I'm back

I apologize for falling off the blog. After two full weeks of preparing for my daughter's high school graduation I finally have time to sit down and interact again. I have been in the gardens for two weeks straight, planting, weeding, mulching and loving every minute of it. The weather has been perfect for doing all of the things that are needed to be done this time of the year.

I have pretty much completed planting perennials in the front garden. This is its third full year and everything is really taking shape. I planted weigelia, wine and roses and the show in spring is spectacular. After the magnificent fushia bloom the bronze, green foliage will maintain its color throughout summer with an occassional bloom. I love salvia, meadow sage "May Night" being my favorite. A constant summer bloomer and the bees really enjoy it. I planted a new geranium this year called 'Elke'. It is a small spreading perennial with the prettiest pink flower. I planted several of these to fill in the front of the garden. They are already taking off and blooming like crazy. In a garden underneath one of our red bud trees, I combined lambs ear with another hardy geranimum 'Jolly Bee'. Purple in color, a nice contrast with the blue-green of the lambs ear.

I have already had to put down tons of sluggo to keep the slugs at bay. I find this product to be extremely effective. I also started using a product this year that I have never used before called "Rabbit Scram". A good gardening friend of mine uses it and recommended it to me and I have to say I have had great success with it. The rabbits ate almost everything I planted last year so I am taking extra precautions to keep them away from all my new plantings.

Don't forget to water. Now that the wet spring season seems to be ending you will need an inch of water weekly so water wisely. Water early in the morning to make sure everything has an opportunity to dry out which will help keep brown patch and other fungus's away. Enough today.....headed back outside!