A new year

Last summer was quite a challenge. We had weeks on end with no rain, so it really was a perfect opportunity to test the rain barrel system. Overall, I am very pleased with the results. We had virtually no snow, and I have always thought that a garden in a cold climate needed a nice blanket of snowy insulation to get through the winter. But, apparently, plants managed to make it. I attribute that success to the watering system, they were irrigated all through the fall.

The things that pleased me most:
All the roses are thriving.
The new "Endless Summer" Hydrangea is sending up new shoots. This was planted in a spot where at least 3 shrubs didn't make it, so I am giving the rain barrel full credit.
The Obedient Plants are starting to come up already.

I finally admitted that my strategy of pruning back the Mock Orange wasn't working, and this year, I cut it right back, nothing more than a foot or so from the ground. Already I see some new shoots, so although we won't have flowers this year, it will be a nice compact shrub again.

And we admitted defeat on the Purple Sandcherry, half of it was dead, and it was hopeless to think that it might recover an attractive shape. We ripped it out, poor thing, and we're looking for a nice shrub to replace it. We've narrowed the choice down to Korean Lilac, Holly (or Mahonia), or Philodendron. I am very fond of the lilacs, but it would be nice to have something with winter interest. For now, there' s just a hole in the ground.

Today I did a quick inventory, and spotted at least a dozen perennials, all bigger, and heartier than previous years.

The roses at my Dad's house didn't survive the bunnies. We're trying again, this year with two "Falstaff" David Austin roses. I sprinkled blood meal on the ground, we're getting chicken wire to protect them while they are still small, and I have cayenne pepper to make a spray solution. I will not be defeated by bunnies!

Other than the poor roses, everything else that I put in Dad's garden survived, which I am very pleased about.

Photos to come. I have itchy fingers - they need a good dose of garden soil.