As a garden blogger sometimes life is frustrating. During the winter you reach for things to say, stuff to talk about and begin dragging back old pictures of the previous year just so that you can produce something for people to read. Then before you know it the growing season is in full swing and you’re practically left behind with ideas for posts about gardening. There are so many things to share and one trip around the garden brings a multitude of posts to the mind. It’s even worse when you bring the camera out for a walk. You begin taking pictures getting carried away be all the neat stuff you see like the kerria beginning to bloom, or the chocolate eupatorium emerging from the soil, or the ‘Oranges and Lemons’ Gaillardia that you were hoping would return actually did, or the lush mounds of ‘Walker’s Low’ Catmint you want to propagate, or the landscaping you started around your garden shed – the list is endless! As a blogger you are forced to choose what to say even though you want to say so much. Frustrating but exciting! I would rather have too many things to talk about than nothing at all.
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| Arbor and Yoshino Cherry in the Front Yard |
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| Kerria |
As spring progresses more and more plants will be emerging which brings up my favorite subject: Plant Propagation! It’s a humongous subject but it more than most garden subjects simply thrills me. And this time of the year is an awesome one for propagating perennials. Next week I’ll be posting more about my propagation plans but they will be tempered by the potential last frost which usually is around mid-April here in Middle Tennessee. It could always frost beyond that but the odds tilt in the gardener’s favor at that point. I will tell you this though, I’ll be talking about layering a viburnum at some point. The one I layered last year ended up giving me 6 new Arrowwood viburnums to plant in my yard! (That was like winning the lottery for me!)
I’ll also be watching the weather to see how early I can get my vegetables in the ground. My tomatoes are getting large in the house and need to get acclimated to the outdoors before planting. The front porch is good for that. I still haven’t planted radishes and should probably see to it very soon. I’ll plant them where my squash will be this year as radishes may repel vine borers, we’ll see on that companion planting!
My To-Do List for This Weekend:
- Enjoy Easter with our family – Have a Happy Easter!
A look at last week’s gardening posts.
Sunday March 21
- Hiding Spent Foliage: What do you think makes a good disguise for daffodils?
Monday March 22
- I Have to Admit it, I like my lawn! A little post about good, clean, healthy lawn care techniques.
Tuesday March 30
- One Thing, Then Another, Then Another: Garden tasks always lead to something else don’t they?
Wednesday March 31
- Garden Questions from a 4 Year Old. I bring my kids to the garden very often and it’s simply amazing to watch them learn!
Thursday April 1
- Prunus is Good. Enough Said!
Friday April 2
- More Raised Bed Fun! I grow almost all of my vegetables in raised beds so I talk about them often and here I went again!
Well said Dave, there is now an abundance of flowers and activities to talk about and share…gail ps the arbor and cherry blossoms look wonderful.
You hit the nail on the head with this post…like Gail love the Arbor with the Blooms!!
I know exactly what you're talking about. And, as a new garden blogger, I have so many things to introduce to you. Have a happy Easter!
Great post Dave. I have a piece of a plant that I would like to propagate but need some advice from you.
It's a Loropetalum—has fringe like purple/pink blooms. Now, how do I propagate it?
HELP!!!!
Awright Dave,
Hope you and yours have a great Easter.
My big fault is that in my excitement, I want to make a pic and talk about the first sprout and bud. Then the plant reaches that point that I should have waited for and I'm reluctant to keep showing the same old thing. There is a point of perfection, if we can wait for it.
I'm taking part in the GROW project where several people are planting nasturtiums furnished by Renee's Seeds. How many containers of soil and the same seed packet will hold the interest of readers?
Enjoy the weekend!
Glad your gaillardia overwintered for you, Dave. I've given up on them, as they're in the 'perfect winter drainage or else' category. and YAY for you having all those extra arrowwood viburnums for your yard. Lots going on here too, but too much fog and chilly wind for me to do much today. It's okay though.
Happy Easter to you and your family!
Dave, a word of caution: I'd keep a close eye on the insect report for your region. Last year my arrowwood was attacked by the viburnum leaf beetle. Voracious eaters, both in the larval and adult stages, they're moving from north to south and target viburnums only. There may be a resistant viburnum variety out by now but I've not checked.
Love that ornamental cherry in your front yard!