Front Garden
2024
April 2024. Irises and crocuses are already done. (below). We planted new daffodils which are blooming. The peony is sprouting that I planted last year! The tulips in this bed will come soon. The alliums have multiplied - just waiting for the show. Need to decide what to put in front of the rose tree? We grew african daisies again but want something new. We did buy another rosebush for the right. We are growing marigolds and violas from seed. We found some grape hyacinth growing -- don't remember planting this at all? There were tulips there last year - they did return on the other side and new tulips of course elsewhere.
2023
Reflections for 2024
What to plant next to hydrangea?
More tulips were planted for 2024
Needs more June color in addition to alliums. Hoping peony will take off and add something else.
The hardy hibiscus (2) should take off and be much bigger.
Maybe vary what's in front of the tree? Grow something else? The daisies started crowding the tree.
Dahlias and cannas did not do as well here as other places. The cannas have to be started in pots or replaced. One canna bloomed finally in September that was planted in ground. The ones started inside grew much faster.
August 2023. The black-eyed susans and red coneflowers are going strong. The African daisies take late July and early August off and will start again soon. The rose tree has just rebloomed after insect treatment. The marigolds are flourishing. The asters are blooming, but flopping without support. The spoiled rotten dahlia struggles a a bit but just bloomed again. The hydrangea on the right is doing the best of all of them and is a flower factory. The cannas are not growing as vigorously as they do in pots so are hidden- we are growing a peony on the deck to replace one and provide early blooms.
We've learned the dahlias do best in the tree garden. We'd do marigolds again for sure. We will start with the insect treatments on the rose tree preventatively.
July 2023. July bounty! African daisies, spoiled rotten dahlia, black-eyed susans, hydrangea and red coneflowers. The black-eyed susans doubled in size while the coneflowers were one plant last year! The asters are in this garden too.
June 2023: Blooms!
May 19, 2023: Ice cream tulips are late bloomers! We planted one of the dahlias we grew inside. Will additional dahlia/canna tubers on either side of rose tree sprout? The alliums were a great addition and add height. We grew viola from seed and planted around the acer which is glorious. Our annual african daisies we grew from seed grace the front for hopefully many blooms to come. The black-eyed susans are bigger than ever. The weigala did not make it through winter (landscaper ruined it). The hydrangeas are vigorous and love the front garden.
Now onto June and summer blooms!
April 14, 2023: Tulips, hydrangeas, black-eyed susans, alliums, are sprouting and trees starting to bud. We put pots with garage grown tulips and daffs around the garden. We are seed starting marigolds, African daisies and asters. We also are doing dahlia and canna tubers.
Ice Cream Tulips
2023
Bloom Time: Late spring tulips. Blooms from early May to mid- June.
Care Tips:
Cut down foliage when foliage dies.
Alliums
2022
Bloom Time: Blooms from early May to mid- June.
Care Tips:
Cut down foliage when foliage dies.
Sunny Knockout Rose Tree
My mom had a rose for every child -- so the first thing we bought. Hope its good luck as it never stops blooming.
2022
Bloom Time: Blooms from May until late November! (Mild fall)
Care Tips:
Used rose cone mulch/leaves to overwinter. Put protector on trunk. Covered when below 20 degrees
Prune when leaves appear again in spring.
Leaf damage started in June, japanese beetles in July. Start insecticide mid-May. Will also treat lawn for grubs.
Purple Ghost Japanese Maple
The colors and intricacy intrigue me. Planted in the fall so will be first summer.
2022
Care Tips:
Used mulch around tree line and covered when below 20 degrees.
Used the fertilizer stakes
Prune bent branches in spring
Mugo Pine
We fell for the needles and something green for all seasons. We were so over junipers.
2022
Care Tips:
Got those spider mites. Sprayed with dish soap mix.
Fertilized with the spikes
Bloomstruck Hydrangea
Inspired by a neighbor's yard and love the blues. Grew much larger in 2023
2022 - also in secret garden
Flower time: Flowered June through October
Care Tips:
Use fertilizer for roses on this too. See the blue!
Summer Crush Hydrangea (smaller one)
Much bluer and bigger in 2023!
2022 - also in Secret Garden
Flower time: Flowered June through October in 2022. Only through August in 2023. Not sure why.
Care Tips:
Use fertilizer for roses on this too.
Black-eyed Susan
We planted 3 and they got tall and never quit.
2022
Flower time: First flower on July 4th! Bloomed through September...
Care Tips:
Getting very large! Divide them in 2024 spring or fall.
Fed with my bloom fertilizer and has much more buds.
Red Coneflowers
2022
Flower time: First flower in July.
Care Tips:
Multiplied alot in 2023
Make sure not crowded by black-eyed susan
Fed with my bloom fertilizer and has much more buds.
Zesty Zinger Tickseed
Unassuming but the flowers kept coming. In 2023 is really struggling to come back and no blooms by July.
2022 - also in Secret Garden
Flower time: Flowered fairly June through October
Care Tips:
Deadheading
Move elsewhere if it returns.
Hardy Hibiscus
Starry Night
2023
Bloom time: Bloomed in September but was new plant. Did not bloom like starry night pic but red only.
Care Tips:
Planted in early June next to outgoing Alliums
Can prune branches in late fall/early spring. Grows from ground. Slow to start but then rapid growth.
Planted two - one bloomed. The other was overshadowed by marigolds and should be moved in 2023.
Peter Brand Peony
Holland Bulb Farm. Sprouted in pot and then planted fall of 2023.
Bloom time: June (?)
Care Tips:
Make sure not planted too deep (1-2"). If so, may not flower.
Planted this year so will flower next year hopefully
Can be 36" - 40" tall and 12-18" wide
Annuals/Tubers
African daisy
Bloom time: Early June - October. Definitely seed in early February.
Care Tips:
Planted 4 plants in front and 2 on side. The front is very crowded now. Plant further apart.
Grew much better than the nursery one with colored flowers? Ordered different variety for 2023.
Maybe in a different place in 2024?
French Marigold
Grew from seed. Would start seed earlier. But definitely love these.
2022 - annual
Bloom time: Late June - ?.
Care Tips:
Fertilized with bloom fertilizer.
Would seed in larger pot and plant whole thing. This worked better and was planted in backyard.
MatsumotoAsters
2023 - annual
Bloom time: Starting to bloom July 1st.
Not sure I would grow them again. A lot of work for not a lot of payoff.
Care Tips:
Grew from seed
Want sun.
Need stem support or will flop.