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.

Go to the BeaLog: http://laowai.typepad.com/bealog/

Brian is gone to Zurich, to our new apartment and to his new office. We won’t see him until the week of 4th of July. I’m feeling a little melancholy and a little grouchy about being a single mom for the next several weeks. I hate this part of moving. 

So I made some cinnamon rolls.

I’m also aware that in a week the movers will take away my mixer, my pans, my dishes – all my favorite baking tools. So I’ve got the bug to do some baking while I still can.

Brian sent some photos – taken from our new apartment.

Sigh.

We enjoyed a beautiful Labor Day weekend at home.

Hope you had a great start to summer too!

We celebrated an early Father’s Day since Brian will be in Zurich then.

We love him.

Claire turned seven on May 4th but we couldn’t fit her party in until this past Saturday. We rented a pool and she invited seven of her friends.  

She requested fruit pizza instead of a cake – the girl loves fruit.

Swimming make us hungry!

Bea painted a big octopus for our pin-the-eyes on the octopus game. It has seven legs because Claire is seven (that may or may not have been intentional).

It sort of breaks my heart that she won’t get to see her sweet friends after we move.

Time to clean up.

It was nice to not have the party at home right now because everything is a bit crazy getting ready for the move. I think she had fun at her party and I love the planning part. Letting her pick out plates and cups and plan all the decorations – all the happy anticipation – it’s the best.

Claire finally lost her first tooth. I keep thinking her teeth have been so slow to come out that they are all going to come out at once. It came out at school so she got a little tooth holder necklace from the school nurse. She was very proud – my funny face.