Planting Time...

What a delight to spend an entire afternoon planting, while ignoring all the weeds sprouting  in the gravel driveway. Before I plant the rest of my vegetable (carrots, pumpkins, beans) and flower (sunflowers, nasturtiums) seeds, I indulged in a day of planting...of course, it's never that simple. Beds need rearranging, plants moved about, shrubs need clipping back or limbing up....one thing always leads to another in the garden. Forget about efficiency, or finishing up (what a delusion!) and enjoy the May ride....here are a few plants, new to me, that I planted today and can't wait to see how they grow in/grow up/fill in.

Sedum 'Sweet 'n' Sour' - I'm always on the hunt for sedum that are a little different, and this sunny newcomer has yellow leaves that mature to green edged in gold; it's mounding and compact, drought-tolerant and hardy.

Stachys 'Silky Fleece' is a miniature lamb's ear that can take sun or shade, is evergreen, with the same fuzzy silver leaves as its bigger cousins. It forms a thick mat and has tiny plum-colored flowers in summer.  I've planted it with golden creeping speedwell (Veronica repens 'Sunshine') and the very dark, crinkly leafed Ajuga 'Chocolate Chip' for a medley of groundcovers with contrasting colors and textures. I'm hoping they'll co-exist happily, but am waiting to see which will elbow out its neighbors.

Papaver spicatum, a.k.a. Turkish spike poppy has scalloped gray/green leaves, downy buds, and in August opens apricot flowers that are 5" across. I'm in love with even the thought of this perennial poppy...

And this last one isn't particularly new, but I'm newly enchanted with it. Deschampsia flexuosa 'Tatra Gold' is a little chartreuse hair-like grass that looks like each is made of springy rubber. It only grows about a foot tall, stays brilliantly yellow/green all summer; I'm trimming out all my potted Japanese maples with it.

Also - a new bistro table and chairs - can't wait until it gets warm enough to drink a cup of tea out there in the mornings.... Happy  Mother's Day...may your children give you time to garden on this sunny weekend...

Comments

[Kathy A]

You are a lady after my own heart.I love reading your blog...and paper column. I think MOTHER nature wanted us out in our yards this weekend. Happy mothers day to you too!

[Ruth]

I think my children meant to give ME that gorgeous bistro set this Mother's Day!!

[Kimberly]

I am in love with your orange buddha. I've been looking for a similar one for years (the color scheme of my garden), but a Google for orange buddha comes up with lots of hits for a marijuana strain :P Any idea where I could get one like yours?

[valerie Easton]

Hi Kimberly,
The orange buddha is made of resin, has held up outside for a couple of years - my kids bought it for me at Retrofit Home, 12th Ave. on Capitol Hill right near Boom Noodle...

I hope they still carry them....
Best,
Val

[Kimberly]

Thanks! I'm not local, but their website says they will be doing online ordering soon. I'll give them a call on Monday. Maybe they'll ship. I saw one at TJ Maxx maybe 6mo ago like that but didn't buy it because it was heavily damaged. Been wanting one ever since.

[Susan]

Can you let us know where you found the
wonderful orange bistro table and chairs--
thank you.

Susan

[valerie Easton]

Hi Susan,
That bistro table and chairs are actually very comfortable, the table comes in a square shape with rounded corners as well as round, and in other fabulous colors like violet and chartreuse (hard choice there on colors....I wavered....) I bought it at Swansons; I've also seen them at Ravenna Gardens at University Village....
Val

[Susan]

Thanks for the information on the
bistro table and chairs--very much
appreciated. Look forward to photos of
future bouquet centerpieces gracing the table
top.

Susan