Garden happenings

The wormwood has spread out nicely, although it's got some yellow parts underneath. Hmmm. The thing next to it with purple flowers, brachyscome, is also doing great. Two winners.

Most of the flowers did not spread out as much as I'd hoped, so the lesson is to plant more of them, spaced closer together, next year. Still, the begonias are doing great, and the geraniums are doing well. The stock has petered out. I'm not sure whether it was being eaten, or it just didn't thrive. I'll avoid that next year.

In the back, I think these were going to be purple coneflowers - four of them. I think it is deer that have basically kept them munched low to the ground, and then I spotted this beetle on them too.

This bud was cruelly chewed off the very night after I took this picture. It was literally nipped in the bud.

The hydrangea is a little anemic, but still it's nice to see some blooms. I panicked a little when the bleeding heart turned yellow but then read that that's normal and you just cut it down.

This is the front where all the ground cover was pulled out. If I ever get my act together, it's going to be a rock garden. I plan to put the rocks and soil down this year and wait to plant until next year. Meanwhile I'm waiting for Frank's Tree Service to pull down the dead tree.

The view up the walk:

The lantana has done very nicely. Must get more for next year. The lavender bloomed and now the blooms just look dead. I thought they would keep blooming? I am not pleased.

The moss roses/portulaca have been a great success and I just wish I had more.

Not pictured, some bug has completely razed the mint that was growing wildly in a pot. My basil also came under attack (from a caterpillar, I believe) but is now looking reasonably good again - I think the caterpillar became moths or butterflies or something.

Last note: I have decided I don't like the gazanias, though they are doing well. Too spiky and garish colors.

Garden happenings

The basil is looking great- the scallions in the middle, less so. They really should have been direct-sown.

This was mint that I threw in the pot after I tore it out of the yard (a battle I continue to fight, but am winning!). I am pleased to have it (contained!).

The marigolds transplanted from seed are growing nicely, though the ones I put in the front were eaten right away - slugs?

The hot peppers and forget-me-nots transplanted from seedlings are still tiny. And desperately need thinning.

Rhododendrons in the back are at their peak, and gorgeous.

Lesson for next year: don't plant anything under what will turn out to be a very healthy, large peony plant! These stock plants are still doing fine, but they're literally and figuratively overshadowed.

Garden happenings

Mary tells me that I have azaleas and a hydrangea next to our solarium - the former is starting to form buds, and the latter has bright green new leaves.

And this is a beautiful surprise - a bleeding heart plant, which is apparently deer-resistant. (You can see the hydrangea next to it on the left.)

I have been attacking the lower lawn in back because it has a little crab-grass and a LOT of mint. It is war, with this mint. I pulled out a bunch a week or two ago and there is already more even in the spots I covered. It has a root network throughout the patch.

We have now twice seen a groundhog, who must have just emerged from hibernation, and we have some alarmingly large groundhog droppings in the lawn. Neither of us has the stomach to remove it yet.

Finally, I don't know what this is - probably a weed, but it's pretty. There is some in the middle of the back lawn, too. I suppose I ought to pull it up. UPDATE: it appears that this is Lesser Celandine, an invasive weed.