Rainy Days and Sundays ...

I had grand aspirations for today...

April was a month of cold, windy, cloudy weekend weather;  there was not much garden "maintenance" accomplished.  Now there is a pressing need for composting and weeding.  With recent rains and soft ground, pulling weeds should go smoothly.  Well, it would have ... with a forecast of partly sunny, 70 and only a 20% chance of rain today.

Then ... the thunder rolled ...

(From the creative minds at Microsoft Clip Art)

Outdoor plans were cancelled when it became evident this was really going to be our weather for the day.  I love thunderstorms, the smell of impending rain and damp earth.  The rains, with extra Nitrogen from lightning, have transformed all the vegetation outside to a saturated emerald green.

Besides garden maintenance, I had hoped to get some plants in the ground.  After waiting to get past the 'last frost/freeze' date (almost) for Zone 5A - I have had some impulse buys.  I bought a new Hosta (Albo-Marginata Plantain Lily), to fill in a gap in the front garden.  Last weekend, with the intent of window shopping, I found a "Banana Cream" Shasta Daisy (Leucanthemum superbum) with my name on it.  (Checking that off the 2012 Wishlist).

"Banana Cream" Shasta Daisy (Leacanthemum superbum)

This past Friday, the local Boy Scouts were having their annual plant sale.  I was able to pick up two more Anemones (sylvestris), a "Turkish Delight" Sedum (ussuriense) and a perennial Pink Pampas Grass (Cortaderia selloana) that could grow up to 8-10 ft tall!  Yesterday, when picking up some compost to plant, I found "Golden Globe" Arborvitae (Thuja occidentalis 'Globosa Aurea').   My intent is to pair them with the "Royal Purple" Smoke Bush in the front.  I think the chartreuse-tipped evergreen will contrast beautifully with the dark plumb leaves of the Smoke Bush.

"Golden Globe" Arborvitae - soaking up the rain today
(see the Royal Purple Smoke Bush in the top left corner - a match made in Heaven?!)

Pampas Grass, Anemone and Sedum - waiting for a new garden home

Between rain bursts, I did make a quick trip around the gardens.  Here are a few quick shots...

Sweet Autumn Clematis
(Amazing how delicate leaf tendrils hook a 'death grip' on the trellis; sculptured elegance/steel resolve)

Walk around the garden - 5/6/12
(White Asiatic Lily, Hollyhock, "Fire & Ice" Hosta, Weigela & Cheddar Pinks,
Sedum, Pink Double Knockout Rose bud, Candy Tuft, 'Shade Garden')

And last but not least, the pair of "Wine & Roses" Weigela I planted last year are heavy with blooms.  They are absolutely stunning and I highly recommend it if you like burgundy as a plant color-option in your garden.

"Wine & Roses" Weigela - a new fave in 2011

I also wanted to mention that I have had the good fortune to have two fellow bloggers nominate me for "Versatile Blogger".  Julia at Polka Dot Galoshes and Petro at The Seaman Mom have wonderful blogs you should check out.  My next post will feature the "Versatile Blogger" meme.  I look forward to putting it together!

Until then, pacem, amicis ...

©  All content and photography by Shyrlene Foster @ the Bunnies Buffet (unless noted)

But Honey, I NEEDED it! Honest!

Currently I’m surfing quite an adrenaline high! Yesterday, I went ‘window shopping’ at one of my garden center haunts – to see what I could see. I brought my big, strapping son with me for some ‘mother-son’ bonding (“college-man” isn’t home too often, so I take advantage of any time I can get). While it’s still early in the garden season here in IL – there were plenty of treasures to behold…

Before I even got through the gates to garden bliss, I noticed a large section of Emerald Green Arborvitae on skids outside the entrance. As you will recall – I’m still in therapy over the loss of two little sweet arborvitae this past winter (bad rabbits!). Well these new plants on display were on sale – AND over 4 feet tall! That’s it – the window shopping now got a lot more interactive. I had to have at least one!

"New" and "Injured" arborvitae - in their new 'homes'
(The potted arborvitae will find a new place in the 'SW Garden')

 

Then as my son and I walked through the garden gates, I started to salivate (just like Pavlov’s dog). While the flower selection was limited to cold climate charmers, like pansies, etc., the perennials were bountiful. My son started to eye me suspiciously. Before I knew it, I was standing in front of a PJM Rhododendron, in the most stunning shade of purple…. That’s it, I was done for. My heart raced, my palms started to sweat and I knew one of these pearls was coming home with me.  

As I have mentioned in a number of previous posts – I have not had success with Azaleas and Rhododendrons. I contend that it’s been because I haven’t had the right environment – up until now! The ‘Shade Garden’ to the east of my 3-season room has eastern exposure, with only morning sun (a “must” according to the growing specs) AND it is fully protected from the harsh north and west winter winds! Could THIS be the winner?!? Only time will tell! 

So with a twinkle in my eye, I grabbed a big cart and headed for check out. I was ‘shocked’ when my son accused me of ulterior motives of our ‘bonding’ time, as he hefted the arborvitae on a flat cart! When my husband came home and saw 5 feet of arborvitae on the front stoop – the first thing he said was “I thought you were just ‘window-shopping’?” I sheepishly smiled, and said, “But honey, I needed it! Honest!”