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After crazy temps...82 to 26 in one day this last week, rain, snow, wind...such is Spring in Chicagoland. For a few minutes today, the sun was shining...I ran outside and quick took some photos, and then ran back in and closed the windows because of pending rain showers.
Daffy's that were frosted dead from low 20's temps.
Such a roller coaster. We've never moved into the greenhouse this year, and many plants have not started, I guess it will be a seed garden this year, eventually. We have also been drowned and then dry...crazy!
Early periwinkle that froze---luckily the thick growth behind protected the plants.
It's not just frost...we have munchers...a few bunnies. I do have baskets around my Rubrum Lilies, though. We try and not use anything harmful in the garden---and hopefully these late tulips will still bloom.
I left the Giant Red Sedum plants for winter interest---I haven't finished clearing the beds, You can also see where the ornamental grass has been chewed on, but will keep coming. I constantly have to thin this or it becomes invasive.
Why Sedums for the upper Midwest?
They are super hardy and drought tolerant---easy to grow in any soil, sun, or shade. They add structure to floral areas, the BEES LOVE THEM, and they are the last thing with color in Fall.
This is westside new area we planted near where the neighbors' walnut tree was cut down. Walnut shells kill just about everything. We also lost a wonderful Cinnamon Maple because of the Walnut, not to mention the mess.
The small bushes are old growth Forsythia we trimmed way back, added two new Cedar, one columnar and one global. Some transplanted striped grass, and I added a bunch of bulbs last Fall, we will see what makes it. I have the Liatris started in the kitchen which will be perfect here for interest.
We have Creeping sedum started on the edges, I will transplant more this year. The dense roots are good soil retention along the beams.
In front of the house, the old growth Forsythia dies and basically moved. Now it's crowding these fab old Tulips. You can see the nibbles on the leaves. Love the centers and yellow edges.
Mostly I have Iris in this front flower bed and late tulips which are barely up.
“After women, flowers are the most divine creations.” – Christian Dior
The westside is pretty sad at the moment. This gets lots of shade, has crappy soil (clay based) and is dotted with this and that. I use focal pots over on this side. We plant bulbs, which last a few years if the squirrels don't get them.
I always plant in groups of threes. Here it looks like two are still alive.
Pretty soft color on this tulip. I hope the others make it!
The Mound at the front of our lot looks the best, right now. We have planted new bushes in the last two years, so this area gets watered regularly. Here you can see the perennials doing well, despite the crazy weather.
YEARS AND YEARS AGO ( 20 or more) We planted Periwinkle here because of the shade from the Spruce trees and the crappy soil. Well, who knew I have been moving it around the last couple of years, so with the regular watering and more sun as we lose the trees, it's doing very well. It's hardy--almost evergreen-- in non-snow months, and is the only thing choking the mint I have been pulling for 39 years!!!
Speaking of Mint, this is just outside the mound bed---so invasive and nothing kills it. We have already applied weed treatment on the lawn. We are in a lake community and we only use the recommended treatments as all run off ends up in the lake.
I wonder if CEMENT would work...LOL.
The centerpiece of the mound bed is the birdbath. But, these red ladies are stealing the show!
Our crocus and snowdrops were under snow and barely made an appearance...but these TULIPS are gorgeous, but have to brave some wind and cool temps as well as crazy hot.
The Periwinkle doesn't seem to bother perennials, although it will hamper annuals, so I'm going to stick with pots for color here.
We have one Peony left. Old ones were replaced with some new columnar bushes.. Vinca vines are also a ground cover, drought tolerant and hardy. I haven't cleaned out any of the flower beds, leaving the waste for the bees and helpful insects for some warm safety from the crazy temps.
Since most of the Daffodils were frozen, I'm excited at how gorgeous and brilliant these Tulips are...and love the striped foliage.
Even with the wind, the camera caught their faces staring right back at me.
These pale Narcissus are the last grouping on the mound. They really multiplied in two years. Whee! I will get to split them in Fall!
He who has two cakes of bread, let him dispose of one of them or some flowers of the narcissus; for bread is the food of the body, and the narcissus is the food of the soul. GALEN
I will be moving lots of plants: Iris, Daffodils, three Day Lilies, and more giant Sedum, creeping Sedums here. The east flower bed by the house will be taken over for the All-house generator to be installed as soon as the permits go through.
Hopefully, all those plants will be happy here!
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