pause for garden tour

Spring is the time of new beginnings. Amidst the growing uncertainty of rising prices, diplomatic crises, and the pain and suffering here and abroad, I’m taking a pause to see what’s greening in my garden.

We have 2 Camellias next to the kitchen window. Last year, they had a scale infestation, probably because of the multiple droughts. I sprayed them with Neem last weekend to get ahead of the bugs.

I’ve spent 3 years planting daffodil bulbs around the yard. When we moved in, I brought daffodil bulbs given to me by a friend along with some bulbs dug up from our old home. I also divided bulbs I found in 2 spots in the yard. Each year, I’ve been ordering bulbs from Breck’s to add to my collection. This year, I finally see my vision of extensive daffodil bulbs beginning to take shape in the yard.

I’m not sure why I popped these hyacinths in this half-whiskey barrel; I may have thought they would grow taller. Once they’re finished flowering, I’m going to move them to another spot in the yard, and replace them with daffodil bulbs in the fall.

I would also love to have crocus bulbs spread throughout our yard. They will spread but I need to get more in the ground to create the effect I’m going for.

This is one of the bagged elderberry plants I purchased last year. I chose it for the purplish leaves. Unfortunately, the deer ate it last year, probably in desperation during the drought. I may need to cage the plant to give it some time to grow.

This is one of several snapdragons I planted last year that appear to have survived the winter. I used them as an accent annual in a corner of our yard by the road. Hopefully, they revive and live to flower again.

This lovely specimen is down the hill from our Camellia shrubs. I need to give this one and the smaller Pieris nearby a feeding or 2 this year.

This is our other Camellia shrub. For some reason, this one has fewer flower buds than the pink one. I’m planning on rooting some cuttings in August from both shrubs to grow new ones for other spots in the yard. Given the acidic soil in our yard and extensive dappled shade, I’m sure I can grow them in multiple spots.