Tuesday, April 26, 2022

Spring On The Mountaintop

 It seems that spring has at long last made its way to the mountaintop - happy days indeed! We are not out of the woods yet, but our last snowfall has melted and soon the trees will be leafing out. Is there ever a more beautiful sight than the soft green flush of trees in springtime? 

Meanwhile, as always, I've been hard at work around here getting the house and gardens ready for spring. Not only ready for spring, but also ready for a bridal shower in May and a wedding in June! The wedding is not at my house, but there will be photos in the garden, as I have always dreamed from the time I planted my very first garden. 

No pressure, right? 

One by one I've been clearing out all the garden beds....all the huge tasks have been done, there are only a few smaller areas to clear out at this point. Whew! 

We had a stretch of good weather over the weekend, and I took advantage of the warm dry days to get the deck ready for the season. That's always a huge project as the deck needs to be power washed and re-stained every single year. Yup. Every year. 

Our extreme winter weather takes quite a toll on the deck, and shoveling doesn't help either. I know the moisture from my deck garden contributes to the wear and tear also, but there's no way I'm giving up my deck garden! 

So, I take on the back breaking task every year, and it's always such a huge relief to have it behind me. 

We have a couple of frosts coming up this week, and then the weather looks good after that point....fingers crossed! 

I have brought out the geraniums I overwintered, and some of the seedlings are in my little greenhouse hardening off for spring planting. 

I'll have to bring out my little plastic 'greenhouses' and cover the pansies and veggies I've already planted....that's ok, that's exactly what I save them for, and my collection has grown all winter. 

Remember all you gardeners out there - save those plastic containers that can act as a mini greenhouse if you are hit with a late frost! I can't tell you how incredibly useful they have been for me in the past! 

In the veggie garden I have planted onions and shallots, cauliflower, broccoli, brussel sprouts, cabbage, and lettuce so far. The garlic is coming up strong from last fall's planting, and there's a soft rain falling today, giving everything a good watering. 

The lilacs are getting ready to bloom, something I am super excited about every year. I can't wait to bring bouquets of lilacs into the house and enjoy their sweet scent. 

I'm not sure what this is but it's in bloom all around my house.....if anyone can help identify this tree I'd appreciate it! It sure has unusual buds! 

After these frosts are behind us, I'll take a ride to my favorite garden center and get some ideas for this year's deck garden. 


This was two years ago, and I loved all the blue and white I used in the deck garden - it was so soothing during that crazy first Covid summer. I like to stick with shades of blue, pink, and whites on the deck. 

This was last summer's deck garden....ooh I cannot wait for it to look like that once more! 

It was my first successful summer with Dahlias, and I have successfully overwintered all but one variety, which is super exciting! 

Remember that even if you only have a small outdoor space, you can still create a beautiful outdoor oasis. I spend so much time on the deck swing in the summer, listening to the creek and the beautiful night noises....it's my heaven on earth. 

Meanwhile, I better try and be patient and remember that we can still get snow....sigh. 

What's happening in your neck of the woods? 

23 comments:

  1. Beautiful, Debbie!! You have accomplished an incredible amount of work already! I had my first peony bloom Sunday in my new home's sun garden, but it's my first experience with peonies and I forgot to cut the blooms yesterday before today's rain. {sad face}. Lilacs, bluebells, lily of the valley, overwintered pansies are all in bloom. My transplanted boxwoods from last fall - 6 of 7 appear to have survived. I will deal with that later. I'm happy to be back in gardening. I didn't realize I missed it (I sure didn't miss the expense though!).

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    1. Rita, I apologize, I've been so out of the 'blogging' loop for so long that I didn't even realize you had moved - congratulations, I just searched your blog and your new home is GORGEOUS!!! Remember if you cut peonies to bring them inside you need to soak the blooms (bloom side down) in a bucket of water to get rid of any ants that may be inside. How wonderful that you have a garden to play in again, I know you must have missed it so much!

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    2. Debbie. Could your mystery plant be a fothergilla? Common name bottle brush...with a slight fragrance when the little spikes completely open? There is one in my new landscape and it's quite nice. The fall leaves are a brilliant color, and that is the reason I kept that plant when I was overhauling the garden overgrowth last fall. Google it and let me know if you think that's it.

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    3. I had to look that one up, Rita, as I am not familiar with it but no, that's not it. It's a tree, what we call a 'weed tree' that grows wild on the perimeters of my property. I've never been good at identifying 'wild' trees, I must get myself a book or an app or something!

