I managed to split one of my chelone (turtle head) into 5 clumps and used them to circle a new rose bush Granada. Tomorrow I'll split the other one. it isn't as large of a clump, so maybe 3 pieces, and encircle the other new red rose.

I need to put up some sort of trellis for the 2 climbers. I'm thinking of 2 8-foot tall 4x4s with some 2x2 cross pieces about every 9 inches or so. That should give me space to weave the canes through.

I'm considering putting the clematis on the fence surrounding the new water feature garden. They're both group 3, so I'll be able to cut them to the ground each year.

Jill, how big of a pot is needed for a water lily? Also, still or moving water?

I use those large no-hole plastic containers from Costco (20-22" across) for most of my water garden containers. I stick with small or small/med varieties that go well in 6" of water (some large varieties prefer to be 2 feet under), but I've heard water lilies are one of those plants that actually will adapt their size to the space available. There are miniature varieties of both water lilies and lotus ("bowl lotus" can be grown in a container that's just a gallon or two in volume). They prefer still water, so mosquito bits are essential!

I like using large containers out in the landscape, and I may convert some of my water pots to regular plants with drip irrigation in them once I've got my new irrigation setup in place. However, one of my favorite things about water garden pots is that they are fine being topped up with water once a week, no need for daily watering.

Last year I half-submerbed containers of hostas and smaller (narrow but relatively tall) containers of begonias in some containers that had become too shaded for most water garden plants... that worked beautifully! I put old containers into the pots to support the half-submerged containers (just make sure the crowns are above water when the container is full to the brim -- same for a lot of marginal plants like water loving irises). Lotus pots get filled with dirt (clay garden soil is what they like!) to about 8" below the rim, so they are another natural place for adding a half-submerged pot of something (I like the contrast of a tall plant with upright architecture, like horsetail or rush or iris).

Couple cool days and soil very dry, to be followed by sunny warmer dry days.
Not the best for tender seedlings.

I turned on the outside water last week and have been watering every other day.

Good reminder... I need to check under the row cover and see how my tomato seeds are faring! that they haven't dried up.

My beans are finally coming up, chard and beets showed sooner.

I had the irrigation service out yesterday to turn on my system for the season. It took him about two hours to reconnect and prime the pump that pulls water from the pond and to check all the zones. There is one group that wouldn't come on at all, but all the other zones were fine. He did the initial troubleshooting and it is an electrical problem for the controller for that particular group of zones. Could be as simple as a rodent chewing through something, but he will need to bring his line locator out to find it. Just got that scheduled for May 2. Everything else is working fine and "Program B" came on automatically this morning - it is the one that does all the flower beds and is a lot of zones. "Program A" is 11 zones that does all the grass around the pond and down the face of the dam. Last summer/fall I worked with this company to get my old system back up and running. I am so excited that I will be able to keep the gardens consistently watered this year!

Terri, that's going to make such a big difference for you this year! I need to get hopping and start setting up my new irrigation lines and drippers. I'm sure I didn't order half what I need, but at least I have enough to get started.

Tomatoes were fine. I stuck my finger into the dirt, and it's still moist half an inch below the surface. One didn't make it, but I had a spare, so I stuck it in ('Kim's Civil War Oxheart'). I also planted 3 "Chef's Choice" hybrids (1 each of bicolor, black, and pink) under the dining room window. I'm not sure if they need row cover on them, since they are against the foundation (facing SSW), but I may go out there and do that before it gets dark.

I have this invasive viny shrubby thing trying to overgrow my lilac, my honeysuckle, and some other things. I spent a while hacking away at it this afternoon. It looks a bit like euonyous but has orange roots. Guess I don't need to know its name as long as I know what it looks like so I can "search and destroy!"

I decided to tackle the lily of the valley in the gutter that runs under the bridge today. I'm about half way through the length of it. So far, I've removed 120 pips. I will be adding them to my swap list in bundles of 6 pips.

For all the people who say it's invasive for them, I can't get LOTV to persist long-term, much less multiply out of control. And I love it!

Jill, Orange roots is Oriental bittersweet, tough invasive, do get rid of it of you can.
As Rodney Dangerfield.might say. Take my lily of the valley, please! I'll never dig it out of maple roots. If it bugs me I'll trim the foliage off.

Same here with Lily of the Valley. I love it and get pips whenever anybody has some to spare, but it never takes off to cover large areas for me.

From what I've observed in the yard, LOTV will spread faster if there is a base layer of sand below the soil. The roots make an easy go of it through the sane, but the real soil gives it support.

I had it in two places, next to the bridge and in one of the beds that I merged. The bridge lot spreads very slowly. The other bad, which has a sand base, well lets just say I couldn't keep up with it! But as soon as it hit normal soil, it would slow to a crawl.

At any rate, I will have plenty at the swap!

Rick, that's a great tip! I'll try to grab a bag or two of builder's sand, see if I can get a few clumps established that way.

A cloudy day, chance of showers. I guess I'll be planting a little. And watering well what I plant. I'm envious of those with the irrigation, it is so dry.

My irrigation system is still in a box, not doing me much good yet. But I did take a look under the row cover, and my tomato patch was only dry on the surface. An inch down, the soil was still moist.

Overcast days are really good for setting out plants with minimal shock. It's only supposed to go down to 50 tonight, too. I refreshed the potting mix (half new stuff) in my plumeria and brug pots, will try to get those plants out today.

Yesterday I weeded out ALL of the flowers of buttercup, took out the roots and plants that I could. Reason that I took out the flowers is they will morph into LOTS of seeds, and that's what I do not want. I purchased a copy of Grandpa's weed puller. Took me a while to understand how it works. Problem for me all my weeds are mixed with the roots of Bermuda grass and leaves of the crocuses and growing German irises and also the growing leaves of the Siberian irises that I received when I ordered the blue Dutch irises. Then LOTS of those stickies, dandelions, all kinds of thistles. All mouse ears are gone....I found some Dr. Huey flowers again that I have to take out before it spread--My very old Zéphirine Drouhin starts blooming (only 1), it is such a beautiful pink color. I wish I could propagate it, a new one costs now $60.00! My tree peonies came and went---). My backyard? 80% weeds that I have not touch at all--Lots of them are saplings from my left and right neighbors====

Anyone know what these three plants are? Pretty sure I didn't add them to the garden.

Pulled off a nymph tick today. They like to get on the backs of my knees. I have a far corner ( neighbors neglected area, really) with ivy and vinca, been trying to pull out the vines and reduce that very rodent friendly area. But I'll avoid it now. A fox(es) have been active lately, I hope they can cut down on rodents. Looks like beautiful weather now!

Sally, yuck on the ticks. Living and gardening in woods, I would think that I would have a tick problem but I have rarely ever had ticks on me. I was saying that to somebody else recently who gets ticks quite frequently and must have jinxed myself because I had two within the last week. One on the nape of my neck by the hairline and one on my stomach by my pants waistband. I don't know how to tell what kind they are and if they transmitted any tick-borne diseases, but so far no telltale rings indicating lyme. It isn't the parasite aspect that freaks me out, it is the unknown about the possible diseases and how long it takes to manifest their symptoms.