Clematis 'Henryi'

March 18, 2010

Lots of healthy leaf axil buds. 

This morning I spent a little time cleaning up the vines and pruned just a little off the top of the longest vines.  I also reworked some of the vines around the trellis. 

After reading a little bit on the web tonight I realized that I can and should do a bit more clean up.  I should remove all the dead leaves.  I had just raked up the ones that fell off the plant as I was working on it.  I can also be a little more assertive about pruning some of the weaker vines.  Apparently, I can even cut the dry petioles off if I need to unravel vines from around each other so I can get them situated better on the trellis. 

If I get around to it, great.  Now I know what I'm doing.  If I don't get around to it, that's okay too.  It will keep and I've managed to keep the clematis alive and thriving with  minimal spring care and attention up till now. 

I need to look up which clematis I have planted as a companion.

'Henryi' is a Group 2 (or a repeat bloomer) clematis.

It has large, lovely, white flowers between 6 - 8 inches across.  

We love that it is a repeat bloomer and have been suprised with blooms into late November!

Phlox 'David'

March 18, 2010

Red Charm Peony

March 18, 2010

This is why rabbits and I do not get along

Last spring I finally gave in and dug up the azalea.  It had never been happy.  I amended the soil, I treated it annually with extra special care and attention.  It didn't care.  It didn't thrive.  It didn't put out lovely flowers. I had given it a good six years of my life and figured enough was enough.  So I planted a lovely variegated euonymus. 

I Know. 

What kind of trade off is that? 

I just wanted something that would bring a little interest and a little light to the corner by the yews.  Just something quietly dependable with a little personality.  Nothing loud or demanding.  Nothing that needed extra special attention or care.

Variegated Euonymus seemed to be a lovely fit.  It seemed to be everything I was hoping for. 

I put the garden to bed in the fall and didn't think about offering the euonymus any extra protection during the winter.  The neighborhood rabbits hadn't even tasted it once during the spring, summer or fall. 

How was I to know that come winter they would not just nibble, but would devour that shrub? 

Now I can't prove it was rabbits.  They didn't leave any evidence (and usually when they have eaten on shrubs in past winters they leave broken twigs scattered on the ground), but I have seen them damage enough things in my yard and garden that I am willing to accuse and convict them of this crime.  GUILTY until proven innocent! 

Three summers ago we had owls in the neighborhood and very little rabbit damage.  Two summers ago we had a feral cat slinking around the neighborhood and very little rabbit damage.  Last summer I didn't hear the owls or see the cat and the rabbit population increased. 

I wish I knew how to invite the owls or the cats back and am happy to take suggestions.

Spring Has Definitely Sprung

These are the first blooms in our garden. I love the bright white and yellow. It's a perfect combination to combat the grey that tends to stick around Chicagoland just a little too long at the end of winter.

I planted these last fall underneath the crab apple tree.  The bulbs had sat in the garage since I purchased them at Farm and Fleet in the fall of 2008, so I wasn't sure if they would come up or not.  I thought planting them was better than putting them into the compost (just in case). 

Looks like I made the right decision.