Weekend fun!

Hadley's Patch

Sunday afternoon....

Monday morning...

What a wonderful weekend...gorgeous warm weather and the perfect day to plant the new bed in honor of my new granddaughter, Hadley Grace. I created this flower bed back in the fall and with the unusually warm spring, I've been dying to purchase plants and get started! So, with only rain (and my fingers crossed that it would come) in the forecast, I indulged myself and spent Saturday and Sunday in the garden.
Gasp...awoke this morning to snow on the ground and it snowed all day. Sigh...I'll take the moisture in any form it comes and hope that the freshly planted flowers will 'spring' back! Good 'ole Colorado weather!



In the fall I created a new flower bed and let it sit and 'cook' over the winter. Anxiously awaited the big day to plant this new 'patch'. I was able to swing by Home Depot on my way home Friday and was thrilled when I found they had Delphiniums, Shasta Daisies, Pentstemon, and some phlox. Filled the little VW bug to the brim and drove home joyfully.
Popped out of bed early Saturday morning and got started! First, laid them out and thought about the future...tall ones in the back, and leave some room for Lupine, which I haven't found yet.

Flower bed after 'cooking' over the winter
before planting.

Laying them out until I found the groupings I wanted.

Leaving some room for Lupine.
The spot in the back (small plant coming up in back) is the tall Catmint I transplanted to that spot in the fall.
It should get big, full and tall.
Can you see the wire mesh deer fence at the back of the flower bed?

Planted!
Added some polymer crystals as an experiment to see if they help hold the moisture.
Finished up with a deep layer of Cotton Burr mulch on the top.
Added a few bark cookies for stepping through the patch.

Then, decided that I wanted to balance things by putting in a small bed to the left of the log arbor. So, moved the wagon, put in a border made from wine bottles, added soil, compost. Will have to get some tall plants for this area.

You can't even see the mesh deer fence that runs through the middle.
Barely can see it, but there is a hops vine in the right corner that has come up
and hopefully will begin to climb the arbor.


Now, to make a sign.
Found a couple of old boards, painted them a light green, then a coat of blue, used a paint marker to add the words, sanded it lightly, and sprayed it with a coat of sealer.
Screwed the boards on the post and added it to the garden.
I think it will blend in great when the delphinium start to bloom.

Hadley's Patch

One thing led to another and I decided I really wanted to get some bark down on the walkway and see if it would look better. I think it does!

After adding bark

Before bark

I found this old birdbath base but it didn't have a top. I've had it sitting around unsure just what to do with it, but didn't want to throw it away. So, today I spray painted it red, and used epoxy to fasten this galvanized bucket to the top. Filled it with water and waited for the birds. It's kind of funky...not sure I like it, but will keep it for awhile.

Re-purposed birdbath

Moved wagon and planted with wave petunias
(which probably will die from the snowfall...sigh...)

For two years the tulips have never come up, but they did this year.
Hmmmm?

Bleeding Heart starting to bloom!

Added four wheel barrow loads of soil to top of the rock wall. Ugly now...just wait!
Thinking of using some succulents here and also put down some seeds...
Haven't gotten to the pot or the box under the window.

Added petunias and planted lavender in wooded pot.
Wonder if they'll survive the snow?

Bleed Heart and also down by the birdbath.

Leaves are out on the Red Bud tree and it's getting ready to bloom.
I love the way it smells when it is blooming!
I hope the snow doesn't knock the blooms off.
In a month or so, this tree will be a solid red.

It was a great weekend outdoors! So happy to be back in the garden..it was worth the sun burn!