Gardening

Today's plant obsession is Aquilegia, common name Columbine, though some species are also called Granny's Bonnet. We have enough Granny's Bonnet here at May Dreams Gardens to open up a hat shop, a milliner's delight of color. This is mostly due to allowing Aquilegia to self-sow about the garden because at least in this garden, I believe it is a sin to weed out Aquilegia. As a result, we have

A beautiful native tree adaptable to many conditions, Heritage River Birch (Betula nigra ‘Cully’) is prized for is exfoliating bark!

There is progress on the hellstrip! I dug up, added compost, planted divisions, and then added black mulch to a curvy shape within the hell strip. The eventual plan is to add some large pavers or bricks along the road side, for people to get in and out of their cars without having to step into the garden. I'd also like to add a "pad" of pavers to the area where I have to put my garbage cans for garbage day. I'd also like to add a row of lavender alongside the sidewalk to match the lavender on the other side that is there already. I planted many grasses of varying heights from divisions. I'd like to plant some other tall, "wispy" plants - salvias, Russian sage, and the like.Once I find all the tags, I'll be able to list what I bought for here, and do my best of identifying what divisions I planted. I didn't do everything at once because I didn't want to spend too much money on it right now. The plants are all divisions from other parts of the garden. I did buy a few new plants, and mulch. I'm trying my best to not plant things too close to each other -- one of my many faults.The hellstrip history, in brief, is that it had a horse chestnut tree that died from within. The city cut it down after it spent my first eight years here dying. Then it took them another 3.5 years to grind out the stump. Once the stump was ground out, and another tree planted, THEN I could start spending time & treasure on the strip.The "grass" in the strip is the worst mix of weeds and bare spots you can imagine. The soil is extremely compacted. The grass is more a collection of weeds. Some really dense clover offers the most green to one area.From the office window. You can see the lavender strip on this side of the sidewalk. I'd like to match that with the hellstrip side. I added the course of bricks as a divider between my neighbor's portion of the hellstrip (upper left). Not really liking that. I may take them out and just let the bed end there. The "before."

The Fleming Nursery team celebrate after their creation makes history at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, becoming the first Australian entry to claim the prestigious Best in Show medal.

Actress of stage and screen Maureen Lipman posed on horseback - or rather a well-behaved rocking horse - at the Chelsea Flower Show this year.

Cleve West, who won Best in Show at RHS Chelsea Flower Show two years in a row, says the judges have their work cut out this year.

Former England cricket captain David Gower was enjoying press day at the Chelsea Flower Show more than ever.

Dame Helen Mirren, who is reprising her role as the Queen on the West End stage, says gardening should be taught to pupils at schools.

This year's artisan gardens from the Chelsea Flower Show - artistic gardens which make use of traditional craftsmanship.

Before I pack up the laptop for tomorrow's trip, I must show you the new guardian of the garden. The sparrows were taking their toll on the greens this morning, so something had to be done! One broomstick, a nail and a piece of 1"x2", an old shirt, my sweat pants, a panty hose head with Mr. Granny's cap...................Granny Junior!Can you see her standing out there?Otto and Annie went crazy when they saw her! Otto was pretty brave, but Annie did her barking from the protection of the patio. Otto wouldn't stop barking at her, but see how fast that tail is wagging, LOL! I can only hope the birds are as scared of her as Annie is.The new car (it has 14 miles on the odometer already) is packed and ready to go. The alarm is set for 5:00 a.m. Granddaughter Alicia is coming over to dog sit with "the kids". I'm taking the laptop, so if I get bored with all the down time I can always blog, or at least keep up with reading your blogs. I'm ready for some fun!