Back from Down Under and being obsessive May 31

Well, if you know me, I need to get things done and to get to the end of May and NOT have planted the petunias and the Italian Container Garden is really bad.  I even hurt my hand today. ugh.  I would work on the computer, have calls then run out and plant. Tom commented at a grad party tonight, "Your hands are still rather dirty."  ha.

Well, this is the pink Azalea. Yeah, I think it got over-watered by sprinklers or something.  Pink all gone but the green looks good. I have it drying out under the pine tree

Remember those pretty white and purple little daisies? Well, they disappeared so I replanted the green part into the garden behind this picture and hoping for some blooms to reappear.  I also moved the other purple and white geraniums that did not have flowers anymore also to that garden and will Miracle Gro.  I put the lovely geraniums I always get from Joan's PEO in those pots.  Look at the pansies.  How can I keep them blooming? keep them in the shade? I don't know.

I found these red, pink and yellow little candlesticks at Walmart. BTW,  Walmart had great looking petunias for $.98 a container which is the lowest I've ever seen.  Bought a lot but as you will see, not enough!  tried to go back there tonight with Tom but they did not have power! Imagine that!

Important:  I had a delphinium like this one last year in the main garden and it was lovely.  It did not return and it is a perennial.  So I got one (at Walmart, great price like $4) and put it in the tree garden.

Disappointment?  did the poppy even bloom? Do they not bloom the first year? Why can't I grow poppies?  I know that others in the 'hood have so many and they multiply.  But, alas, not for me. Maybe next year. I will pamper it.

Well, here is the start of the back garden.  Note: need more petunias.  note the lily on the right side. Hope it returns next year.  Need more perennials as I get older.  Need to have those come back to save my poor back which hurts now.

Every year I've added less color to the "dusties" garden.  Just so easy to have those but needed some color this year and might add something else?

Tom got these pots before the wedding last year.  I did the thrill, fill and spill with a spike, two geraniums and then yellow marigolds and some dusty miller for the spill. Not sure about them but they are okay.

Roses really bloomed a month early.  I need to trim there tomorrow.  they must have been pretty!

These are John and Debbie's peonies.  Wow, they are lovely every year but only bloom for like a week.

As you all know, this blog is really for me to take notes and learn.

Leaving my post for 3.5 weeks.

 this is how the Spring Greens garden looks today.  will have to have a retake when I return

 Well, this was nice of the Lord.  One lily opens up for me before I leave.  Becky will enjoy them.

 Okay, this is weird.  I planted a dahlia bulb in this barrel.  this is the third little popsicle stick I have put there to mark the spot.  I think the crazy squirrels are running off with the popsicle sticks. they are insane the way they chase each other on the fence.  But at least they don't eat things like the rabbits. there is a rabbit warren in the buses at the Paliga's house. They run around the front yard and Tom watches them from his office.  We have gates to hopefully keep them out of the front yard.

 just measuring growth

May 3, the seedlings. Their siblings are over at Carol Woods.  We'll see what happens.

This is really a great idea.  Have to figure out how to do something like this.......

Special message for Laura Flanders, master gardener, mentor and friend:

Okay, I did it but still much to be done- you have said to me every year, "You need to thin out your carrots and radishes."

If you ever want to come over and thin some more, be my guest!!  :)