Look!!

My astilbe is blooming for the first time! I took it at dusk so the flash didn't take the best picture but, hey! It's blooming.

I also need your help with a "Wutami" question. I know I planted this on purpose but I have NO idea what it is. I'm hoping you can identify it for me from the pictures.

Thanks for the picture of the spider wort. I had totally forgotten about it and did love it. I want to buy bunches. I'm going to go to the good nursery Saturday to find a holly, a sand cherry and now some spider wort. What is that day lily? I have dozens of day lilies but mine are all yellow or white.

I did a picture of the bed layout I want to do but haven't figured out how to get it uploaded here. I don't have a scanner at home but do have one at the office so going to take it there and see what you think. Maybe we can even use this to diary how our plants do over the years.

Not much news outside of that. Kev's leaving town Sunday for a week. We finally had a sunny day so I dashed home and got he lawn mowed. I spent the day moving into my office. One whole wall is a window!! Yay! I'll see if I can get a decent picture of it and put it up here.

pictures you requested

Pictures are a little dark, but then so is our skies. A little sun is beginning to peek out and hopefully it will be here long enough to dry things out a bit. I'll do another one on a sunnier day.

I included a picture of the spiderwort that you liked. If you can't find it locally I ship you some seeds/plants. I loved this new day lily color and thought I would share.

If you are not TIVO-ing the show "The Dirt on Gardening" I highly recommend it.

Brief Runby

Spent the day giving the house a long overdue thorough spring cleaning. Did lots of garden treasure hunting with terrible results---I should listen to my mother and my books more often. I did get my new perennial book, whoohoo!, and though I'm only 20 pages in, I can't say thanks enough for it.

More detail tomorrow. I'm going to go drop into my (clean!) sheets and expire.

Sand Cherry

I went on Google and put sand cherry under Images search and came up with pages of pictures and sources for buying them.

This might be a good idea to use when trying to find a picture or source for a new plant. What do you think?

Bamboo picture & yard update

I will be delighted to send a picture as soon as the rain stops and I can take one. We have had almost non-stop rain for days and it is forecasted to go through Thursday. I do not know what I dread facing the most the weeds that have gone beserk, or the mosquitoes. I plan to grocery shop tomorrow and pick up mosquitoe spray for the yard. Just walking outside for a short time ,like to take out the trash, you look down and see mosquitoes on your clothes.

I got the notification from Bluestone, but appreciate your pointing it out too as you never know if someone is getting a notice. I would rather get two than none at all. I decided not to get any more plants until I get the yard weeded and trimmed. I am going to use the money Kay gave me for my birthday at Home Depot to buy some round stones and finish the walk along the back fence that leads from the bamboo area to the new area and the compost to fill in around the stones. That will finish up that area.

I am afraid I will lose the daisies and the purple cone flowers we potted up if it does not dry up enough for me to get out there and plant them. Our ground is totally saturated and the new rain that falls, sits on top of the grass for a long time before disappearing. I bet if you walked across the lawn it would feel marshy. The trees though look wonderful and I have not seen them this green and lush for a long time. The mandavilla vine that broke off and I repotted into two pots looks wonderful. With all this rain and cooler temperatures the repots did not even wilt.

Our lakes are all at, or above normal. Just last month Lake Lavon was still six feet below normal. This summer we will be so happy for all this moisture and will be wanting more rain. Never satisfied is man!!!

Bamboo Fence Picture

I didn't get a picture of the area once we got the bamboo screening up. I really wanted to show that to Kev. When you get a chance, would you send one or post one of that area?


PS Bluestone Perennials is having a half-off sale right now. Their web site is only showing on sale items. Clematis are $4-$5 each, etc.

Time Flies

Star Wars opened 30 years ago today.

I remember, vividly, us going to see it over at Northpark.

Shrubs

Well, hollies are one of my favorites. They are evergreen, have lovely berries in the winter, are just about pest free, need very little trimming to keep them in shape. They come in shade lovers and sun lovers depending on the variety. They can be dwarf, upright, weeping and low, medium, or large again depending on the variety. I think they are worth checking out the best in your area. I plan to plant a lot of them as my budget allows.

I have seen the sand cherry in the stores and think it is very attractive. I do not know anything about it, other than I love the color.

Mahonia and juniper grow in your area. Junipers can get bag worms in Texas, I do not know about Missouri. Mahonia like shade or early morning sun and grow 3 to 7 feet tall. They have yellow flowers in the spring followed by blue-purple fruit in the fall and winter that is attactive to birds. I have never grown them, but have seen them around.

Spiraea is another large group of shrubs which I have grown. They are deciduous which is the only drawback. They have beautiful pink or white flowers in the spring and summer that cover the bush and make a nice accent plant in a bed. The size depends on the variety that you plant.
I saw a picture of the spiraea called "bridal wreath" with red tulips in front that was breath taking. Bridal wreath obviously has white flowers on arching branches. I grew one for years and not a single pest to be seen on it. Shirobana is a low mounding form with pink flowers and again I had several until last year when the prolonged drought and scorching hot air killed them.
We are in the southern most range of the zone for spiraeas and they are more suited for your region.

A Candidate!

Stumbled across the Purple-Leaf Sand Cherry. Blooms early spring and May. Produces cherries in July and has bronze/purple foliage. Any experience with this guy?

The other Queen of the Kingdom

You've inspired me to start organizing and going through a lot of our digital photos. Found this one:

Marco Polo Tea

I'm sitting here sipping some Marco Polo tea and eye-balling the now _HUGE_ expanse of green grass that is our backyard. They came yesterday and dismantled the last five pine trees. They also rather dismantled the grass in the yard.

Help! Can't grow red-tipped photinia here since it apparantly is too sissy to survive north of Richardson. We have a need for a similiar style shrub in terms of looks and growth habit. The husband screamed "Ack! Scale!" when I suggested Euonymous. Any ideas for zone 5?

Mulch

I located a great mulch. It is called Texas Native and is shredded red cedar. Not only does it look great (deep brown, not red), but it smells devine. It is supposed to help keep bugs and insects away, which makes sense as that is why you have cedar closets.

I put down 8 bags and my four stones and am on my way for 10 more bags.

I took this picture of Molly this morning to show that the batteries charged, the camera works and I know how to send pictures. Color me less technology challenged. Dragonfly

You are the greatest

This is such a great idea you had and I thank you for introducing me to yet another technology advance. I hope we will be sharing many neat and nifty ideas over the months. Dragonfly

A book that you will want in your library

Amazon.com: Perennials for Every Purpose: Choose the Right Plants for Your Conditions, Your Garden, and Your Taste (A Rodale Organic Gardening Book): Books: Larry Hodgson

Buy this and we can compare notes.