Garden progress

So...it has been a little while since I posted last. Lots going on though...and I went away for a week. I left my budding garden in the care of a friend while I was away. It survived....only it looks like two of my pepper seedlings were eaten by something. Luckily I had started a lot.

My front yard had changed a lot in the week I was gone. My purple columbines bloomed, my yellow tulips had a feathered red colour at the petal ends, lilacs were in full bloom as well as some white flowering shrubs with an unknown name.

My backyard has also changed...I had planted some hostas that my mom gave me before I went away. They were doing great, lilacs, magnolia, pink flowering shrub and bleeding hearts.























I am going to plant the rest of my nasturtium seeds in planters this weekend as well as my morning glories. There is supposed to be beautiful weather this weekend (maybe a bit on the hot side).....so I am looking forward to it.

In the beginning...

One of the important features that I was looking for in the house that we bought was the gardening potential. We moved into our house in May 2007 and while I was motivated...I wasn't ready to take the gardening plunge last year for a variety of reasons. One, I wasn't sure what plants were already in the yard and secondly, I just wasn't committed yet. I grew up with a mother who has the greenest thumb that I know, and I was slightly intimidated. My mother used to give me plants to spruce up my apartments when I was in university and inevitably, they would always die. So, I wasn't sure that I had it in me. But, as I have grown up, my indoor plants have started surviving and some are even thriving.

So, when we first toured through the house that we decided to buy, I was thrilled to see that there was only one patch of grass in the front yard, and none in the back. The previous owner had spent a lot of time and money on trees, shrubs and perennials, but due to illness, wasn't able to continue with the upkeep needed for such a property. He seemed very happy to hear my interest in the beautiful yellow magnolia tree, pink peonies, lilacs, grape vines etc, etc.

One thing that I wasn't thrilled about...the two ponds. Unfortunately, they were not well constructed and the lack of care had left them rather sorry-looking.

So, the first summer was dedicated to pruning, pruning and more pruning. Our lot is not very big, and I was amazed at how much vegetation was growing on it. We have multiple cedar trees of varying heights, a maple tree, lilac trees, a magnolia tree, shrubs and a couple unknown trees. I did plant a few annuals in planters and grew some tomatoes in pots, but that was about the extent of it.

So, here I am, mid-March getting set for my first full gardening season in our new house. I have lots of plans and I hope I am not getting in over my head. Now to tame the wild jungle....