April in the Garden 2022

April in the Garden 2022 : I wonder if my garden ever gets tired of my face always being all up in its business. Probably. In March I had declared it, “No Buying Plants Month”, and for a few days in the beginning of April I was trying to continue that self control for as long as possible. That didn’t last long at all. The nurseries were getting in their new stock, and I just couldn’t help myself.

Starting in the front yard, most of the daffodil, crocus, and tulip blooms have long finished blooming and I have deadheaded them so the energy from the leaves could go back into the bulbs for next years blooms. I will be leaving them all in the ground. Trying to take them all would just be too much work. The only bulbs I still have blooming are the Schubertii Alliums. Two years ago I planted three just to see if I would even like them. They were amazing! I have never seen such a strikingly beautiful and unusual bloom before. They are also awesome looking as dried flowers. I used the three dried blooms from last year as center pieces on the Thanksgiving table, and they made quite the statement. This year I planted six more, three bloomed, but the other three only grew beautiful leaves. I won’t worry about it too much this year. I don’t like to judge individual bulbs until they have been in the garden a full year. I plan to buy six more next year and work towards filling up the empty spaces in the front yard.

This month I also added two plants I have never tried before. The first is the Pincushion Carnival, Orange / Leucospermum Hybrid. I love the orange color and the unusual blooms. The other plant is a Strawflower, Ruby Clusters. The leaves are a lot like Lambsears, and the ruby berries, that will flower later, are just too cute to pass up. Both plants cost more than I usually feel comfortable spending at $20 each, but since I am investing more in perennials rather than annuals I figure I can spend a little more. Plus I am running out of room, so my plant spending should go down. Right? I hope so.

As for the rest of the front yard, I am not sure what happened, but I didn’t take any pictures. That’s unfortunate because last year’s plants, such as the Sages, Lantanas, and catmint, are really starting t take off. I trimmed them back pretty far, and I questioned whether or not I took too much off. Turns out I didn’t, thank golly. I guess for now you are just going to have to take my word for it. So… off to the backyard.

The pond and the shade garden are coming in nicely. The hellebore are still blooming like crazy, and my favorite yellow pom pom bush is showing off all its beautiful blooms.

The picture below make my Foxglove / Hydrangea garden look pretty good, but I am still frustrated with it. It just looks too messy and unbalanced. One problem is the Foxgloves are going to grow where they please, and every time I have tried to move them, they never really recover. Right now I have huge Foxgloves crowding out hydrangea that are trying to grow. I think I am just going to have to pick either hydrangea or Foxglove. Not both. The bees are happy at least. I am very happy with the Sedum in the back next to the chicken metal waterer. It grows strong every year and the bees absolutely love it. I planted two other varieties of Sedum in front of the original one, so i am looking forward to seeing how they perform.

Across the path to the bird bath garden the purple Queens of Night tulips have replaced the yellow/orange Daydream Tulips. Certainly were are much taller than I had expected. Too much shade perhaps? The 100 or so yellow crocus I planted are done blooming and not the focus can be on the soft yellow Bartzella Itoh Peony hubby bought me last year for Mothers Day. The Sedum next to it is growing nicely, so the bees will have plenty to eat in this flowerbed. The really big news this year is the peony I planted as a bare-root tuber three or four years ago is finally going to bloom. I am not thrilled it took that long. If I get another peony it will be one that is in a pot and a few years old. They are quite pricey bought in a pot, but worth not having to wait. Now, if I were to start a Peony collection and wanted maybe 4 or 5, then bare-root would be the way to go. Right now I am happy with the two I have.

On the sunny side of the path the irises are going nuts. I honestly don’t know where some of them came from. I didn’t think I planted this many!

I get such a kick out of the name of the first rose, Ketchup & Mustard. I think I picked that one out just for the name. The second is Julia Child. She is producing pretty well and smells divine. I was hoping for a stronger scent, but it just means I have to stop and take a second to smell the roses. That’s what we are supposed to do right?

That’s my update for now. I hope you enjoy the gallery below!

April in the Garden 2022