Yesterday before I left to install a garden for a homeowner I pulled 500 garlic mustard from various places on our landscape. I know that my persistence will prevail and keep them from going to seed. A little at time is better that putting one's arms up in despair and giving in to their need to occupy space in unwanted beds. So remember your other plants will appreciate your efforts as you remove invasive garlic mustard.

The garden that I installed yesterday was a cut flower bed that had transition of blooms the entire summer with colors of yellow,white, and pink. It now with provide beauty to them both outdoors and indoors throughout the summer.

We had a mild frost last night which only proves that the weather in Illinois (Midwest) even in May is quite unpredictable. Though the perennials and shrubs can handle it any tender annuals or vegetables that were not covered may have had a short life in 2009.

Enjoy your spring of 2009 and just take the weather as it is sunshine , rain, or (cold ..brrr)

My day yesterday was in maintenance as I repaired and cleaned any bird houses in need. Then weeded all our paths while transplanted any seedlings that had made a inappropriate home. I would not want the young tender plant children to be trampled.

Next I edged around the flower beds with my straight shovel to create the clean neat trench that I can mulch later today. I am not one to put in the plastic edging or metal, for in my opinion the grass just grows under being as persistent as it desires to spread.

Our pond has been inundated with tadpoles, and thus any cleaning will be delayed till they are bigger.

My loyal and reliable chipper will be put to use today, and then I will use my leaf/wood mulch to give all the beds a healthy layer. This will help them retain necessary moisture to thrive.

I am a little late on amending my roses this year with systemic fertilizer, for I generally like to have it done by end April.

To my fellow gardeners remember a little time and care will have immense hours of pleasure in reward as you gaze upon the blooms provided.

I returned last night from a week of creating landscape beauty on a magical piece of property in Fish Creek, Wisconsin (Door County). Long days of hard work as we created a granite fence wall on both sides of the entry drive each having shrubs & perennials to create a very country look. Many other projects completed that gave me as a designer very much satisfaction.

Today I told myself would be a day of rest, however, as I strolled our property to observe all the blooms that arrived while I was away GARLIC MUSTARD caught my eye. I just took a break after pulling over a thousand. Then some ferns were begging to be transplanted away from the edge of the yard.

It seems to me that gardens are like young children always in need of tender care and love!!

Today I planted two Witch Hazels one vernal and one common in the woodlands. Then I found old semi-rotten logs to accent followed by accents of Trillium, Mertensia, Bloodroot, and Trout Lily. I know that the spring native plants shall only last a short while, but i find joy in recreating what nature has done in the past.

I can only imagine what our property here in northwest Illinois would have looked like if i could have strolled through the woodlands and oak savannas one hundred years ago. With all the construction of new homes over the years the native plants have been at lost for ground to thrive in.

May you be fortunate enough to view our native Illinois plants in a habit that shows their beauty!
Rachel

Spring Has Arrived!

Today as I walked our woodland path I was ecstatic to see that the Mertensia 'Virginia bluebells' and the Trillium were blooming. Spring has arrived here on our property officially.

I also spent time once again pulling up garlic mustard so as not to invade new beds along with the fact it was trying to crowd out some established woodland plants. My persistence shall prevail in the long run!

Transplanted Trillium

This morning I transplanted 40 trillium to a new woodland garden in midst of viburnum. Now I just wait patiently for them to multiply and naturalize. Saved from the lawnmower and I feel like a successful rescue was completed.

Cutting Back Ornamental Grasses

Today I went to do maintenance on a rather large prairie garden I installed which takes some hands on time. While I was cutting down the prairie grasses I was thinking of homeowners who have installed ornamental grasses.

Thus I recommend NOW is the time to cut back if you have not already done so, and then you will not cut new growth. As you cut them back you will note green for the grasses are emerging with our warmer weather. If you are like me I enjoy the grasses through out the entire winter as they wave in the winter wind.

Gooseberries & Garlic Mustard

This morning I mulched all nine new viburnums from Fall 08 plantings, and also mulched/fertilized 7 gooseberries. The gooseberries are a excellent food source for the birds. However, I remember my Aunt Edith on her Iowa farm gathering gooseberries to make a pie.

As I have been for the past two days continued the task of removing garlic mustard from beds that have needed tending. At this point this morning alone I reached number 600 pulled/dug, and I never ever put them in the compost pile. Instead they are placed in a plastic bag to be disposed of with trash.

Spring cleaning of the gardens is a joy for me, for that is when I see my shrubs & perennials coming alive for the season ahead. May your gardens also be finding rejuvenation so that they may give you blooms that provide many days of joy.

Pond Waterfall Cleaned & Running

Got the pond waterfall going today so it's all set for migrating birds to arrive. There was still ice on top, so got stepson Blake to use a sledgehammer and break it up so we could remove some of the debris that had fallen in.
We also cleared dead trees from the new lot and prepared the campfire area for future bonfires and marshmallow roasts. Raked leaves out of the beds and broke an "unbreakable" rake in the process! Piles of leaves and branches await to be chipped when our chipper comes back from repair. The hammer inside broke, and the vibrations caused pieces to break off inside and come flying off at me! A frightful experience! Luckily I was able to shut it off with only a minor injury on my shoulder.
Tomorrow I'll work on the compost bins. Need to enlarge them with new fencing and stabilize the supports.

Scattering Snow

This morning I have thus put 42 wheelbarrows full of snow around the hydrangeas and viburnums planted Fall 2008. This will give them the moisture they so need to start the Spring season. Still more snow to scatter. The compost & snow will provide a good organic bed for future understory perennials.