Garden Bloggers Bloom Day - April 15 (Better Late than never).....

These photos where taken on Bloom Day, April 15th.  It was a B-E-A-Utiful day!!  Warm and sunny, and full of Spring energy.  Lil plants are poking through and with quiet promises of filling the empty Winter landscape.  My focus on these warm days is choosing, shopping and putting in the specimen plants along the front of the house.  No photos yet - just hard core labor!  This is one reason why these photos are late - and now already - out of date!  But I want to remember what it looks like mid-April, so I post anyway...for ME.  Since Bloom Day - it's been too raining or very chilly.

Delft Blue Hyacinth 

 The long awaited Spring Bulb Bloom Show...This is my 3rd Spring here on Appleton, and I've wanted these since before we moved here.  I looked through magazines for 2 years, making lists of the perfect Tulip color combos and waiting to order them from the magazines that boast "Biggest Blooms."  In the end, I ended up getting packets at Lowes.  I totally froze.  I don't know what happened.  I did not get early blooming tulips - so I am hoping the Hyacinth's stick around awhile.  Plus, I did not plant them close enough.  Will they spread?  Some say yes, some say no...

Tulips, 'Pink Blend' Daffodil and 'Delft Blue' Hyacinth in front of Arborvitae 

Tulips, 'Pink Blend' Daffodil and 'Delft Blue' Hyacinth in front of Arborvitae

One more photo - just so I remember where they are.

Note to SELF:  If you dig up and replant - do front row of tightly packed Hyacinth and tulips much closer together.  Add more tulips.  Random Daffodil.  Maybe get early blooming tulips of the same color....

Hyacith, Tulip and Daffodil with red pot

From the other view, inside of the Arborvitae Bed.....It looks so BARE!!!  I'm embarrassed to even post this nakedness.  

Arborvitae with Alliums and tulips - just waiting

A closer look

Tulips, Allium and Mr Bowling Ball Arborvitae 

So ready to see these blooms

'Mystic Van Eljk' Tulip

Along the concrete patio, my 'Chocolate Chip' Ajuga is ready to bloom.  I hope the Tulips will be in step.

A broader view.  The Lime Light Hydrangea just stared to show color a day or two ago.  I did a LOT of trimming in the fall.  I have lots of dried Hydrangea Blooms all over my house!

Looks like my Lilly's are increasing into a tiny colony!  Grow....Spread....Fill the space....

Asiatic Lily

My Spring Beds are not LUSH at all!!!  How does one get full impact of Spring color PLUS have room for Summer and fall?  I need some help.

I know, it's a work in progress.  I take these photo so I remember where the gaps are.  I think I'm leaning toward more evergreens and a few more ornamental trees throughout the bed.  Give us some height and help the Spring bulbs not look awkwardly scattered amongst the mulch.

Heuchera, Lambs Ear, Allium and knockout Rose

I struggled with the Clematis vines last year.  They got pretty big, but fell on top of themselves and killed the undergrowth, so when the blooms where spent I could see a lot of brown underneath.  It bothered me.  So thanks to Pinterest, I showed my hubby a solution.  He installed it this Spring.

Clematis Vines

We bought 9 or so feet of wire shelving from Menards and attached it the fence with hooks, to give some winding room between the fence and shelving.  I have been out there every few days guiding the little stems around the bars, so they won't flop over the fence or get too thick on the trellis.

Clematis

Another Naked bed shot....
I say things like that, totally in my 'garden lingo' center of my brain.
I get strange looks.
Only after, do I realize I'm functioning in a different realm than my listeners.
A few weeks ago, I was with a group of people and I mentioned 'shopping for specimen plants.'
They snickered.  They may have even blushed, but it was dark in the room, so I couldn't tell.
My friend kindly told me, that I might want to use another word, because 'Specimen' sounded strange....WHAT OTHER WORD AM I SUPPOSED TO USE?
I'm not even in a Garden Club (yet), so I don't think I'm using too much SHOP TALK.
I explained what a Specimen Plant/Shrub was, and then it seemed to make sense to them.
But still...
Over the next few days, I made note of all the times I read those words in gardening magazines and EVEN ON PINTEREST.
So, here's my Garden Lingo....Loud & Proud.  I have NAKED BEDS, PEOPLE!  NAKED!!!!

A few pics of signs of growth,  I'm happy to see each one them wake from their winter slumber.

More Tulips...coming soon.  What color did I put here??

Moving around to the side of the house, we have some New ones.  Fresh from the garden center or Tree Farm.
I am excited for this little thing.

Serviceberry Tree

I thought I really wanted a Fringe Tree here, along the side of the house, but when I researched them, I found they grew too slow for my liking.  I don't see any Fringe Trees in my area, so the thought of having something different was exciting.  But - I want to put on a show, and I want to do it now!

So, I went with my Mom's suggestion - Serviceberry.  A nice multi-trunked tree with Spring and Fall interest that will make the birds very happy.
I like sharing this tree with my mom.
I placed the tree on the South end of the house because I have a 2-story peak that is nothing but beige siding.  Big boring billboard of Beige!!  I thought a 15ish foot tree would break up the view of the peak.  It should allow for some underplanting and more branches for bird feeders!!!
Now for some screens for that ugly (but totally necessary) air conditioner in the back!





Here is a view of the Still ugly side, then a size comparison with an unwilling puppy.

Serviceberry Tree on North

Service Berry with Puppy

Better Homes & Gardens is certainly not beating the door for these landscaping shots!!  

Here is my new Tiger Eye Sumac.  I'm slowly creating a bed at the far North end of the yard, near the sidewalk.  It's near, or maybe RIGHT on top of an easement, so I'm trying to be careful.  

The maiden grass behind, should be a tall summer hedge and the floppy format of the Sumac should compliment well.  It's here mostly for the Fall display.  These things are - Put Your Foot On The Break And Look At That Thing - kind of pretty!!!

Boring fence line.  Big Plans for this...Big BIG!!  

I hope my Shade Garden spent the winter soaking up all the sun, because the overhead trees are thinking about filling out.  

I promised myself.  I Swore I wouldn't do it.  

But, I have new plans for this area and everything must be moved to accommodate the Master of all Plans.  I've not decided IF I have the energy to do it in the Spring or in the fall, but I'm excited for a clear vision.  More on that later. I need to see some blooms for inspiration that will fuel my energy!

Not much of that happening yet...

Bleeding Heart

Virginia Bluebells

My Blue Endless Summer Hydrangea...is it going to make it?  I have 8-11 Hydrangeas around the house and they are ALL leafing out - Except this one!  There is one teeny weeny bud at the base of the shrub which gives me hope.  I thought this would grow on Old wood, but maybe it's a new wood bloomer.  Will have to wait and see.

Bleading Heart

 Atilbe

I love the look of Ferns as they unravel.  They are so neat.  I'm wanting a big fern show this year.  I will try and NOT move the ferns around, so give them some history.  I'm assuming that's why everyone else's ferns are so big and spread so easily...

 Baby Fern

While I was eyeing my plants the puppy was asking to play with the Great Dane on the other side of the fence.  If you look close, you can see the Dane's nose peaking through.  They are cute fence friends!  She doesn't think I notice that little hole gets bigger every week.