Our RED Door

After giving our rhododendron a new home yesterday, I thought the front of the house could use some sprucing up. I love the look of bright front doors or shudders, so I got the okay from the hubs to paint the door red! I only wished we had black shudders.

Curb Appeal - Rhododendron

The front yard was an area that I kept ignoring, but really needed some shaping up. Besides being busy with the veggie garden and back yard, the reason I was holding out is because I really wasn't sure what to do about the front. Did I want to build it up? Did I want to plant more? Should I get rid of the hydrangea? The front segment just looked unbalance and had different needs - blistering sun on the south side and cool shade on the front side.


Before: Our meager little shrubs last spring '08. From left to right is my peony, a rhododendron (center) and hydrangea (that came with the house) and a new weeping cherry blossom tree.



After: I moved the Rhododendron over to the left about 2 feet and turned it 90 degrees, so it would grow more attractively. Doesn't it look like a totally new plant!?

I asked my neighbors who told me that the Rho had been there at least 6 years and hasn't grown one bit! So I did some reading online about how to care for Rhos and read they needed a shot of fertilizer in the spring, moist soil, natural compost such as leaves, and in extremely poor cases some strategic pruning. This spring I did give it some flower food pellets and noticed the Rho grew at least a foot! I also pruned 2-3 branches back that were growing funny.



Before I moved it, I filled the hole with lots of leaves and tree bark that I gathered from the lawn. Carefully I moved the entire Rho with the root ball intact into the hole and back filled it with very rich humus from the nursery.



Always water thoroughly. I made a "well" around the base and slowly poured 2 buckets of water into the area. Then I mulched over it.

Our Garden Island

Cost: $32.00 + 3 bottles of iced tea
Time: ~ 6 hours



Keith and I brought home another addition to our dear little garden. We decided that it deserved its only little home in our yard. I wanted a "Paisley" shaped island so we drew the shape out by laying a hose down first.



Then Keith cut the shape out with a flat spade and then he tilled all the dirt/grass into pieces.



He raked it through and planted the tree where I liked it.



I went through and hand picked all the large clumps of grass out of it.



Then we added 6 bags of top soil.



Then on top of the top soil, we added a layer of peat moss to retain moisture.



Water thoroughly to keep the peat moss from blowing away. I transplanted some daffodils.



And added some other flowers and seeds.



Here it is from the other side. I started some poppy seeds here.



And we occasionally played with our neighbor's dog Teddy.



Keith also laid peat moss down around the house.



My hanging planters.



Ahhhhh Iced Tea!

A Relaxing Day

Lilac buds


Anemone


Mini Me


Teddy


If you look closely, you can see me in her eyes.


Keith stealing a little boy's bike.


They look so adorable.


He's so sweet. He asked me if he could have a flower for his mom.


They were from this centerpiece that I got from the wedding we attended.


Then, the girls helped me water all my plants.




It was a great day!

Grow For Me

Yesterday, I added some plants to the side garden. My "vision" is for all these plants to grow in nice and full this summer. This is the worst part because everything looks so puny and garden magazines always have these full, lush, mature gardens and makes you feel like a failure. When they get established, I'll surround them with peat moss to retain moisture.



Here is another view. I forgot I started some snow and sugar snap peas along the fence. I also started some perennial sweet peas to give it some color and to give us a little privacy when they grow up the fence. I also had a ton of Irises, so I seperated them and replanted them in different areas of the yard to "fill in the voids".


My new addition. Pink ranunculus.


I planted some store started strawberries and my zucchini outside. I fenced them in for the time being because something was eating my strawberries. I plan on adding some marigolds and petunias along the front for aesthetic purposes.


Mr. SP woke up really early and finished the top soil up spreading it around the back side of the yard.


Back




He bought me two surprises - this little maple tree.


And this super skinny hose which I can remove and walk around with. It's really light.

TGISaturday

I couldn't have asked for rain on a better day. After I was all done with the soil outside, it began to shower which was fantastic. The rain helped the soil settle and set my plants in. When I woke up this morning to go outside, the soil was rich and black.

I couldn't have asked for rain on a better day. After I was all done with the soil outside, it began to shower which was fantastic. The rain helped the soil settle and set my plants in. When I woke up this morning to go outside, the soil was rich and black.

We went out to the nursery again and bought a "few" flowers and plants. They are all perennials because I have no desire to do this again. My fingers are still sore from shoveling.


Top to Bottom:
Foxglove - I always see this in garden magazines and websites, so we bought one to see what the fuss is all about. Actually this is Keith's plant! I think it looks like measles.
Creeping Pink Phlox - A good ground cover.
Candy Tuft White - Cactus like perenniel with white flowers. It looks hearty and with the flowers, I thought it would be a nice addition to the garden. It must be popular because there was only 1 left when I went back.
Thrift of Sea Pink - I bought this to add color.
*Lena Scotch Broom (tall bushy one) - HIGHLY RECOMMEND*- My neighbor has a Scotch Broom and it stays green all year long and loves sun. I put this one in front of the air conditioner to camouflage it. It grows nice and big with each year and when it blooms, it looks like a burst of fire orange flowers.
Shirly Temple Peony - Adding another peony to my collection. Pale pink to White. I want a TON of peonies, so my plan is to add more and more to the garden each year. Remember to mix in lots of hummus or organic compost. Side dress with hummus each spring.
Mallow - Grows to 4 feet tall. Another good addition to fill the garden with.
Ice Plant - This is the weirdest looking plant. They look like little fingers and have a funny texture when you touch it. It's supposed to bloom pink flowers.

Here's what the edamame looks like.


Well, that's it for today. We have a wedding to go to this evening.