, a lupine, growing in front of the row of bulbs and I decided to leave it and see if it actually blooms for me this year:

Speaking of unexpected flowers...this is right smack dab in the middle of VPH's bastard garden.  Anyone know exactly what it is?  About 6-8 inches tall and in such an awkward spot I couldn't bend over to see if there was a scent.  It sort of looks hyacinth-like to me:

 

The sad looking broken bamboo fence is now down, soon to be replaced with a 6' tall x 16' wide reed fence and VPH has cleared all the leaves from this area (the hostas are hiding under all the marsh marigolds):

The forsythia is in full bloom:

I think this mum is coming back, but I think it's highly unlikely that I will go to the trouble of finding a sunny place to keep it and waiting all the way until the fall for it to bloom:

The Branford fern is all fiddle-heads: 

 

The cute little astilbe (and yes, the perennial shade garden needs weeding and mulch desperately):

 

Today (Sunday) I planted up 3 new containers with shade perennials for the side of the house by the grill where the trees were removed.  Bare-root hostas and astilbe predominantly, though you can just see the creeping jenny that overwintered in a hanging planter on the top right (creeping jenny has turned out to be just about unkillable in my garden):

 

I can't say yet if I'm going to like this area or not.  I'm planning impatiens in any blank spots for all the containers and we still have to put the grill back.  In a month or so I should be happier:

There is much work still to do.  Including locating and probably transplanting all the perennial herbs like this woolly thyme:

Finally cleaning up the vegetable garden and prepping containers for new plantings:

And the biggest job of all...assembling the new shed, which VPH and I are both dreading.  It's in this box (now covered by a weighed down tarp), the foundation is in a box in our kitchen and its anticipated location will be the site of the current ripped shed at the back of the garden:

Our plan is to assemble the foundation on the gravel patio, get an accurate measurement and then build a simple gravel base surrounded by 2x4s just like the gravel patio, build the shed on our nice level concrete patio, and then move it to its final location (which will hopefully be level).  This will be our most ambitious plan to date and you can clearly see why we're not excited about doing it.  It may quite possibly be put on hold until SS2 comes home from college and can help out.

STILL NOT A LOT OF GARDENING GOING ON HERE

But at least we're taking advantage of the cold, rainy April weather to do our spring cleaning.  I'm firmly convinced that if we never had company our house would be a shit-hole, since the only time we reallyclean (more than dusting and vacuuming) is when people are coming over. 

VPH's ex-in-laws are joining us for Easter dinner on Sunday.  Think about that for a moment.  VPH's ex-wife's parents are coming to our house for Easter dinner.  I thought step-son #2 (who now lives with us full-time when he's not at college and will henceforth be known as SS2) would enjoy having them and when I ran it by VPH he actually agreed.  I quite like them, so I think it will be a lovely gathering. 

However, it's thrown VPH into a whole new level of anxiety about the state of the house.  His former mother-in-law has incredibly high standards and he's freaking out about the possibility of her taking one look at our home and saying SS2 is no longer allowed to live in these conditions.  Add to that her reputation as a fantastic cook and you can see why he's a little nervous about making a lamb/mashed potato/asparagus meal for her.  He's really being silly, but he does have something of a point because I don't think we've thoroughly cleaned since last summer. 

Last night I finally got around to hanging the prints I submitted to the photography exhibit.  Three 11x14 frames from Walmart did the trick (gotta love $5 frames):

 

You can see the stacks of DVDs on top of the entertainment center (placed there after they were opened on Christmas day) and the general mess on the kitchen table.  But the most important thing is that my photos are finally up!

I did take a quick walk outside to see what was going on out there.  The daffodils are about to open:

You can even see the day lilies poking up in the background.  I really must clean up this garden.

The hostas are all coming up now (even the one in the large container that was missing last week has joined the party).  I have the tiniest little fiddle-heads of the Branford fern just appearing and today I found astilbe:

 

Which I'm particularly excited about because I was pretty sure we had killed it last year by transplanting it twice.

What's joining the garden party in your area?

WHAT I LEARNED THIS WEEK

1. If I wait long enough flowers will come:

And they will be gorgeous:

 

2.) At night crocuses close their little blooms and sleep:  

3.) Bleeding hearts will successfully overwinter in a container:

 

4.) As will heuchera (though there's no sign of the hosta that should still be in this container):

 

Look at those adorable little leaves:

 

The hosta in the perennial shade garden is starting to pop out:

 

At this point in the day (Tuesday) I had gone inside and thought I was done taking photos.  Then I heard a ruckus outside and looked out the window to find:

 

And out the front door:

Yup, after 11 years of promising, the landlord finally arranged to have 3 trees taken down along the house:

 

I went out to run errands and escape the noise, but before I left I asked the nice tree men to leave me level stumps so I could put containers on top of them.  They certainly left a mess: 

 

5.) Tree men (or at least these tree men) don't quite understand the term "level":

 

Now before you get all excited that I'll be able to plant anything not specifically for shade, there's still plenty of tree canopy:

VPH says he's going to feel a little exposed grilling over here now:

 

But I've already started buying containers to fill the void: 

 

I can't wait until it looks like this again (last May):

It was nice enough outside today that I really felt guilty for not spending the day cleaning up the garden, but I just couldn't find the motivation.  Soon.