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  2. I like that so many of your flowers are purple in color. Purple looks so good against green leaves. I like to use purple and yellow. I think I missed being able to put pansies out. They weren't even for sale at the garden center yesterday.
    Brenda

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    1. Yes I would say your pansy season is over, Brenda - you're in full on summer garden mode now, I would think. Sadly I will have to bring my geraniums in for a few days, with nights dropping down into the 20's, but after that hopefully they can stay out and grow strong. I'm so ready for spring to stick around!

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    2. Your pansies are so pretty. Like you I am anxious for nice weather and it is hard being patient. I have started back blogging and put a picture of my blueberry bushes covered as it is to get down to 32 tonight. I don't know how you manage to keep up to everything. I covered my geraniums with a sheet tonight and hope they will do okay. I have been wanting to try growing a dahlia in a pot. Not sure if it will get done this year. Nancy

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    3. It might be kind of late to try starting a Dahlia from a tuber at this point Nancy, but you can usually find them in a garden center already growing. If you do, you can plant it in a pot, and then I dumped out the pots at the end of the season, shook the dirt off the tubers, and put them in a paper bag downstairs where I keep the temp at 50 degrees. I potted them up in March and 8 out of 12 are growing like mad!

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  3. Finally we are getting out of winter. I cannot wait to see your deck this summer with all the pretty flowers. Have a great rest of the week. xoxo Kris

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    1. I wondered if it was pussy willow, but it doesn't have that white fluffy look that pussy willow gets - it's yellow and spikier!

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  5. I can remember living in western NY and waiting impatiently for winter to truly be over. Where I lived, we waited until Memorial Day to plant flowers in pots for the porch. Your porches in the past have looked so pretty.

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    1. That's our 'safe' planting time as well Penny, but I just keep a close eye on the weather and if I need to cover things that's the price I pay for jumping the gun!

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  6. I have been catching up on your blog postings. I had not looked this winter. Lovely about the upcoming wedding, especially ironic since wedding planning is up your alley, lol. I am having patio/deck potted plant envy as I review your deck from last year. Blue flowers are my favorite color and you do such a terrific job starting so much from seed. We have better weather in the winter than you, north central Ohio, but this April has been the worst. Snow, rain, snow, rain, bitter cold nights, like tonight at 27. There has been no Spring this year. I see the pups are well and happy, too. Lynn and her cat Precious

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    1. Funny how wedding planning is what I do but this one is stressing me out, Lynn! The shower is next weekend, I have just finished finalizing the menu. I had ideas in my head, but just now sat down and made a list to bring it to fruition. Lots going on, it's been so busy I feel like my head is spinning, you know?

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  7. Our weather here in northeast IL is so much like yours. We've had an unusually cold April and with snow, too. It's only been in the 40's here during the day and down into the 20's and barely 30's at night. We've had freeze warnings several nights in a row now, so I've had to bring my pansies inside at night. I am SO sick of wearing my winter coat - 7 months now! May should bring both of us some warmth and sunshine - right?! And then everything will burst into bloom and we can have pots of flowers sitting on our decks and patio. Can't wait!

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    1. I truly can't wait either, Melanie - I tried to do my afternoon 'walkabout' yesterday and barely made it down the steps, it was so rotten out! I turned back around and went inside and then decided uh oh I better cover all my plants - so glad I did as my birdbath is a solid block of ice this morning! I'll leave the covers on my plants today and tonight and then the forecast looks better.....fingers crossed! Spring please come to the mountaintop and STAY!!!

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  8. When I kept seeing snow falling on your Instagram posts I knew it must be so hard for an avid gardener like you. But you have accomplished so much in the times you've been able to work outside. Your deck is beautiful and your pictures of past years there show how gorgeous a spot it will be after you add your favorite flowers all potted up. And everything will be so pretty there for the coming special occasions. I hope we get to see some pictures on Instagram when they happen! It must be exciting after two summers of not having lots of people be able to gather. Have fun getting ready for it!

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    1. I think I'm a little out of practice with entertaining Dewena - I have to give it a lot more thought than I used to! Sadly the weather does not look like it will cooperate which means the shower will be indoors, but it is what it is, right?

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  9. So great to see this post from you Debbie!!! It's the first of June and we are already into summer weather, have been for the last couple of weeks. Heat and humidity!! Happy Summer to you and yours ~ FlowerLady

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  10. I just wrote a comment, but don't know it it went through or not. It is so great to see this post from you. Hot and humid down here in s.e. FL. Have a wonderful summer. ~ FlowerLady

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  11. Just cruising around and I came across your site! A lot of great information and good stuff! Thank you for your posts and hope you have an awesome sunny day!

    Rick Smith

    rick@inthegardenlife.com

    https://inthegardenlife.com/

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