Well, we have reached late spring and everything is in full bloom as it should be. The first day of summer is now just a few days away. Let's take a walk through the gardens at Crest Avenue and see what is going on.
In the early spring, just as the weather was starting to warm, we planted pencil cactus in these planters on the front porch beside the front entryway. Here is one of them, straight from the garden center. We used Miracle-Gro potting soil and then mulched with a little cedar mulch.
On the opposite side of the front entry, we did the same.
A week or so after planting the pencil cactus, I added pink and white petunias to the planters. I thought this might be a ice look. And indeed, it is.
Both planters have an abundance of beautiful petunias which only get more beautiful with each passing day. For those of you considering petunias for your landscape this year, some advice. Deadhead. You must deadhead and you must do it frequently. To "deadhead" means to remove the spent flowers from the plant. By removing the blooms after they have died promotes more flowering. You also want to deadhead to remove old blossoms that mar the appearance of the petunia plant. You simply pinch off the spent bloom with your thumb and forefinger. This channels energy away from seed production and into further flower production. The plant is tricked into forming additional flowers in its attempt to produce the seed it set out to produce in the first place.
Our beautiful blue hydrangea is starting to bloom. This is so healthy and vibrant every year. In the early spring I trim off the dead blooms from the previous season and leave it alone to begin regrowth for the new season. I use Miracle-Gro liquid fertilizer on it a few times during the summer growth season. And water it regularly. It will begin to droop when it is thirsty to let you know it is time for a drink. We had so much rain in the early spring this year, and now we are in a deficit to the tune of about and inch because the rains have stopped. "April showers bring May flowers." That was certainly true this year.
The hosta garden. Two years ago I dug up all the hostas around the deck and moved them to this shaded garden in the back yard. And would you look!! They love it here. You can see in the picture they are in dappled shade. A little sun makes its way through, and they can take that. But never plant hostas in direct sun. The result will be disappointing. They are a shade loving plant.
Finally, our banana plant. Every year, for I can't remember how many years now, it sprouts and puts on quite a show through the summer. I just love this. To have something this tropical in the mid-Atlantic is amazing. How it makes it through the brutally cold winters here I will never know.
So there is our walk through the gardens of Crest Avenue today. I hope your gardens are taking off and looking beautiful for you and your family and friends to enjoy. Later in the week we are going to check in on the tomato garden. I think - I hope - we are going to have some good news there. Be sure to come back for that update.
In the early spring, just as the weather was starting to warm, we planted pencil cactus in these planters on the front porch beside the front entryway. Here is one of them, straight from the garden center. We used Miracle-Gro potting soil and then mulched with a little cedar mulch.
On the opposite side of the front entry, we did the same.
A week or so after planting the pencil cactus, I added pink and white petunias to the planters. I thought this might be a ice look. And indeed, it is.
Both planters have an abundance of beautiful petunias which only get more beautiful with each passing day. For those of you considering petunias for your landscape this year, some advice. Deadhead. You must deadhead and you must do it frequently. To "deadhead" means to remove the spent flowers from the plant. By removing the blooms after they have died promotes more flowering. You also want to deadhead to remove old blossoms that mar the appearance of the petunia plant. You simply pinch off the spent bloom with your thumb and forefinger. This channels energy away from seed production and into further flower production. The plant is tricked into forming additional flowers in its attempt to produce the seed it set out to produce in the first place.
Our beautiful blue hydrangea is starting to bloom. This is so healthy and vibrant every year. In the early spring I trim off the dead blooms from the previous season and leave it alone to begin regrowth for the new season. I use Miracle-Gro liquid fertilizer on it a few times during the summer growth season. And water it regularly. It will begin to droop when it is thirsty to let you know it is time for a drink. We had so much rain in the early spring this year, and now we are in a deficit to the tune of about and inch because the rains have stopped. "April showers bring May flowers." That was certainly true this year.
The hosta garden. Two years ago I dug up all the hostas around the deck and moved them to this shaded garden in the back yard. And would you look!! They love it here. You can see in the picture they are in dappled shade. A little sun makes its way through, and they can take that. But never plant hostas in direct sun. The result will be disappointing. They are a shade loving plant.
Finally, our banana plant. Every year, for I can't remember how many years now, it sprouts and puts on quite a show through the summer. I just love this. To have something this tropical in the mid-Atlantic is amazing. How it makes it through the brutally cold winters here I will never know.
So there is our walk through the gardens of Crest Avenue today. I hope your gardens are taking off and looking beautiful for you and your family and friends to enjoy. Later in the week we are going to check in on the tomato garden. I think - I hope - we are going to have some good news there. Be sure to come back for that update.
