Category Archives: the Lot

Spring 2014 Has Arrived

backyard bed, front bed, gate bed, pruning, southwest bed, spring, spring cleanup

Today at exactly 12:57 ET the center of the sun passed over the Equator and the first day of Spring arrived. We usually have slightly warmer weather within the Lot’s micro-climate than the remaining Zone 6a outside of the city. The temperature reached a whopping 37 F today, which is an improvement to the very chilly winter we’ve experienced this season.

Lot Update

Here are some photos of the Lot from two days ago. A lot of snow has melted away from the edges of walkways, along paths, and from the house foundation. It seems the yew (yes, those are holiday lights that still need to be taken down) and newly freed rose in the South bed did not receive damage from the ice storms and heavier snow.

yew in south bed

The monster rose (aka my Other Half’s nemesis) seems to have made it through as well.

rose bush

The East bed is quite a soggy mess along the pathway to the gate. Several new perennials (foxglove, toad lilly, barrenwort, and coreopsis) were just added during the past growing season.

East Bed

Here is the main garden area of the Lot. Many of the perennials are still insulated under a layer of snow. This did not stop me from pruning the spirea to the right of the garage door. Usually I would not prune a spring-blooming shrub at the end of winter for fear of trimming off all the flower buds. However, this one has been falling apart over the last few years and I plan to cut it all the way to the ground after it is done blooming this spring so it can restart new, healthier growth.

We often set our Christmas tree outside by the bird feeder after the holidays. It gives the birds another place to tuck themselves away from the winter weather while they eat.

Back Garden

The middle shrub in front of the main garage wall is a burning bush. This species of shrub is too large for the space in which it was planted. When the snow retreats and the weather warms a bit more, I am going to attempt to thin out the branches a bit and bring the whole shrub back a bit in size.

Back Garden 2

Once the snow melts more, I will be cleaning up and pruning back a lot of perennials left up for winter interest. That includes the maiden hair grass and bits of false indigo seen in the foreground peeking up from under the snow.

Back Garden 3

What’s Different?

I looked back at pictures of the first day of spring from the past several growing seasons. In 2009 all the snow was gone and crocus and snowdrops were blooming. The same was true in 2010 with the daffodils swelling and many perennials stirring from winter. In 2011, there were still traces of snow in the areas of the back yard that were in the shade for the longer periods of the day. 2012 brought a very early spring with many trees already blooming which led to a horrible destruction of fruit crops for the state when a late freeze hit. Last year spring seemed back on track with the crocus and snowdrops appearing again and small areas of snow scattered here and there in the garden.

Deep down I know we will more than likely see snow again over the next month. In fact, it is in the forecast for later this week. However, there are chickadees moving through the backyard as they return from winter homes and the first snowdrops are emerging from the beds revealed by the withdrawing snow base.

#springiscoming

 

Garden Bloggers’ Bloom Day – August 2013

front bed, loki bed, , , ,

I cannot believe August Bloom Day is already here! This growing season has been flying by as I find my time spent in others’ gardens as much as our own. The weather in the Lot’s Zone 6a has been wonderfully normal if not a tad cool the first half of this month. Here are a few snapshots from the Lot.

Heuchera in Bloom

This first shot is of some Coral Bells (Heuchera) in bloom in Loki’s bed. There are three different cultivars in the bed and this is the last to bloom. In the GIG (Grand Ideas Garden) where I have been volunteering, we are instructed to immediately deadhead these blooms to redirect energy to the plants stores for winter and additional growth. However, on the Lot I let them linger a bit longer before snipping off the spent stalks.

Backyard Bed Blooms

This next backyard bed is currently colored with Black-eyed Susans and just emerging Mums. In the very back left of the shot is a bit of purple from some Asters I purchased this season for the bed. The Asters will emerge earlier next season, adding some much-needed color beginning in July.

Plumbago

This next plant in bloom is Plumbago, positioned near the right half of the backyard bed. I love, love, love this plant. Since it’s light source was increased by pruning back some towering Sage, this plant is flourishing. When the weather turns cool, it’s foliage will turn red.

Coreopsis Mercury Rising

Moving to the Lot’s south-facing bed, there are a lot of purples, reds, and yellows present this month. Above is Coreopsis – Mercury Rising. This is a red coreopsis I picked up on the Spring nursery tour. This bed receives full sun all day, so not only does coreopsis flourish here but it blooms from the beginning of summer through to the end of Fall.

Coreopsis Route 66

Here is a thread leaf style Coreopsis called Route 66. This little one came home from the Spring nursery tour as well, purchased for a whopping $1 as a seedling, and is loving the sun in the South bed.

Blanket Flower in BloomAnother plant blooming in the front, South bed is the Blanket Flower (Gaillardia). This is another plant that will flower throughout the majority of the season into Fall if it is continuously dead-headed.

Other plants blooming on the Lot include the Jupiter’s Beard, Color Flash Astilbe, Rose Campion, Butterfly Bush, some stray Hollyhock, tall Garden Phlox, the last of the Ligularia, Thunderbird Foamy Bells, Pincushion Flower, and Coneflowers.

Be sure to take a look at other gardeners’ August blooms at May Dreams Gardens. ‘Til next month!