Hey Bud! Grow UP!

Yes, it's spring. In the beginning I promised cooking, gardening, and design. We did cooking all winter (and that will continue-do not dispair) and now we are moving into the gardening and design portion of this program. :).

I cannot tell you how excited I am. Four years ago I planted a Moscow Pink Lilac. For four years it grew profusely (five feet!) but never bloomed :(. I was giving it one more year in it's current location. Well actually I was giving it one more year-because it was sited perfectly so moving it would not have made a difference.

Yesterday-as I was perusing my newborns (that is how it feels every spring watching everything come out of the ground and grow)-I saw them. BUDS!! and lots of them too!!! Oh how exciting. I had to share this with you. If you look closely at the picture you will see lots of buds. The Moscow Pink Lilac is a particularly beautiful specimen with lovely very soft pink buds. Not that the traditional Lilac isn't pretty-but this one is a real knock out. I can't wait to see it in bloom.

I also spotted my first Fig bud today. Amazingly early! usually it is mid May before any show up. I didn't take a picture of that-but I will. I was too busy doing my fig bud dance around the tree to take a picture. No pictures of that unless the neighbors have a webcam on their crazy neighbor that gardens in her robe.

The primroses are coming up as well-they are so cute and -their colors so cheery and vibrant--almost fluorescent actually. Hard to believe these plants prefer almost full shade. Very similar to Tuberous Begonias that are also extremely colorful but like shade. The Primrose is a hardy perennial though-unlike the Begonia that is a bulb which must be lifted each fall. and stored inside.

I will be speaking at the garden club this week on garden design. this is a topic I could speak on for hours. But I only have 15 minutes. Guess I will have to talk fast.

The pictures of the path are an example of how much more inviting a winding path is than a straight one. Hard scape can be used to allow the eye to wander or to force the eye to a location. In this instance, the path draws the visitor to the front door-but also allows them to "visit" along the way by creating a sense of whimsy with a drunken path. (please excuse the grass-it has not awakened to spring yet).

This week the Dahlia and Blazing Star bulbs and Hostas and Hydrangeas went in the ground along with lots of seeds: Beets, snap peas, Sweet pea flowers, larkspur, cleome, cosmos and who knows what else.

Also, the official plant moving season has begun. In the house nothing has been changed for nine years. Outside the house? I move my plants like most people change their underwear. Honestly-I am never happy. today I moved the Rio Samba rose, a hydrangea, and three daylillies. If you are a plant in my garden you better travel light cause you will be moving a lot!

Of course it is not entirely my fault. These plants have a mind of their own coming back a foot or so from their original location. When you are a perfectionist in the garden this is not practical. It sets up a whole series of moves.

I am already eyeing this weekend's moves. I will post before and afters on these--and I am sure you will agree--the move was all for the best. :).

Now go get dirty!