Spring Has Finally Sprung!! (I Hope)

Hello all!! I think spring has finally decided to stick around here in middle Tennessee. We've had some nice warm weather in the last few days with more in the forecast. Over the weekend, my hubby and I planted 480 plants and today I planted 9 more perennials. We still have 223 annuals to plant. Most of them will be put in pots on the patio and around the garden.  We did finish the Big Surprise in Morrow Park Phase II. Once it matures a little bit, I will post a picture. We are very excited about it!

The garden is getting prettier every day. You can certainly tell we've had rain and some warm weather! Leaves are popping out and flowers are opening. It's just wonderful to spend time gardening....everyday there's something new to see.

Let's take a look....

The Creeping Phlox has really started blooming. We have three different colors. There are also Daylilys, Iris, a Rugosa Rose (which I still need to trim), Bee Balm and the Clove Currant in the backround.

 

Here you can see another color of Creeping Phlox. Miss Kim Lilac has started leafing out and so has the Knockout Rose. By the way, the reason we have this wire fence is to keep the dogs out of the garden. After a while I don't even see it!

These Daffys were the first ones I ever planted. They surround our Maple tree. Behind the Daffys you see Goldmound Spiraea and Forsythia. 

Looking down the path....the Clove Currant is in full bloom and smells wonderful!

This is a little piece of my small shade garden.

This weekend we planted eleven pots and put them in Morrow Park Phase I. They will add a lot of color when they mature. Seven of them are along the path. Remember this phrase when you plant in pots...thriller (something tall), filler and spiller (something that trails down the pot.)

The other four pots are by the large bird bath and seating area. 

Looking across one of the other flower beds into Morrow Park.

The perennials and annuals were planted in Morrow Park Phase III. In the area just past these beds I'm going to sow all different types of flower seeds. 

Looking towards the house...we just planted these two small beds this weekend. They are the entrance to the Big Surprise.

Another shot. Flowers are getting taller every day!

I love the tiny blue flowers on this ground cover Veronica.

 

This is the path leading from the front walk. You can see the Tulips are almost ready to open!

This is the West side of the house. Flowering Quince, Lambs Ear, Iris and Indian Hawthorne. 

In spring we spread Black Gold (horse manure) on our flower beds. We also spread it over newly made beds before they are planted and around all new plants. We get this from a friend that owns horse stables down the road from us. I would bet most people who own horses would be very happy to give this away. So if you live near a horse stable, ask them. I'm telling you it REALLY makes a difference in your plants. Just make sure the manure is aged as fresh manure will burn your plants. 

We get this stuff by the trailer full! Next to this manure is our regular compost area. Our plants are very happy!!

Since my post is also about wildlife, I want to give you an update on the happenings in the garden....

For quite a while we had two Mockingbirds that were always in the garden. In the last couple of days, I have seen eight at one time. Look closely at the apples...there are two Mockers eating. They must be male and female. It's definitely mating season because I've seen them taking twigs into the bushes to make nests. 

In the two pictures below you can see several Blue Jays on the structure to the left...one is coming in for a landing! The Mockingbird is on the structure to the right and is protecting the peanuts in the hanging feeder from the Jays. Those Mockers are very busy trying to keep other birds away from all the feeders!

Well, that's it for now. Spring has finally "sprung" and I'm a happy gardener!

Happy Gardening!

Words and Photos Property of Christy's Cottage Wildlife Garden.