Happy Late Birthday to my New Front Flower Bed

June 4, 2008, waiting for the rain to stop, and trying to keep it off newly dug bed, added to the circle bed that was mostly oranges and yellows:

6/10/08, from the back of the bed:

Today:

6/10/08, from the front:

Today:

6/10/08:

Today:

6/10/08:

Today:

6/10/08:

Today:

6/10/08:

Today, from the other direction:

6/10/08, from the house:

Today:

It was also a year ago that I discovered the Cottage Garden Forum on ivillage's GardenWeb.  I've mentioned this before, but that is where I met some very nice people, some of whom got me interested in blogging.  I got lots of encouragement that my bed would be fuller this year.  It is, but I'm still wanting to plant some early spring bloomers that don't need much room later, when the annuals get bigger.  The bed originally was going to be for large growing annuals, but I kept finding perennials I wanted to grow, and I'm glad I did, because they fill up some spaces that would be dirt right now if they weren't there.

Yard Walks from Yesterday and Today

When Heidi hears me tell Larry I'm going for a "yard walk" or ask if he wants to join me, she is always ready, assuming I will take her, too.  Once things start to grow, I go out every day to see what is going on.  When the time comes that there may be some weeding, trimming, or dead heading to do, I have my garden scissors and a bucket with me, so that I can take care of things as I notice them.  If I have just a little time, I do a little.  By being out every day, things don't get out of hand, and I keep it fun,  just doing what I have the time and/0r energy to do.  When it gets hot, and things are at a peak, I do get behind, but I still do the yard walks, and do what I can.  I also focus on certain areas as needed at a different time from the walk.

Here are some of the pics from the last couple day's yard walks.  If you want to see details, they will enlarge when clicked on.

This is the bed we started last June.  The mini blind tags are helping me figure out what is coming up, and where the plants that come up later are.

Here's the new bed from the house.  There is a circle of pink tulips that poked through just when I thought they were not going to.  The bed was supposed to be for large growing annuals, but somehow more and more perennials kept getting planted there.

Dutch Iris about to bloom:

Does anyone know what these are?

This daffodil is in the planter in front of the house.

I think this is a pansy that stowed away in a 6 pack of violas.

The narrow part of the bed was just put in last year.  I had planned on putting more plants in, because the geraniums didn't spread as much as I thought they would, but I need to wait, because we received notice our streets are going to be resurfaced, and the curbs may be replaced.  I need to call the number they gave us to see if they know when, and how far in I need to remove plants.

Bed on the east side of the sidewalk:

 

 Hyacinths from the previous bed:

West side of sidewalk:

East side of house:

Across driveway, still on east side of yard, in front of veggie garden:

A messy area near the compost pile in the veggie garden, complete with garlic that needs thinning, hollyhock seedlings, leaves, and blooming henbit:

Aerie-el from Gardener's Roost posted a walk around her place, and asked how our gardens grow, which is what inspired me to go ahead and post about my yard walks.  If you click on her blog name, you'll get to it.  It's the one that starts out talking about rain.

It Waited until Bloom Day, and My Day in the Garden

This "holiday cactus" is called, "Naomi".  I guess it was still teasing yesterday.

Below are Yellow Sweet Spanish onions.  Tom Thumb buttercrunch lettuce was planted between the rows.  I also planted Early Wonder beets, Early White Vienna kohlrabi, spinach, and a mesclun mix nearby. The photo of the Mr. Society onions, which are extra early, and not for keeping was accidently omitted. 

Lettuce is coming up under the green fabric in the "gamble garden."  

This was from earlier in the day, when it was raining, even though there was no rain in the forecast, and I was thinking I wasn't going to get to garden.  

After planting in the veggie garden, I did some clean up in the new bed.  I took off last year's growth from most of the plants.  I just removed the top layer of leaves so far. (We had our daughter, daughter-in-law, and grandson over for supper, so I didn't get finished, but I was out long enough to get a little sunburned.)

I took some dead leaves off of this foxglove.  I am pleased it is back for another season.

I think this may be the surprise lily I planted.  I can't remember how many I planted, but this is the only one growing.  It's marker, made from cut up mini blinds must have come out.  Several of them did, but I was able to stick them back.  When everything is up well, I'll see if they are hidden or need to come out.

I am most excited to see the Wally day lily is ready to grow.  I fell in love with it from the Cottage Garden Forum on ivillage.