Blooms! Blooms! Blooms!

Camassia

Clematis aka ‘The Beast’

Lewisia

Right now the most exciting plant in this garden is the Spotted Lady Slipper orchid, in full bloom. I got a trowel full from the Pratt Museum a few years ago when the botanical garden was experiencing a renovation. Lucky me. I’m hoping it will fill in under the hydrangea, which is looking promising.

I’m gathering up the spent foliage with seed pods from the minor bulbs that are here and there throughout this garden. I’m tossing them under the red twig dogwoods where, for the first time, they actually took hold and there were a couple of blooms. I’m encouraged by this small success so will continue to toss seed pods under there. With that goal in mind I’m being cautious about leaving enough behind with the original clutch so those too will continue on. Excellent.

The crushing snow load on the lilacs seemed, at the time, to spell doom. But no, they are all on the cusp of bloom and it will be a very magnificent lilac season. Keep an eye out so as not to miss a single panicle. Miss Kim who is notoriously finicky (at least in my garden) will be spectacular this season. She often takes every third or fourth year off, last year  being memorable for her lack of blooms.

Miss Kim is underplanted with alchemilla mollis. This plant, also known as lady’s-mantle, is formidable. It is serving its purpose beautifully, when both are in bloom it certainly is a sight to be seen. But this is the year that my intention is to cut it down after blooming. The hope is that it will regrow a tidy mound of foliage. Otherwise there is just too much of a good thing. Plus it will self sow everywhere and you will end up weeding out where it has forged its own path. Be careful with this willful plant.

The other lilacs: a common on the west corner of the house, two Donald Wymans and one James McFarland in the East Garden are thriving. The east is where we take our tea/coffee in the morning. The deck there is just enough for two chairs and a wall of lilacs. It really is quite dramatic.

When you plant your lilacs keep in mind that they are a very large shrub, not a tree. Give them enough room, something that I will regret forever. Read the label that comes with them and believe it. Use a measuring tape if you must and then give them even more room. Trust me, they get huge.

The perennial beds are suffering from my temporary lack of mobility. If I had been able to get out there a bit earlier than there would have been plants moved here and there, as it is there are empty spots. Next year. For now I’m weeding and, of course, there are three kinds of chickweed all of which love this garden. My neighbor Lynn who loathes gardening but has inherited one had a load of mulch delivered. Now, here in Homer ‘mulch’ translates to wood chips and her mighty pile is now spread in the beds. She is thankful for their efficiency in weed control and doesn’t mind at all looking at them. Give this some thought.

The floating row cover came off the last of the raised vegetable beds this morning. This means the brassica plants are now on their own, just them against the ravages of the fly that lays the egg that becomes the dreaded root maggot. I don’t want to leave it on too long, causing the plants to ‘button’ (bolt ~ go to seed) before their time and yet I don’t want pest damage which is the purpose of the cover. It’s a fine line that gets walked every year. I cultivated, fed them with fish emulsion, sprinkled a little more Sluggo Plus, dumped some crushed egg shells at the base of the stem. I have defended them to the best of my ability. Wish us luck.

The greenhouse is a joy. The tomatoes are setting fruit with JUST A GENTLE SHAKE OF THE PLANT. The basil is lush, be sure to pinch the tips to help the plant fill out. The cucumbers have set, the bush green beans are blooming. All is well so far.

Spotted Lady Slipper