Before and after

As you can see, the before images are all shrubs. Mostly dead, because they were not pruned properly. They just had the tops sheared off, so underneath was a mass of dead and criss crossed branches. All but three have been removed (by me), and one of those is not showing signs of life. I am likely to replace it with a Korean Lilac, one of the miniature varieties.

First, the "west" bed, which turned out to have some very healthy raspberry canes. I added a rhubarb patch, barely visible at the far end, a couple of hostas, and some New Guinea Impatiens, which I purchased.



Next, the larger bed, that gets full sun for a few hours each day, between 11 am and about 3:30 pm. There are two views of this, one from the end, facing the house, and one from the patio, looking across to the fence. I transplanted: two peonies, which kept on growing as if nothing had happened; coral bells; day lilies (I have no idea what variety or colour); a tall purple flowering thingie; tiger lilies; a rose, much worse for the wear after I accidentally stepped on it; lovely pale pink columbine; and a patch of mahonia. I purchased two roses, a day lily which is white, and a rebloomer, and rated for partial shade, an anabelle hydrangea, a bridal wreath spirea. This garden is full.







Next, I tackle the front bed.

Back to the beginning

Rhubarb



and Roses



That is; rhubarb transplanted from the old house to the new garden at the condo, and bare root roses planted, still mounded in earth, but with new growth peeking through. I am thrilled with the rhubarb, I took two big clumps, as in, long, overgrown stalks, with a bit of root on each. And in this photo, you can see that only 4 days later, there are perky stalks of new growth.

Oops...

Trying to adjust the elbow connector to make water flow into the second rainbarrel, we inadvertantly disconnected the downspout from the eavestrough. So the water will just kind of cascade down in a waterfall from a great height. And not fill any rainbarrel. A neighbour has a very tall ladder, and has offered to help put it back together. Good thing, because I am sure as hell not getting up there to fix it. So I hope he "helps" a lot.

In other news, the roses I planted with trepidation have started to send out leaves! I have never planted bare root roses, and these had been indoors, so needed to be buring in compost to protect them and condition them to outdoor living.

I also planted (or transplanted):
A Day Lily - supposed to be early flowering, reblooming. It's white.
New Guinea Impatiens. I love the dark green leaves.
Replacement sedum. I have lost a few over the years, and filled in a few patches

A tall purple flower that has taken over the garden at the house. I moved some to the condo.

Tiger Lilies: These have been moved through sucessive gardens for about 50 years now. As well as
Rhubarb. A big patch. Which has not been harvested this spring, so some were baseball bat size.

A very pretty hosta, kind of blue/grey leaves.

A very pretty variegated hosta, with curly leaves (gift from neighbour, I traded for a piece of the blue grey hosta).

and, a bunch of Artemesia, and some other green plant with interesting flower stalks, that I got in a trade for a grow light (sort of a trade, I gave someone a grow light, her mother gave me the plants).

And today, I am moving some Lammium, Solomon's Seal, tulip bulbs, and taking cuttings of lilacs.

Out of all of that, something should work.