Monday, April 22, 2013

The rest of the weekend.

I have a pair of cotton-tail rabbits who live in my yard. Probably because I have as much clover as grass!  But I love seeing them around.
In honor of Earth Day weekend, I decided it was time to get some tomatoes in the ground so I went out to weed and get the little graden ready.  I harvested this pair of leeks that had over-wintered.
This time instead of growing them in containers, I put the plants directly in the ground, with a row of protector marigolds in front. Five varieties, each buried as deeply as I could and then covered with a weed barrier of newspaper. I always think the tomato cages are overly optimistic, but by summer's end, they'll be leaning under the weight of the plants.
And then time to weed and bask in the old faithful perennials  I love creeping phlox, especialy when it is spiling over a stone wall.
I planted this little Japanese cut-leaf red maple a few years ago. I like the way the shape makes it look wind-blown. Each winter I'm certain it has died, and then it sprouts its lacy leaves.
Azaleas, tulips and candytuft along with all the periwinkle. And clearly, I've not managed to uproot all the lilies of the valley in this bed, so there's more work to be done here. I love them, but they choke out the azaleas and pierris, and so I try to keep them confined to other areas.
Fothergilla!  Even the name is cute.
These are my easter egg tulips. And yes, I need to mow. I did get the back yard done, but it was too warm to spend a lot of time in the direct sun. I'll get the front yard tomorrow.
April. Say what you will about the South, but there are some real positives to living here.