Just begun last year, the new hosta garden affectionately named because the benches we created from pine stumps were fitted with tops given to us by good friend Barry Sturgeon. They are very wide, live-edge boards which Barry was clearing out and knew that if anyone could use them, it would be us. Sure enough, they make perfect benches for the new area. The problem with the new garden was that there was very little definition between the garden beds and the pathways. The hostas are not to a size yet where they cover the soil, nor has there been enough time to build up a pine needle mulch as of yet. So, we decided to buy a load of dark bark mulch for the beds. Though I don't plan to keep this up in future years, it really accomplished what I had hoped and gave a distinction between garden bed and path. Meanwhile, I brought in some sod chunks for the path from the newly expanded Event Field Garden and sprinkled some grass seed in an effort to grass over the paths. Would love to see this area improve before the Maine Hosta Society tour happens on July 11. I have an opportunity to buy more plants this weekend as I am off on a bus tour to Mason Hollow in NH, and to view three private hosta gardens along the way. That will provide me with even more ideas along with a shopping opportunity!
True, I have lost the daffodils and the tulips, but they are replaced with gorgeous blossoms from the rhododendrons, hostas emerging with even more vigor that the year before, and the promise of budding peonies that are soon to put on their magnificent show. Everything is such a triumphant green... claiming victory over a long, cold winter. There is lots to do in the garden this time of year: planting the veggies, the annuals, dividing perennials, edging to ensure nice sharp definitions between grass and beds. I like to give the tulips and the daffodils a shot of bulb tone before they die back too much to encourage larger clumps next spring. The cedars I had growing in the pots at the end of the front sidewalk show signs of stress and are now almost five feet tall. Time to find them a permanent home in the garden beds and purchase new little cedars for the pots. When I remove them, I find I have made the right decision as they are badly root-bound. Eric and I walk the Garden Tour path and discuss possible sites for them. We decided they are best suited to stand sentinels at either end of the Event Field Garden at Acorn Cottage end. There, they will be able to grow as tall as they wish, though be limited in girth. There are a few other conifers in that garden already and the variety of shapes will provide great structure.
Each year I wait with great anticipation to see how much larger the Empress Wu hosta I planted back in 2008. I bought two of them as starter plants through mail order. I had never done this before as I am usually more "sane" and can wait until they come to a nursery closer to me and can be purchased at a size that fills a spot in the garden almost immediately. But, Empress Wu sounded too incredible to wait for. Besides, there would be something exciting watching the two little tiny leaves the size of teaspoons develop into what was touted as the largest hosta EVER! The Empress has not disappointed. Each year she comes back notably larger than the year before and her leaf size has increased remarkably as well.
Thank you smart hubby for your brilliant idea of placing plastic over the screen panels of the screen house to convert it to wonderful winter storage, keeping my treasured garden ornaments, patio furniture and summer games free from winter's ravages. The plastic even held tight against the very winds which brought down many a tree branch! Fabulous! It is time, when I get time, to turn it back to a screen house in which to sip a summer glass of wine and enjoy an evening breeze free of mosquitos after a hard days work.
For about eight years now, every summer I place a bulb order with Van Englen Bulb Co., mostly for daffodils although some alliums, hyacynths and tulips do also make their way into my order. I always plant at least 250 daffodils which are quickly going from being single bulbs planted just how you're NOT supposed to do it, to clusters at least a foot around. I think of it as a savings account. I diligently make a "deposit" every fall and the "interest" yields me beautiful spring gardens! I tend to stick to a simple palette of mostly King Alfred traditional, hardy, yellow daffodils... but have enough "egg faced" ones to offer a good sparkle in the garden. Once in awhile, I will order up 25 or so with pink centers or orangey-red centers. Now the end of the first week of May, the daffodils are about at their peak. The areas where the snow was slower to melt, still hold many that have not blossomed as of yet, so they will no doubt make great companions for the rhodies and the bleeding hearts when they begin to blossom. After such a tremendous winter, they say we are about two weeks behind. That makes the show of spring blossoms an especially great sight to behold.
Why I love the State of Maine, by Pam Allen. Sometimes I feel like I could do a whole thesis on this.
The change of seasons is so dramatic in Maine. The bitterly cold winds of the winter months slowly give way to the warm, gentle breezes of springtime and the mounds of white snowbanks give way to the mounds of beautiful yellow daffodils. The maple trees are covered in their springtime red blossoms which before we have tired of the warm summer days, will turn to red autumn leaves. But each season has its own special flavor. I particularly love spring... rebirth, fresh, deserved!
It is so sad that my dear Uncle Bob passed away at the age of 86 while visiting his son Scott and his wife Mary Beth and their son River in Hawaii. He died peacefully, in his sleep which brings me much comfort. The fact that he was off on yet another adventure when he passed was a very fitting way for the uncle I loved very much to have left this earth. I will miss the ability to SEE his reaction to the progress we have made on the Lodge between his visits... though I strongly believe it will be easier than ever for him to see it! The adventure he set us off on, ten years ago, when he gifted us the land in Nobleboro where now stands our beloved Lodge has been an incredible one; full of lots of learning, lots of close family times, lots of ceremonies and most of all, lots of laughter. We thank him.
