Digging and Moving

It has been a crazy cold and wet spring. It has been raining on all my days off, so I'm a bit behind on my planting. Today, however, it was warm, sunny, yet muddy from last nights' rain, so I got out and dug some holes.

I expanded the perennial bed by about 2 feet, and kind of changed the shape of it. I would have dug more in the back, but it was all water. I moved some of the plants I put way too close together last year. Hopefully, when things start coming up, they'll not be crowding each other.

Before:

After:

I also planted a new Forsythia bush in the front yard. It's pretty much a staple in my neighborhood, and I love that they are a first sign of spring. This guy was a gift from my folks for my birthday. Thanks!

I dug up a Peony that was in this spot. I wanted something taller that could eventually mask that ugly chain link fence behind it. It is also below my boy's room, so maybe someday he'll see the yellow branches outside his window.

My neighbor loaned me some kind of tool to help lop the roots that were in the hole form a weed tree that grows along the house. That was nice, and it worked well.

I moved the Peony just a couple of feet from this spot, so it will be just in front.

After that, we just enjoyed the rest of the nice day. Hopefully the new and moved plants will prosper.

Happy Spring 2011!

This is the year of trees for me. For my birthday, my lovely sister and her family gave me a Magnolia Liliflora Jane. I'm so stoked! I wanted one for my front yard. My original plan was to get a Saucer magnolia, mainly because they grow up to 30 feet tall. But you know, I think this will work better with my plans. Now it will be more of an ornamental and not too shady since I eventually want to fill my front yard with flowers.

Also just ordered a little leaf Linden. I had checked around for prices, and I really did not want to spend $200 on a tree. I ordered through the arbor day foundation for $12 including shipping, and they included a Red Maple, for free! I'm sure the tree will be quite little, just a sapling, but I am patient and can wait for it to grow. That tree will go in the back to shade our house and patio from the crazy strong afternoon light we get.

No pictures today, but I'm planning on doing some photos tomorrow of the tulips and crocus who are coming up that we planted very haphazardly late last fall. The lillies and perennials are all coming up. I have much moving to do, I planted WAY too close together last year.

Also, planning on digging out 1/3 of the back yard, raising it up and planting all wild flowers. I bought a big sack of wildflower seeds from Target in the $1 bin. We'll see how those go. I guess I love a bargain.

Also, tomato plants and pepper seeds are growing well in the window. I have to thin them out, and that breaks my heart. I'm going to try to replant the babies in another peat nugget. I really don't need 150 tomato plants and 150 pepper plants, but I have friends and family I can give them to.

that is all for now.

Happy Spring!