Year number two in my new gardening hobby brings me new opportunities to learn from the past and discover new ways to improve my results.
Back fence garden plot.
This project was mostly a bust and I’ll need to take a different approach this year. Several of the bulbs that I planted early last year did make an appearance this spring, albeit they did not flower. Everything I planted from seed last year did not thrive, somewhat because rabbits chewed up the young sprouts. I will need to protect this years plantings with a chicken wire barrier around the garden. I think this year I will plant some perennials in this area.
Since I have a chain link fence line behind this bed, I decided to try a climber vine such as the Clematis “Dr. Ruppel”. Notice I have installed a chicken wire barrier around the garden plot to keep the rabbits from eating my young plants. This plant wants sun to part shade and since this plot doesn’t get full sun, we’ll see if it thrives.
Next to that and beside the bulbs that reappeared I planted some Western Yarrow and Farewell to Spring. I also picked up on closeout an Azalea that I planted on the opposite border.
Azalea
These plants did bloom once last year in the spring. They were supposed to re-bloom again in the summer and fall but did not. I understand that might be common in their first year and hopefully will bloom several times this year. I am a bit concerned though because one of the plants are not producing many buds and may be struggling to survive. I did apply some fertilizer in early April to maybe give them a boost.
I also rescued a clearance Autumn Fire Encore Azalea from Home Depot and chose to put it in a container that allowed me to move it around.
Little Quick Fire Hydrangea
In late winter I cut down all the stems/branches down to 6-12”. I’m seeing leaves and flower buds setting on the fresh new growth in spring.
Encore Autumn Carnation Azalea
Th Incrediball Blush Smooth Hydrangea plant did nothing last year after a beginning of producing a few sprouts from its base. Rabbits chewed back those as they appeared and killed the plant. After pulling it up, I planted an Encore Autumn Carnation Azalea in it’s place that I picked up at discount from Home Depot.
Caladiums
I was mostly pleased with the results of the Caladiums last year. I dug up the tubers last fall and overwintered them indoors.
This year, instead of planting them in the ground to start, I decided to wake them up indoors under lights that warmed up the soil. Once I begin to see them emerge, I will transplant them in my front garden area in greater density than I did last year.
Hostas
These were transplants I got from my sister last year and they seemed to do pretty well. By mid April this year I began to see them begin to emerge and expect them to thrive.
Coleus
I picked up several flats of Marigolds, Coleus, and Impatiens, and new this year, Petunias. The day after buying them in late April, the weather forecast is calling for a freeze so it will be a few more days before I begin planting them. In the meantime, I’ll keep them protected indoors.
Begonia
I enjoyed these plants last year and decided to get a few more this year. Only, this year instead of planting them in my front garden area I decided to put them in a window planter and my little red wagon in the back yard.
Marigold
This is the second year growing Marigold’s. They are pretty easy to grow and produced some great flowers to photograph.
Calibrachoa
I really liked this plant last year and chose it again to plant in some hanging baskets and in a pot in front of my home.
Also known as Million Bells, for their many flowers, or Trailing Petunias, for their habit and bloom shape.
Celosia
In keeping with the red theme of plants I enjoy, when I saw this Celosia I knew I had to try it.
Celosia blooms from late spring or early summer into fall, sometimes until frost.
Columbine
This plant is reported to be a favorite of hummingbirds and since I’ve been wanting to attract more of those, I had to have one. I didn’t plant in the ground, rather I put this one in a large pot so I could move it where I wanted to place it for attracting hummingbirds.
Pansy
The pansy flower represents the thoughts of lovers, shared before a word is spoken. Named for the French word for “thought” (pensee), the pansy was said to be a charmed flower, possessing telepathic magic. Attending to the plucked bloom, you could hear your lover’s thoughts. The pansy is not a brash flower; it does not stand tall and proud, demanding attention. Instead, it’s gentle upturned face and petals seem to only ask one thing: think of me, keep me in your thoughts. – A Victorian Flower Dictionary & The Meaning of Flowers
Petunia
Another new plant for me. Petunias can tolerate relatively harsh conditions and hot climates, but not frost. They need at least five hours of sunlight every day and flourish in moist soil and conditions of low atmospheric humidity. Watering once a week should be sufficient in most regions. Hanging baskets and other containers need more frequent watering. Maximum growth occurs in late spring. Applying fertilizer monthly or weekly, depending on the variety, will help the plant grow quickly.
When my heart was grieved
and my spirit embittered,
I was senseless and ignorant;
I was a brute beast before you.
Yet I am always with you;
you hold me by my right hand.
You guide me with your counsel,
and afterward you will take me into glory.
Whom have I in heaven but you?
And earth has nothing I desire besides you.
My flesh and my heart may fail,
but God is the strength of my heart
and my portion forever. – Psalm 73:21-26
Impatiens
This is the second year for me with this plant.
Sunflower
This plant came as a bit of a surprise as I did not plant it. I had some sunflower seeds I wanted to plant but just couldn’t settle on the right place in my yard.
In this case, the plant sprouted because of some fallen seed from a bird feeder or a bird carried the seed into a plant container. At first I though it was just a weed but since it was in an unused pot I allowed it to grow. Imagine my surprise when it developed a bud and began to flower.
Iris
This is a plant that I’ve had in my hard for many years and just never really paid much attention to it. I thought I’d get it added to my grow list and plant to replant some of them next year into another spot.
Honeysuckle
Another plant I’ve had in my yard for years is the Honeysuckle growing along my fence line. It’s a great plant for attracting pollinators such as bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds.
Honeybees
While not a plant, one side effect of having a garden and especially with hummingbird feeders located around are honeybees.
Croton
The Croton is a striking, easy-to-grow houseplant known for its variegated foliage covered in green, scarlet, orange, and yellow splotches.
How to Care for Croton
- Place croton in a sunny location such as an eastern, southern, or western window. If croton is getting too little light, its newer leaves will be less colorful.
- Keep the soil evenly moist, but let it dry out between waterings.
- Fertilize the plant in spring and summer while the plant is actively growing. In fall and winter, fertilize more sparingly or refrain from fertilizing altogether.
- New croton plants can be started with 4- to 6-inch stem cuttings. Remove the bottom leaves and place the cutting in a glass of water. After roots have formed, plant in a small pot.
- Repot the plant in the spring if it has grown too large for its current pot.
Sunshine Ligustrum
This is said to be an evergreen shrub with year round golden foliage. At least, that was the plan. In reality, it didn’t get enough sun and never really got to a bright yellow, and it lost it’s leaves in the winter. I was afraid it had died but it slowly came back in the spring.
Carelessweed
Also known as Powell’s Pigweed, this grew up naturally in an area where a tree stump had been removed. Instead of pulling the weed, this one grew to be an interesting looking plant.
Whisky Barrel
Rabbits also caused havoc for the plants here last year. I was surprised to see the Zinia survived and has made an appearance this spring.
