Gardening in Philly

Our weather has been variable since spring started. Today 82 degrees but beautiful. Hopefully that's not an indication of what summer is going to be like on the 8th day of spring. Nights in the 40's. Hopefully  by Easter we have had our last frost.  On to the yard. After discovering that no tulips in the ground survived I pulled up half ripped up mesh, removed the bricks and started cleaning up on Saturday. Many days left before it's in order the way I'd like it. But I have a plan for it every spring. What gets done is another thing. Maybe this year.

Disappointed that perennials planted last year didn't return not even hosta. I can't understand why. Native ginger, hardy begonia, tiarella, all purchased and planted last spring did not return. The only thing I can think of is that the roots from the maple trees are interfering. Maybe in the future only containers can go along the fence. That would be sad.

I'm not excited about gardening this season. Don't know if it's hormonal changes due to menopause or just the aging process.  Is that too much information?I didn't even want to start seeds but did and some survived and I enjoy looking at them grow and tending to them. Zinnias, sunflowers, coneflower, and cucumbers still need to be started. Hyacinth bean vine seeds will be direct sowed for my small trellis out front like last season. Native honeysuckle planted last spring has returned. Maybe it'll actually do something this summer. Can't wait to see.

A small patch of new narcissus. I'll add more in the fall since critters won't eat them.

Putting the bricks back into place.

And sadly throwing out the angel with the broken wings.

Still need to remove the netting from the winter aconite. Cyclamen have taken well to my yard and I added some more bulbs last fall. The leaves are starting to get larger and they've multiplied. Looking forward to them blooming.

Two rhododendron planted last summer didn't survive so I removed them and added another shrub. Don't have the tag in front of me to give the name. I have one planted in the ground that's always done well so I tried what's currently working in the yard.  Continuing to find what will live in my yard has been difficult.

Two of three box woods survived winter. So I'll add another 2 to the ground when I get the chance to dig a hole.

Arborvitae to replace the other rhododendron that died. I had 2 before but a bad winter killed them. I'll wrap it in burlap to protect it this winter.

Won't believe that frost proof gardenias will survive in this region again although the tag said they're hardy to zone 7. I have to keep my plant receipts so when larger purchases died I can take them back and get a refund.

Lets see if the birds will use this one. It more shallow. Just need to add a rock for perching.

I do miss my bulbs this year. Even the grape hyacinths didn't bloom. Were they eaten? No seed for the squirrels this summer. Getting a different type of feeder. And back to wire to cover the bulbs. I was looking forward to my Color Blends mix of orange, yellow, and white bulbs, Tang Dynasty. Maybe in the fall. It was a pretty year but 2017 was the best tulip display.

I Had even started the vegetables. What happened this year? No interest. 

Some tulips and narcissus added to the planter out front. Not my prettiest spring planter but I planted something. Didn't feel like gardening this season.

A smaller narcissus planted in the fall. Bet the squirrels didn't eat them.

Flower bed out front.

Nice to have the tulips out front survive.

On the porch.

The assistant gardener.

Lets hope the  flower bulb emerges more.

Swiss chard, oregano, thyme, parsley, and 4 begonias to start. I also bought a small six pack of kale. When the bulbs finish on the porch I'll put the veggies in their place in long plastic planters.

Nice to find a white blooming cactus. The last one I had died because I didn't take care of it.

Blue and white bulbs I planted did good.

So did the tulips but I don't like the color. The colors were deeper on the package.

Basil smells so good when you touch the leaves.

That's  a lot of fox gloves.

I have a few geraniums.

Dragon wing begonias have grown.

The last few coleus left to plant if not throw out.

Ornamental sweet potato vine is having a hard time.

Another tray of coleus transplanted today.

Down to 4 vinca.

Moved my sad lemon from the kitchen window to shoe the bloom and the petals fell off but is that a lemon?

There are 10 blooms yet to emerge. It looks too fragile to have lemons but if they grow I'll be ecstatic. How did it get pollinated? Did fungus gnats pollinate it, lol.