Hi there, and welcome to my blog! What a month it has been. We’ve seen some beautiful sunny and mild days as well as some very cold and dreary days. My mood has been influenced by this changeable weather: high spirits when the sun was out and low spirits when the howling winds and dark clouds took over. I’m thankful that I was able to get some work done in the garden and able to enjoy that time. This year I am also attempting to grow some flowers from seed. Fingers crossed that they all take! Oh! And I am excited about a garden clean-up project we are doing, too!
So, the garden clean-up project is the area to the side of our playhouse. When we first moved here, we built a bunch of raised beds and planted some fruit trees in this area. It was fabulous! I made an attempt to create stone pathways, but they never quite came together right. Then we moved the apple trees because they were too close together. A few years after that, and the Beech hedges grew to their full height and added too much shade for strawberries and vegetables to grow. And finally, the weeds just plain took over. I’ve learned a lot over that time, and we are now going to re-do that area. We decided to completely clear the area due to the terrible state it was in. That is the point where we are now! I’ll let you know as we progress. I cannot wait to get the new beds set-up!
As for the rest of the garden, I think it is ready for the season ahead! I’ve planted some summer bulbs (and still have some more to plant!). Most of those are going in pots this year. I simply had that in mind when I ordered them. We still haven’t mowed the lawn yet, and usually this would bother me. But I’m changing my mind on this, and I’m not in a hurry to have it done. I used to feel like it was a terrible reflection on the garden when we had long grass. How silly! Something else I realized recently. Three of my hellebores didn’t bloom this year. Two of them didn’t even show their leaves until very late in the season, never mind flower! The funny thing is, I felt that this was somehow due to my poor gardening skills. What?! I hadn’t done anything differently – they just didn’t come up until very late in the season. But I had internalized their not blooming, that somehow it was my fault. I was glad to recognize that, so I could correct my mindset. I’m not a terrible gardener. Sometimes, things just don’t grow. 🙂
Life is funny, and I’m still learning. Thank God! I hope you are keeping safe and well and are also still learning!
In Peace,
Dana
Let’s try this again! This will have beds for vegetables, annual flowers and strawberries. This time, we’ll put ground cover material down to help to prevent weeds (I think I might add cardboard, too, since we have a bunch of it).
Nothing says ‘It’s March’ in Ireland better than daffodils and shamrock!
Springtime flowers are blooming! This is a Pulmonaria with purple and pink flowers and spotted leaves. It looks lovely with daffodils, which are growing next to them.
This area with the tulips was one of my clean-up jobs this month! I didn’t tidy it up very well last year and it was not in good shape. I cleared it just in time for this beautiful day!
I like these Mr. Fokker anemone and purple hyacinth together.
This pink hyacinth is probably my favorite flower at the moment, and beautifully fragrant!
Here’s a great contrast in weather! The picture above, on the left was taken on quite a dull gray day, while the picture on the right was taken on a lovely and sunny day! The Aubrieta is not in full bloom just yet, but it is getting there.
Here are some of the seeds that I’m growing. These are Coleus. Fingers crossed that I continue to take care of them properly!
The two flower pots in front of the hen house are still looking really well. Those tete a tete daffodils have been blooming for a few weeks now. It was so worth getting them to add a bit of cheer!
It certainly feels like anything is possible when the sky is blue! We did some more planting in this birch tree bed.
I hope you’ve enjoyed the spring update! Take care! 🙂
Mom in the Garden 
Looking good! I would strongly recommend AGAINST fabric in your newly cleared area. Use cardboard, and mulch it. The fabric will be a constant annoyance as weed roots will tangle in it, and plants you want to root deeply won’t be able to penetrate it.
Thank you for your thoughts! I agree with you, and in the end I only put the ground cover in areas which will not be planted (the paths). I have also put cardboard down underneath. Let’s see how it does! 🙂
That’s a large area that you have to work on. If I may, I think putting down horticultural fabric might be something you will regret. I agree that it may save you some work – but that’s part of the point of garden, that we work at it.
When Paddy speaks, Dana listens! Why don’t you like the horticultural fabric? I don’t have it in any of my beds at the moment and it is a full time job weeding, and you’re right that that is part of gardening. But the area we’ve just dug up was taken over by dandelions, despite my constant weeding. Do you think it is best to just use it on pathways? Thanks for your thoughts, Paddy! 🙂
Weeding becomes less and less as the garden plants fill out and occupy the ground – so, less light for weed seeds to germinate. That said, you will never be without weeds – they were there before you arrived with your garden plants and will survive your time on your plot. Why don’t I like it? I simply don’t like the look of it – pieces poking up here and there. You have to cut through it to plant, more ragged edges, and it remains effective for a few short years only as the weed seeds will germinate in the material above it. If you put it down, you will have to cover it with mulch of some sort – shredded bark or the like = expense and the need to renew every few years and it deteriorates and the weeds will grow in it anyway. Just keep weeding – the dandelions are a curse, I admit, and just have to be dug out, very deep digging to remove all root as they will shoot again from and piece of root left in the ground. But, have fun!
Hard, but beautiful job, Dana! The payment is with wonderful flowers, colorful and healthy eggs, and happiness. Thank you so much! Many blessings to you and your family!
Hi Fabio! Thanks for your kind words. Yes, I agree, the hard work in the garden is always worth it. I hope you are also well! 🙂
That’s a lovely planting space! And very pleasant flowers. It looks like Spring is starting early in your garden!
Are you going to be treating the new seedlings like annuals, or just see how they hold up over the years?
Hi Scott! I would love to keep the Coleus all year, so if it does well I will try and bring it inside for the winter. We’ll see! Thanks for your kind comments and for stopping by! 🙂
Absolutely beautiful flowers. My favorites: the pitcher and vase adorned with shamrocks and holding the daffodils! Oh, and your Coleus look great.
Hi Cathy! Thank you so much. I think the sun and blue sky helps to make that picture of the daffodils and shamrock stand out! I’m taking your comment on the Coleus as encouragement – they are growing so slowly. Thanks for stopping by! 🙂