Back Flowerbed and Apple Trees

 I'm thinking more and more that this mystery plant must be some kind of geranium.

The pink flowers look a lot like geraniums.

 Irises are blooming!

I just love how they smell. They always remind me of my Grandma Fuller--she used to have 3 or 4 rows in her garden, just for irises of all colors.

 A couple tulips hanging on. You can see the marigolds I planted out.

And all the weedy jungle going on.

 Borage planted out, and thriving.

Irises, tulips, and big ugly weeds.

 Back apple tree--a few blooms left.

This one being more in the shade, it bloomed about a week later than the front one.

I'm hoping there's enough of an overlap that it will be pollinated still.

 Still lovely and cheerful.

Raspberry bushes.

I was trying to show that I had done some weeding at least, but the joke's on me--

this picture doesn't show the ground!

Mystery Bush Revealed

Azaleas

 There's 2 on the street-side of the east fence. Just one pictured above.

This is one too: backyard, northeast corner of the fence

(same shown below)

They're all blooming on only the bottom third of the branches, and look quite twiggy.

I think all three need a good pruning.

They will probably also all need to be relocated before landscaping projects take them out.

Now that I know what they are, maybe I can find a place for them.

Some options: 

1. on our back slope

2. side of our driveway, one the pile of junipers and debris is gone.

3. next to the shed once it's completed

Side Yard Blooms

 Actually these diminuitive tulips are in the front flower bed, between the scraggly bushes.

I just never see them because of the large evergreen shrub blocking the view.

 So these tulips turned out to be red, after all.

 Some other flower--we'll see what it turns out to be.

 These pretty tulips are still going strong, and even that one daffodil is hanging on.

Pretty sure these are daisies...along with the juniper that still needs to be taken out.

On a happier note...

 These flats are about ready to be planted out, I think!

I covered them up again most of yesterday and last night, since it was supposed to get down to 34, but I plan to leave them uncovered at nights now.

Look at the lovely little marigold bloom!

 These cosmos are so floppy, I don't know what to do with them.

But the one is blooming, there on the left, along with 2 more marigolds.

I'm planning to get my flower pots planted this week, and I may add a few of these.

I don't know about putting cosmos in a flower pot, but I think I may just try it.

 These lovely tulips are finally showing their color--surprise! A little bit of yellow mixed in with the pink/blush color.

 This little patch seems to get prettier each day.

There are sure some gorgeous tulips all around town right now. They obviously do very well here. I'll have to remember that when I purchase bulbs this fall.

In Missouri I could only get one good year out of them, then they were done. Wonder if it's our cooler weather here that they do better in.

Finally, take a look at these dandelions!

I almost hate to admit it, but they are pretty!

 These are all growing on the back slope, so I'm just going to let them grow.

It'll be a good flower for the kids to pick if they feel the urge.

Such sunny color--perks up the plain green back there, anyway.

The Demise of the Beans

I'm sorry to say that most of our beans are not going to make it.

They started out really strong. Even a week ago, they were loaded with blossoms and looking pretty good in that basement window.

But they can only go so long without a drink of water, ya know?

Yes, it is totally and completely my fault!

Makes me wish we had a compost pile. 



I am doing a last-ditch effort to save the ones I can, but it may be a case of "too little, too late."

Note to self: next year, just wait and plant the beans outside.

Or, let Jacob and Becca each plant ONE because they grow so well, then plant the rest outside.

I feel a little bad about it, but honestly a little relieved, too. I'm still not sure how I'm going to harden off any survivors for garden planting.  I will no doubt have to plant more anyway.

Lesson learned.  Sorry beans.

Garden update & flowerpot

 It's coming!

I bought 2 of these plant stands, on sale from Shopko.

I really like their shape, and their extra-heavy duty construction.

And I think this pot of petunias on the plant stand, on the front deck, is just charming!

It gives me a little thrill of happiness every time I see it!

Potting Up & Hardening Off

Or, what to do when you don't have a cold-frame built yet!

 My friend Colette gave me this brilliant idea.

So to harden these seedling off (i.e., get them ready for life outdoors full-time), I have them out on the back slope under these clear bins. In the afternoon, I either prop up the bin a bit, or take it off completely, if it's warm enough. Then cover them back up at night to keep them warm and keep the frost off.

So far so good.

Today the bins didn't come off at all, mostly because we were busy with other stuff--church, mother's day--all day. But tomorrow is supposed to be in the 60's (yes!) so I'm planning to give them some sun in the afternoon.

So here's what's out there:

 2 pumpkin plants, borage, several marigolds and cosmos, and a few basil.

Oh yeah, and some hollyhocks.

I took about 2.5 hours Saturday night and got the rest of the seedlings potted up that were still in the very small starting trays. Violas, petunias, more marigolds and cosmos, a few more basil and hollyhocks, and some delphiniums.

They all needed it pretty desperately, but I had been waiting, because I just didn't have any more window-sill space. Then I talked to Colette about starting to harden some off outside.  So that freed up my window-sill space.  Basically, I put all the bigger stuff outside, and kept the little ones in.

I figure in a couple of weeks, all these will be ready to be planted outside, and I can start hardening off the ones that are in my windowsill now.

p.s. I have no idea what to do with those beans! They are all flowering in the basement windowsill, even though it's about 15 degrees colder than the main level, and I only water them about once a week!

Go beans! I just...am not sure what to do with them. They are so tall that I think this bin method of hardening them off would smash them down too much.  I'll have to talk to Colette again and see if she has any ideas! I give her a hard time about being my personal extension agent! :)