Notes from the garden - lily of the valley

Another favourite Spring flower - lily of the valley!  Everything bloomed 3-4 weeks late this year because of the cool weather and seemed to stick around just a little bit longer than usual.  A few years ago, I moved my lily of the valley from one side of the house to the other so that they'd have more room to spread.  And spread they are!  I'm imagining a carpet of them in a few more years.  I can't wait!

Lilac time

I say this every year, but I love lilac time!  I have six lilac trees; three in the front and three in the back.  The lilacs at the front were gorgeous.  The ones at the back had just a few blooms each.  The ones at the back of the house are more protected so it can't be because of the weather that there weren't many blooms.

This is one of my favourite shots.  I love how the lilacs look against the picket fence.

The marmalade jar is a recent find.  I was thrilled to find it at a craft/vintage show last month and I know it will show up again in photos around my home.  I tucked some cutlery into it for now but it will get filled with flowers (and probably other things) too.

Lilacs don't last long - either inside or out!  The blooms are pretty much faded now but I enjoyed cutting them to bring inside while I could.

I told you they were covered!

I love the detail on the handle of this vintage ironstone pitcher. 

I'll never get my fill of lilacs! I don't think there's any such thing as having too many.  Sadly, it will be another year until I can enjoy them again.

Just a quick health update ... I had another CT scan yesterday.  While I was being scanned I kept praying for it to be good.  I see my oncologist Wednesday for the results.  

Have a lovely weekend!

Notes from the garden - redbud and lilacs

We were delighted that our redbud bloomed this Spring!  After the damage it received during last Winter's ice storm, we were sure we'd lost it.  Although scarred, it seems to have recovered.  I love the tiny pink flowers and would really miss this tree.  It's funny how attached you can get to a tree!

Here's a little sneak peek of my lilacs!  Although they were bent right in half from the weight of the ice, there was no damage done to them at all and they've bloomed beautifully.   More photos to come!

I've been busy getting the garden weeded and planted.  Yesterday morning, I went out to water some new plantings only to discover that the rabbits had visited during the night.  They destroyed most of my morning glories (I think two have survived), all of my perennial sweet peas, about half of the annual sweet peas and had a nice feast on one of my hydrangeas.  Needless to say, I'm not very happy with rabbits right now.  I sprinkled blood meal in the garden and hopefully that will keep them away.  I just have to remember to reapply it after it rains or when I water!  So frustrating!

 

Grape hyacinths

I'm just popping in to share my grape hyacinths!  They've pretty much faded from the garden and the lilacs and lily of the valley are now blooming (I'll be sharing those with you soon).  Things are about 3-4 weeks late this year.

Grape hyacinths have always been one of my favourite early Spring flowers.  They make great cut flowers and have a soft, subtle fragrance.  I tucked these into a tea tin.  It seemed like the perfect container.

From the few bulbs I scattered throughout the garden about ten years ago, they've spread and filled in nicely.  I love seeing a sea of lavender blue flowers when I look outside.

I'm making really good progress with the garden and am very happy with how it's looking.  This afternoon I'll finish planting the pots (at least that's the plan).  Digging is still really uncomfortable for me so I get my husband to dig the holes and I plant!  Works out perfectly.

Last of the scilla

Hello dear friends!  I didn't plan on taking a blogging break but one day turned into another and before I knew it, two weeks had passed!  I've been trying to get a little spring cleaning done and spending more time out in the garden.  Isn't it nice to finally enjoy warm weather?  I find myself looking for things to do outside because I don't want to come in!

Spring flowers fade away so quickly.  The scilla have finished flowering and are quickly being replaced by grape hyacinths - definitely one of my favourites! 

We've had a lot of rain this week and the garden has loved it.  Unfortunately, so have the weeds.  I spent the weekend pulling out some pretty big ones that weren't there a week ago.  I'm hoping for a trip to the garden centre this week.  I'm keeping the garden simple this year and just buying plants that are hardy and that the rabbits don't like (if that's at all possible).  Every summer I fight a losing battle with the rabbits.

And the spring cleaning?  It's been put on hold.  I'd rather be in the garden!  :)