Catching Up

I admit it, I have been delinquent in keeping up with all that is happening in the yard.  It is not out of any lack of interest or desire, but because I have been away both for work and for rehearsals in Boston for an upcoming trip.  Then, when I finally got to the house last weekend, the day was rainy.  I only got in a couple of hours, if that much, of work before the weather got in the way.  Again.  It has been raining most weekends when I have been there.

So, here are some pictures from the North garden.  The first shows the ever expanding clump of Mayapples with their broad, multilobed leaves at the back, with Narcissus, in front.  In the very front are the emerging Day lilies and Celandine poppy.  A nice mixture of textures at this early stage.

The Speckled Wandering Jew, which I wrote about last November, is also coming up out of the ground.  You can see the remains of the old stems that I left at the base so I would know where to look for it again.  This was an impressive ground cover for a shady spot last summer, and I am tempted to see if I can get more plants either by rooting the stems or division.

It is very good to see it again, since a number of the Zone 7 plants I have bought over the years have not survived the winter.  I don't understand what all of the factors are, since the new USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map shows the whole area to be 7b.  I am concerned about a new Agapanthus  last year, that is looking like it is killed back. I am pursuing a hardy Agapanthus for my garden, but it must be a blue one.  I had high hopes for that one last year, since it both bloomed and was putting on significant new growth.   I just have to wait and see.

 Finally, the shrub in the corner is beginning to bloom.  I don't have my records of the different plants with me, so I cannot identify this one.  If my sister, when she reads this blog, would remind me what this bush it, I would appreciate.  She is my one regular reader, so thanks in advance.

That is the beginning of the catch-up.  I will add more photos later.