Six on Saturday – A New Flowerbed

I am joining Jim and my gardening friends worldwide for a little Six on Saturday garden update. Wisconsin has been slow on the draw declaring it Spring, but I think it’s finally arrived. Spring has sprung in all its tulip, daffodil, and flowering tree wonderfulness. So, come along with me for a little tour of six(-ish) things happening in my garden–then hop on the virtual garden club tour bus via Jim’s blog at https://gardenruminations.co.uk/2023/05/13/six-on-saturday-13-5-2023/ and wander through a few more gardens.

The flowering trees have been doing their beautiful thing and lilacs are beginning to wash the cool spring air with their heavenly fragrance. My aging flowering crabapple tree has made it through another year and put on quite a nice show for us. As much as I’d like to lengthen its blooming time, I do rather enjoy its current activity — raining pink petals.

Daffodils are nearly finished. Early and mid-season tulips are saying goodbye, but late-season tulips are just entering their stride. They seem quite happy with our chilly weather. Iris ‘Blue Denim’ has also chosen this week to put on its show.

The biggest news here is that, with the demise of two sickly spruce trees, I now have another full sun flowerbed in the front yard. It has been fun figuring out what to grow in that sunny space. It is slowly shaping up to be a respectable looking garden space. My husband Wayne has been gradually purchasing and bringing home large quarry stones so that we can create a border. The other night I was out working in the yard when two of our neighbors stopped to check out the process. Laura asked me if I wanted any more of the large stones for the border. Her dad, Charles, who was walking with her, added that they had quite a few of them stacked against their garage. They both said they were ours if we’d like to come haul them away. The next day, Wayne hitched up the trailer and haul them away we did. Several hundred dollars worth of stone. What an unexpected blessing.

We planted a magnolia tree toward the back end of the garden and a few hydrangea bushes toward the front end. I’m quite pleased with how the flowerbed is progressing, but I’m quite sure it’s not my last trip to the garden center.

Earlier this week I took a little drive to visit my friend Jack’s woodland garden. I just loved wandering the little footpaths worn by their diligent gardener. As we explored, Jack shared his vast knowledge with me as he pointed out one floral treasure after another. At the end of the tour Jack dug up a generous shovelful of dwarf crested Iris cristata to share with me. It’s a demure 3-6″ tall, so I planted bits of it toward the front edges of my shady flowerbeds. I have already been rewarded with one petite blossom. Thanks, Jack!

Thanks for wandering through my garden with me.