Laowai

Have you heard that gardening rule of thumb about how perennials grow – they sleep, then creep, then leap. I think there is some truth to it, but I like to just say that the third year is the charm.

We took out some overgrown shrubs in March of 2015. Then I planted viburnums, perennial geraniums, alliums and other stuff.

Here are two photos from 2015:

Now, in their third year, those plants have filled in nicely. The alliums are my favorite – they should bloom soon. On the right side of the bed are some plants that I grew using the winter sowing method. At first I was disappointed because the plants seemed so small and weak. But amazingly those winter sown perennials that started out so itty bitty have shot up and are bigger than the plants I purchased in big pots at nurseries. I’ll definitely try winter sowing again in the future.

Here’s a photo from today:

These photos don’t really show it, but the big, big, big Elm tree on the left side of the path had to be removed last year. I just filled that area with some shrub roses, catmint, lamb’s ear and more perennial geraniums. By the time we return from Switzerland that bed should be leaping too.

Gosh I’m going to miss puttering in my garden.