Another Bed....

This is the bed I was referring to in the previous post. It borders another fence line, and you can see that the path had yet to be created. More digging, you got to love it! Again the bed is pictured after the planting. The plantings are hard to make out but we've got an autumn clematis vine, holly hocks (double flower heads, cause they were prettier to me back then), silver mound, mums, and a couple of hybrid tea roses, plus- a climbing rose Joseph's Coat. Near the center is a french blue lilac bush. It is the first bed you see as you enter the yard. The little reading angel, a gift from my mother-in-law add some needed drama!

What I call "anybody can grow" yellow mums do very well in this bed. It is the driest bed in the yard, because of its sun exposure and grade. Mums should be cut back by the fourth of July or when they get unusually tall. Don't throw away what you cut. Slightly peel back the ends to expose a little of the soft tissue, and place in potting soil. Keep moist and within a 2-3 weeks you've got more mums to plant. It works like a charm!

The lilac bush has done well some years, but this year I'm a little concerned that it's seen its last spring. It blossomed but it is failing to get green! The late freeze and hot temps have created havoc for it. My friend has suggested we top it off and amend the soil, but everything else currently in the bed is flourishing. Lesson #2: Sometimes no matter what you do somethings can't be saved!