Wednesday, May 7, 2014

Wednesday Workday - Pots!

One of my favorite rites of spring is filling the pots for the deck and yard.  There is nothing more fun than choosing annuals to pull lots of extra color.  And, this was the week for doing that, as well as adding more annuals to the beds for color and cutting later this summer. 
 It's not quite 3 flats - so fewer than 150 plants!
A quick trip to the "good local greenhouse" [not a big box store] to stock up on flats of bedding plants.  Fortunately, I had business on that side of town and was able to just "stop by" on my way from one business errand to another.  I call that good planning!
 Separating the colors helps me figure out what goes best with what.
And, then the fun of laying out the plants an planting. 
This pot was a Christmas gift.  Have been anxious to get it filled.

 Love Pentas, and haven't been able to find them for a couple of year.

 The shed is actually yellow.  Am hoping the terra cotta pot and purple sweet potato vine will look stunning in a month or two.
When the pots were done, the rest of the annuals [and a perennial or two] went into the ground.

Zinnias and snapdragons for lots of color!





Monday, May 5, 2014

May Days

The first week in May is when Central Virginia screams "spring!!!!!"  Even the most modest home is cloaked in azaleas, dogwood, late tulips and the first of the perennial flowers.  In a word ... it's gorgeous. 
Did you want pink azaleas?
Or, perhaps white?
Or ,,, PINK!
 When i walked out on the deck yesterday, Miss Kim announced her presence - fragrantly!
Syringa patula 'Miss Kim'
 In the beds there's already lots of variety .... Forget me Nots,
 Iris ...
 Weigela 'Wine and Roses' has started to bloom in the front yard.
While the peonies are ready to pop open in the back.
And in the house, the first of the purple iris hold the place of honor!