The Horse Chestnut

Journal Entry No. 2
Spring's Last Hurrah

I am well aware that summer begins on June 21st but it's never really regarded that way around here. Ask anyone and they will tell you that summer starts when the unbearable humidity descends upon us. You know it has arrived when your skin becomes clammy and sticky, it's harder to breathe outside, and the skyline becomes a fuzzy haze indistinguishable from its surroundings. Precisely when that humidity will arrive varies with each passing year. Some years are better than others. I remember a few years ago we had a spring that was so cold it kept the lakes from warming completely and no one could swim in the summertime! Last year was a hot one, I recall sitting on my deck in March wearing a summer dress and conversing with my family about their plans to open up their trailer. All of my plants grew like wildfire, early wood squill, tulips earlier still. It made this year feel sluggish and underwhelming by comparison, but I'm happy that I get to enjoy my plants for longer which is sometimes the benefit of a cooler spring season. Sadly that cool refreshing weather may be coming to an end, we are now reaching the high twenties and humidex readings are into the thirties. The air feels heavy. I can sense June approaching.

Forget-me-nots

Name: Forget-me-nots Genus Name: Myosotis Season: Perennial, Zones 4-8 Bloom Period: Spring, summer Light Requirements: Part Shade Soil: Fertile, neutral PH. Fertilize with compost or slow release all purpose in spring. Height: 6-12" Spacing: 9-12" apart Uses:  Good in borders and containers, woodland gardens, rock gardens and around ponds. Grows under trees and shrubs. Self seeding and naturalizes easily. Special Interests: Attracts butterflies and bees. Author's Notes: Although they are simplistic and relatively common, I have always loved forget me nots. They are one of the first flowering plants that I was introduced to as a child because there were several planted beneath my bedroom window. I, like many children, once used these dainty clustering flowers as bouquets for my Barbie dolls. I have never forgotten the joy of seeing them emerge in spring. In my own garden I have had great success with forget-me-nots in my shaded, woodland beds. They have done exceptionally well under the pine and oak trees where there is rich moist soil. They can be planted in full sun but are best sheltered from hot afternoons. While they typically flower in spring and summer, I have had them rebloom in the fall, too. They naturalize easily and are considered invasive in some regions, but they are not difficult to maintain. I highly recommend these plants for a beginner's shade garden.

The Cherry Tree

The Cherry on Top

This is our cherry tree. I adore its twinkling white blossoms and its sweet delicious scent that envelopes the garden. When I sit in the family room it is perfectly framed by our windows at the back of the house. I can always tell that spring is in full swing when our cherry bursts forth into swaths of pink stamens and pearly white petals. And I know that summer has arrived when the fruits mature and adorn the tree in tiny, festive glowing beads of crimson.

The Last of The Tulips

 
Journal Entry No. 1
The Last of the Tulips, The Waterfall, and Planning for the Future

Time marches on in the garden this spring. I had to say goodbye to the blooms on the cherry tree, my peach dropped rather early, and my spring bulbs have nearly run their course. The wild tulips are wilting today, which always makes me a little sad. The parrots have alternated between shades of cream and rose to electric orange, magenta, and back to soft pink again. My black tulips have grown magnificently this year after last year's poor, drooping crop. They stand tall and proud and dance on the gentle breeze that brings cool spring temperatures back to the region.

A Gardenful of Introductions

Greetings, friends!

You might be wondering who I am and what my intentions are for this blog.
Allow me to satiate your curiosity: my name is Tilly and I am new to the world of gardening.

Well, mostly new. You see I was raised around gardens. From a young age I can recall playing in the dirt, pulling the petals off of wilting tulips, drinking up the lilacs that bloomed by my bedroom window, or affectionately throwing worms at my mom. In fact, I have more memories of being outside in the garden than anything else. I loved to spend leisurely afternoons hiding amongst the cedars, pretending I was sequestered in a forest somewhere. I greatly anticipated the arrival of new blooms on each of the rose bushes, or plucking ripe strawberries by the shed. And I remember fondly that my friend next door and I would swoon over peonies, then we would cringe in disgust when we'd find them swarming with ants!