Alpine Gardening?

That's what they call it at Daves Garden. It looks like all sorts of stuff can grow up the hill on the north side of the drive given the chance. I was lassoed again at Lowes! Dangit. I thought I had that problem licked with all these seedlings popping up around here.

Here's a project started a few days ago after I saw plenty of Creeping Phlox around town the past few years. Not crazy about the purples or yellows, I found Amazing Grace. Whitish with itty bitty red centers. It's a shrub that blooms very early and lasts for ?? A month? Evergreen to boot. Only time will tell. Grows to about 18 inches high but apparently spreads well. So I'm hoping in a few years it will cascade down the hill. Pretty decent soil up there. I was surprised, but a real bugger to water. Water pressure doesn't work up the driveway from the hose, so it's climbing the hill and dumping water on it...apparently until it becomes established. One week. Two?

Hopefully this blog will still be on the web 5-10 years from now, so it's nice to know what was done and what date, so as to see the progress. I keep some information elsewhere, but I'm terrible at finding it. Just like paperwork; I make an attempt to keep it together for a few months then bang...I forget about it, or where I put it. At least I know where the blog is.

Rolando scheduled to visit Sunday afternoon for some more cow dung.

Incidentally the current weather is a mirror image of 2008 (my first year). Couldn't ask for better. Mid to high 70's day, low 50's night....few clouds. Oh, a tulip sneak peak...

And the Bradford pear tree is out in town...

Daffodils Near Full Bloom

Probably ten percent didn't bud. I'm sure they will do well next year. Not all are out in full form yet, but yesterday evening offered great light to get some pics. What I can't understand looking around the place is, most of these plants are actually facing the cabin. It's not like I planted the bulb that way...it's impossible. The entire place is surrounded, only the ones up the driveway are facing away from a vantage point.

They must be feeling my presence? Looking east...all are facing towards the cabin or to the west.

Looking west... the ones in the foreground (supposed to be multi-color but turned out to be King Alfreds) are facing the cabin (north) and looking further down the trail, all are facing east. Why aren't these facing the same direction as the ones on the east trail? Is there something I'm missing here?

Across the creek. They are all facing the cabin or the creek (north)...I need more here. They were supposed to be multi as well. The moss is a brilliant green in the morning. I didn't notice that last year, but I wasn't looking.

Moving up on the hill facing north....now they're facing to the south?

Maybe they're seeking the open area of the yard, or where the sun hits the most?

Pics from this morning...up the hill. Hard to make all of them out, but they're there.

Along the fence line....

Close ups...

Trail pics from this morning. Looking west

From the east looking west...

Hurry up before the party is over...

Next up? Tulips. One week? Most of the others are half this size.

Itty Bitty Seedlings

Hard to say what some seeds are doing. I'm sure soil temps are key. No problem with Alyssum. These little buggers started coming up without any real sun...cold temps to boot inside my roasting pans. I have four pans of these.

Nuttin' happening in here...By the way all were started March 12 except for the Xtreme Impatiens below (March 19).  Soil looks chunky doesn't it? Five no shows here...

1- Lobelia Blue Bird- lost some seeds. Mixed with sand and shaken with salt shaker
2- Lobelia Purple- May have been too heavy seeding
3- Forget me Not Blue Bird
4- Forget me Not Blue Bird
5- Spreading Petunia Purple Wave

Oh, the Impatiens are coming out...barely visible. Looks pretty ugly in there doesn't it? Lack of sun creating some mucky stuff.

1- Extreme White Impatiens
2- Extreme Salmon Impatiens

Next? Hoop garden #1- started March 8
Cosmos Sensation Radiance - left (48 inches)
Blue Enchantment Convolvous - right (14 inches)
Cosmos Summer Dreams- not shown (36 inches)

Hoop garden #2 Started March 16
Scarlet Starlet Marigold - (10 inches)

Convolvous- (14 inches) all these damned things are hard to spell. Hey those two look the same?

Stupid Or Something?

I couldn't get Forrest Gump off my mind when I created yet...more gardens. Who can forget "...what are you stupid or something?" Plenty of room and plenty of time is all I can say. Besides I've been trying to clear out the area on the west side so I can get those guys to bring in some more cow dung. Too many leftovers from other projects. Next on the list; five eight foot by 6" x 6" pressure treated beams. Maybe a small stairway leading down the creek bank. Something mother wanted. Or maybe a rustic bench. I certainly need more sittin' places around here.

Brown doves? they showed up a few days ago...

Paper white..one survived

Some other stuff...Hyacinths with Tulips in back and Dutch Iris in the foreground. I think they came out too soon back in December; browned leaf edges. Says guaranteed to grow on the package. I must have a few hundred planted here and there.

Crocus. Not very consistent in other areas but this looks good. Pics below taken four days ago. Above, today.

Muscari...

I'm certain I have the squirrels whipped on the bird feeder, but have yet to see one try to climb the pole...probably very funny. Hopefully complete Daffodil pics next week. Most are out except the multi colored ones along the creek

Haha. Got You Squirrels This Time

Since I moved here local squirrels would feast when no one was round to chase them away from the bird feeder. It didn't really bother me until this month. I tried grease on the pole, that didn't work. Then I looked into wrapping barbed wire around it, but didn't want to spend  $60.00 for a spool...and borrowing ten feet from somebody's fence didn't sound neighborly.  Aluminum flashing used on roofs seemed like an idea. Easy to staple into and now they don't have a chance...but it's only been one day.

I wonder how well paint sticks to Aluminum? There must be something that works. Too flashy for now. It need some brown. Guess what? Yep, that's snow on the fence; small sprinkling this morning after a few delightful days in the high 60's. Daffodils are flowering here and there, but you won't see pics until the complete show is on.

Seedlings started popping through the soil in the hoops late last week. Surprises me as there weren't  any good days for warming the soil. Looks like anything grows around here, except the Paper whites. They came up too soon back in December. I think they're fried.

Oh, the lawn. Let's see if hay keeps the seeds from washing away this time. I'm not spending much time on that danged thing this spring. I put about six hours into it last week. It will probably look great in May and June, but that's it. Then comes hot, humid weather and lawn diseases. No good air circulation around here to dry it out.

Flagstone path finally done across the back of the cabin. Need bush/shrubbery ideas between stones and house where wheel barrel sits. About 24 inches space.