So, the Salvia cuttings were a no-go. They moulded and died on me despite my efforts to provide enough air flux. Better luck next time Also, yesterday it was like a second Christmas for me. My Hymenocallis bulbs are growing nicely and forming strong roots, finally. I broke open some of the pots to refluff the soil 'cause it had caked hard on top and on the sides which prevented water going through.

Lee-Roy - You have some good growth going on!

I recently planted some Hosta bulbs/tubers. You should see the roots they are creating! Amazing how fast they take off under the right conditions!

....and one of my P. illyricum is already peeping above ground

I'll let the pics do most of the talking this time
Iris sibirica (a bit shy still)

Iris germanica

Geranium nodosum

The two Pancratium from previous post

Hymenocallis bulbs development (I was excited to see one seed can produce more than one bulb)

Lee-Roy - Looks like a good start for Spring!

Have you done any work on the inside of the house this Winter? Or did you and your partner take a Winter break from all the work?

Looking good LeeRoy! I think you and I are in the same boat (lots of us I'm sure)- really excited for spring to arrive! Very cool that hymenocallis seedlings are already producing more than one bulb! Siberian irises are typically slower to show spring growth, but yours is further along than the Sibs here. I've been hovering over the Sibs- I added 14 new cultivars last fall and really excited to see them.

beckygardener said:Lee-Roy - Looks like a good start for Spring!

Have you done any work on the inside of the house this Winter? Or did you and your partner take a Winter break from all the work?

No we haven't done any work. We've completely overhauled our plans and decided to work with an architect and do an almost complete renovation. We're bringing our living spaces (kitchen, dining and living room) one floor up and install an all-window wall so that we can overlook the garden instead of being 'in the basement' so to speak. The attic will also get an all-window wall and flat roof and be transformed into a master bedroom for us looking over the garden.

Here's a sketch:

gemini_sage said:Looking good LeeRoy! I think you and I are in the same boat (lots of us I'm sure)- really excited for spring to arrive! Very cool that hymenocallis seedlings are already producing more than one bulb! Siberian irises are typically slower to show spring growth, but yours is further along than the Sibs here. I've been hovering over the Sibs- I added 14 new cultivars last fall and really excited to see them.

Again I was too curious too not look inside lol But the top of the pots was caked solid anyway, so I needed to fluff up the potting mix again for the root growth. They're upstairs now in an unheated room. They'll stay there for several months before I'll bring 'm outside to resume growth and produce their first leaf ^^

That is going to be a fantastic living area both in the attic and the first floor. I love the window walls idea. I wished I had far more windows in my house. I hate it being so dark from the inside. Probably why I hate being inside. How exciting to do a total home renovation!!!!

The renovation plans sound amazing!

Wow--That is really going to be neat!
I so wish I could do something like that

Time for another update people!!

Spring is definately close now, there are signs everywhere, not only from the early wild flowers, but also in my garden. This weekend was the first in a looooooong time that I've been able to do some serious (outdoor) gardening. Sun's finally come out, the weather's been dry for a week and it's going to be like this for the next week atleast so I'm a happy dude haha!

I've decided that it's finally time to pot up all my spider lily bulbs. After a last check up, dip in fungicide and peeling away some scales from the ones that spent their winter in the pot I went for it. I washed all pots in the dishwasher (no soap, just hot water) and put them in fresh potting soil mixed with atleast 50% washed sand for extra drainage. You can see still red specks of Stag on some bulbs so I'm really keen on getting it eradicated this year. I watered with fungicide and I'll continue to do so this season. Hopefully they'll overcome it.






Also past weekend I've been remulching some beds with compost, aerated and topdressed a bit of my terrible looking lawn (under supervision of Spike), planted out two roses and a wild grown fern that I took out two years ago at the start of the overhaul.
Cut back last season's foliage of the Salvias and bearded irises. You can see the purple new growth on the Salvia So my fat clay soil isn't as bad as I thought. Everything in that raised bed: 7 bearded iris, 3 Salvia and 5 Agapanthus survived this WET LIKE HELL winter so I'm cool, must've done something right, right?






I was going to wait with cutting back the Pennisetum grasses until next month, but my 5 siberian irises are showing new growth for some time now and I felt they'd much appreciate the incoming light and air. Also, Monty Don from Gardener's World said it was about time to do it this weekend so.. Some of them are already ready to be split I think, even though I've had them for only two seasons. They grow like mad!
Sowed some cornflower seeds that I picked up from the local grocery store. If they germinate they'll add a splash of welcome color this early summer and provide much needed nectar to beneficial insects.

Inside nature threw me a curveball. For the better mind you. One of the two Pancratium that sprouted had a teeny tiny leaf compared to it's sibling (see previous posts). It quickly turned brown on me and completely shriveled up this weekend. I thought I'd lost it. But then I peeked under the mulch and there it was: a new, fresh green sprout peeping out. Hope's risen again





Oh btw, I'll be uploading a (few) drawing(s) asap to show you what I plan to do - hopefully this season - (don't know if I can or get permission from the BF ) but dreaming is another way of gardening (I'll pursuade him to give in somehow hehe). I await your ever critical - yet lovely - commentaries!

Wow! Those irises are sure looking good! Loved the photo of your dog and the yard. Everything is looking ready to start putting on a show as the weather warms up! You are well on your way to having a lovely yard and garden this year!

What's that saying about new plants ...

First year sleeps,
Second year creeps,
Third year leaps!

I've found that saying to be quite true! By the 3rd year, many of my plants are growing like crazy after spending almost 2 years growing roots underground and getting established.

What kind of roses did you plant? Just planted 12 roses here a couple of days ago, still expecting 6 more to arrive in the next couple of weeks.

Looks like spring has arrived in your garden! Looking great!

Love everything you have done, envious of all the infrastructure you have put in place, but I adore that dog.

Yay! Spring is always blessed and I can see that you have a most excellent supervisor!

//holy cow Neal--18 roses!!! Wow, can't wait to see your creations
I have just ordered three and I'm super excited but kinda scared--we're gonna redo the whole driveway garden and eat the whole hill it's on too, plus start reclamation of the backyard...what the???how the? and when the?

dirt looking forward to those progress photographs

Me, too!

Hi Lee-Roy,
Yes, I am a lurker, but your gardens and renovations never cease to amaze me. I love looking at your gardens and your renovation ideas. I've been following your progress for some time. Everything is turning out beautifully. I love the idea of all the windows over looking the gardens. Best of luck to you both in all your endeavors.

Thank ya'll :)

Here's a sketch of a possible plant combination as promised: includes E. himalaicus, Carex, Pennisetum, box balls, Z. aethiopica, I sibirica 'White queen' and possibly H. littoralis. Maybe a heart's tongue fern left of the stairs where it's moist and shady :p The large box like structure is an outdoor fireplace that'll hopefully some day be there.



And good news. When I went out this evening to have a look around - out of impatience, fear and curiousity - I rummaged around in the dirt trying to find my Cyp orchid I planted last summer. It seemed to take like forever to sprout; or perhaps it had even died in the wet winter. But there they were! Two fresh green, firm little noses peeking out under the leaves. I am so relieved it made it. I'll make some more pics tomorrow.