Ground Rules

There have been a few problems in my garden this year because I thought the rules didn't apply to me. My plan for an arbor with purple wisteria on one side and gorgeous, white clematis on the other side is not to be, at least not in the spot I planted them.

Wisteria healthy and green.

Wisteria grows like a weed and doesn't always bloom where it is planted, especially when it doesn't get enough sunlight (current location). I thought I could plant it where I wanted to plant it (counting on its 'weedyness'), not where it needed to be planted.

*SIGH*

Wisteria shading Clematis.

Last week I admitted defeat and trimmed it back, I also plan to move it in December to a location where IT will be happy (I'll try to adjust). 

It's a good thing I got pictures of last year's beautiful clematis blooms because I got nothing this year. Too much shade - because of a wildly, healthy, weedy, green wisteria blocking out the sun and giving me a green/yellow, pitiful clematis this spring. Turns out the old garden rule of "heads in the sun, feet in the shade" is one I need to remember and follow, so maybe next year I can have beautiful blooms on my clematis and beautiful blooming wisteria.

After I trimmed up (cut down) the wisteria I added a few pots
so this corner of the garden wouldn't look so bare. (Notice
the clematis is all greeny-yellow and sad looking.)
 

I left a few leaves on the wisteria, and noticed new growth on the plant in less than a week. Now to keep every thing trimmed, mulched, and watered.

Gardening (and baseball) - there's always next year.

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Garden

These days we start early - our (please notice I'm sharing the ownership) garden gets better every day. 

This Spring, I have had another sweet reminder of one of my friends.  I was afraid the red lily that my friend, Paula, gave me two or three Easters ago had been lost with all the pulling of weeds and cleaning out the flower beds - I was happily surprised to see Paula's Lily had survived.

It just popped up one day, tucked in behind the grapevine.
 

Sometimes Mr. J&C's weeding is reminiscent of bush hogging. Somehow we missed this and I got to watch it grow and bloom another year.

It had blooms for about two weeks - thanks, Paula!

Thanks to my garden companion, I'm becoming a better gardener. I have always tried to keep up with the rainfall and water accordingly, but I've been slow to weed. Now I'm checking on the garden once a week for weeds - bonus! Mr. J&C weeds!

I have even (GASP!) thrown out plants that haven't "performed" well in my garden. My thinking being weeds and useless plants are drinking precious water.

Planted in November 2009, this purple crepe myrtle has
 gotten smaller every year. It easily came up out of the ground -
the root ball was almost nothing.

I'm also compromising with Mr. J&C - he wants the plants not so close together so it will be easier to weed. The work we've done so far looks good and it has been easier to weed. 


Update:  I got reimbursed the money taken from my checking account back in April.  This is a good thing for me, but we all will pay for this with higher prices.


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Borrowed Mule

Pulling weeds is back breaking work, especially hard is trying to get rid of all the Bermuda grass.  Where did that stuff come from?  We have a beautiful St. Augustine lawn, but somehow we have Bermuda grass in all the flowers beds.

Having knee surgery last year put me way behind in garden maintenance, now Mr. J&C and I are knee deep in weeds.  I am happy to report that we are half way through our garden cleanup.

Beautiful flower bed, notice the grapevine up front
- it already has blooms (well, one or two).

We are trying to get all the work done before the Texas heat returns to Fort Worth.  I thought we were all HAPPY, HAPPY, HAPPY ---  Until I heard my husband say I was working him like a "borrowed mule."

Mr. J&C hard at work.

Picking up a thing or two at local garden center.

What is one supposed to do when the 'help' starts complaining?

I've given him (and me) the day off.  I've even sweetened the deal by giving him his choice of whiskey.

Lessons learned this week? 

Be good to your garden help - and yourself.

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Seasoning

I love my Texas home but it took me a while to adjust to the way we do seasons around here. There are years when I miss whole seasons. I can be just minding my own business and then, half way through a winter afternoon, I realize summer is here. 

The calendar says March so I think it's about time for Spring. Cold mornings, mild afternoons. Could it be that Spring is really here?

These started blooming three weeks ago before I got
out there to weed that section of the garden.
 

Many thanks to my friend, Mernie, who years ago gave me these 'Texas' daffodil bulbs for a birthday present.  I received them in September and planted them in October. They've grown and multiplied every year.


I may not be a zealot about using plants that are
grown for a Texas garden - but I'm getting close to it.

I've been going through old pictures, instruction manuals, and files (trying to get the house organized enough so Mr. J&C can find anything - without me having to stop and show him where "we" keep things). 

I moved the plant information card to the
top just for this picture.... work with me,
I'm trying to tell a story.

Turns out I had more than one garden notebook, so for now I'm keeping my garden stuff in a box. One a rainy day I may put everything in notebook, but this box idea is sort of growing on me.

I don't usually keep birthday cards but for some reason (the turtle maybe?) I kept this one with the plant instructions.  It reminds me who gave me such a great gift and I figure if someone gives you a perennial they hope each time you see it you'll think of them and smile.


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Temptation

Sunny and 67 F on  February 14th.  If you and yours celebrated Valentines' Day, I hope you had a wonderful time.  Mr. J&C and I tempted each other with chocolates.

Over the last few weeks I've gotten several seed and garden catalogs so I know that it is wintertime.  I love that every year, in the dead of winter, I receive these beauties...

I love to look through them and dream.  I have learned by sad trial and error (and who knows how much money!) that all I can do is dream - and plan.  I take my time wishing and hoping and finally, when I'm ready to buy and plant, I take my pictures to my favorite local shops and buy.  They have plants that may survive in my area and it makes more sense to buy plants that have a fighting chance.

What's tempting you this week?


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