chlorophyll thrill

I realized this week that we've been in our new house for about a year.  Phew!  Our final house and porch renovations are on hold until after the current coronavirus crisis is over, but I'm really pleased with what we've completed so far.  I'm most pleased, I think, with the garden. 

It's no secret that I love flowers.  I dug up nearly the entire back yard of our old place in Indianapolis and filled it with them.  I didn't do too much in South Carolina, though.  The combination of clay/rocky soil, fire ants, and hot, dry climate with lots of shade presented some unique challenges.  It was landscaped beautifully when we bought it - I maintained it, but didn't plant very much there. 

Cue our first year back in Indiana. 

When we moved here a year ago, a wide bed had been dug along the front walkway and porch. There were a few established features (2 juniper bushes, a mystery bush, some daffodils, 2 hostas, and a bleeding heart), but it was mostly overgrown and weedy.

I dug out the weeds and went to work.  Through the generosity of a few local gardeners, the Lowe's clearance section, and some nice greenhouses, I've got hundreds of new plants coming up.  Here this same space is a year later:

I can hardly believe the difference!  Here is the old front part of the bed (those green things coming up?  Weeds.):

And after:

Another before:

And now:

The old garden bed stopped several yards short of the porch edge, for some reason.  I extended it all the way to the end.  The old front:

And now:

There are many plants that are only an inch high right now.  This garden is going to be stuffed and lush in about a month!  I'm so pleased.  I also added this side garden last year:

You can't tell from this angle, but it's quite large.  I've only got about six things there now, but it will be full soon enough.  A wind storm destroyed several of my little growing greenhouses (argh!), but I managed to save several things.  I transplanted 48 - yes, 48! - deluxe tall snapdragons this week.

I also managed to save some hollyhocks.

Our apple tree will be blossoming in about a week, and the lilac is about ready to pop:

Late spring flowers are opening, too, like this Jacob's Ladder:

It's a daily delight to me, going out early in the morning before anyone is stirring and poking around in the garden.  It is a happy family link (and one of the few that I have): my great-grandma, who was a prolific gardener, could frequently be found amongst her flowers with her cats and little dog. 

I've got the cat part down!

I've got some interesting things happening there, for sure.  One thing I'm monitoring is this:

They're coming up all across the front bed - hundreds of them.  It reminds me of obedient plant...and I *do* have obedient plant (but just two) in that area.  If I'm right, then I'll have a glorious display like this: 

(photo credit:  The Spruce)

Or, I'm going to have a ton of weeds to pull up.  I guess I'll just have to be patient!

For Easter this year, I dropped the ball a bit.  No big meal, no special flowers, no Easter basket.  I've been distracted, and I'm also severely limiting my trips to town - so no greenhouses, no spontaneous grocery store run.  I decided to make miniature carrot cakes (carrots, spring, rabbits eat carrots, Easter Bunny = rabbit...get it?).  I found a great recipe at Desserts for Two and used my Easter egg sprinkles and special (Easter) bunny plates.

So delicious and it added just the right festive touch.  Bosewichte was impressed, for sure!

Have a great week!