The Joys of Gardening

I find it therapeutic to plan and create a garden. I started last year and have increased my garden beds this year. 

My shade garden survived and is growing. The Hosta which was donated by a neighbor has doubled, the Pink Nancy has tripled. The pansies from last October are still flowering and even some marigolds self seeded.

I have added several more pots of flowers, vegetables, bushes and trees. Most of these will find permanent homes when they go dormant.

Dutch Iris

Potato

Raspberry

Eastern Redbud

Also built 3 garden beds...

8 x 4 untreated pine

4 x 4 untreated pine, painted 2 x 4 legs

The beds are producing and I love watching the peas climb up the string and each other.

Sugar snap peas

Tendrils

Lettuce, Swiss chard, cornflower

Researched and created a potting soil mixture, planted seeds, and thoroughly enjoyed watching life POP out of the ground or seed starter container...

Dill

Cucumbers

Bush Beans

Then it was hardening the seedlings off before transplanting to the beds. 

Tomato and Sweet Basil

I particularly love to grow perennial herbs and flowers. Last year's lavender survived the cold weather and the continuing roller coaster hot then cold weather. It is extremely fragrant and a beautiful color!

Rosemary is also thriving and has tripled in size!

I am working on adding native perennials and was fortunately gifted Virginia Mountain Mint (Pycnanthemum virginianum) which is a native to the area from a gift/swap group I belong to. It is happy in it's container and I will ensure that it stays there and does not propagate elsewhere, it is an aggressive spreader. It is also very fragrant!!

Spent several days creating this area that boarders our neighbor.

It was full of poison ITCH!!!! Poison ivy and Virginia creeper both of which I am highly allergic to so obviously that was all removed. Long pants, long sleeve shirt and gloves. Threw away the gloves when done, alcohol wiped all tools, showered in Dawn and washed all the clothes. Yes I am that allergic to both. This is the healing process after 3 weeks and Prednisone.

We also removed invasive Chinese privet, Japanese honeysuckle, Bradford pear, and chickweed. Once all that was removed we found a VA native Rhododendron prinophyllum Millais bush which later showed of its color!

I added Earlybird Blue White Columbine a cultivated hybrid, oops! It was sold at a local plant store. I need to do better research. Fortunately Governor Abigail Spanberger signed some new bills into law effective Jan 1, 2027 to combat invasive plant species across Virginia and protect the state's land, water, and wildlife. One of them illegalizes the planting of invasive species along state highways, another expands the Noxious Weeds List and one states: "No retail establishment shall sell or offer for retail sale for outdoor use a plant that is an invasive plant species (39 on the list) unless such retail establishment posts in a conspicuous manner on the property located in proximity to each invasive plant display signage identifying such plant as invasive, educating consumers regarding invasive plant species, and encouraging consumers to ask about alternatives." I wish they could not even be sold! One step at a time, I guess. 🤷🏽‍♀️

When the invasives die off they will not be replanted. I will find something similar that is non invasive. 

Also added some daffodil bulbs, not invasive.

Add was also gifted Common Evening Primrose (Oenothera biennis). I cannot wait to see what these do! They have a 2 year cycle so this year hopefully the leaves will grow big and strong and next year I will see flowers. The yellow flowers open at dusk and usually close by noon. These are supposed to be a life line for Sphinx Moths aka Hummingbird moths.  The caterpillars are not great for my tomatoes as they will eat them but they are amazing pollinators. 

Lastly still learning about all the things growing all over the place. Sassafras for example. Look how adorable these little leaves in the center are!!

Sassafras albidum is native to Virginia, yeah! It is a fast-growing, deciduous tree (30–60 ft) recognized by three distinct leaf shapes; oval, mitten, and three-lobed. In the fall the leaf colors are supposed to be yellow to red so will have to pay attention then. Can be aggressive so need to watch for it spreading too much. The sassafras root used to be the major ingredient in root beer. It was banned in 1960 for liver disease damage. If you crush the leaves you can smell the vanilla like flavor associated with root beer.

Sensitive Fern (Onoclea sensibilis) makes a great ground cover so hopefully it will help prevent the English ivy from spreading.

Glaucous Greenbrier (Smilax glauca) which produce berries for birds. Hidden under one of the holly trees.

Serviceberry tree (Amelanchier spp.) with its early blooming white star shaped flowers.

Lastly my favorite is the wild azaleas that bloom and smell like jasmine.

Looking forward to my daily walks that bring joy to my existence as I witness the wonder in the life that abounds in my area. 

Yesterday a fox walked through the yard, a Pileated woodpecker beat a tree full of holes, the cardinals, finches, titmouse, and sparrows emptied the feeder and the hawk feasted on a few voles or moles not sure which!

I 💜 my life!