April in Spokane and Progress on Front Makeover

This spring I've been enjoying the petite blooms of small bulbs, like the 'Flore Pleno' snowdrop (Galanthus nivalis) above. I didn't plant any full size tulips or daffodils last fall. Instead, I went for small bulbs that produce plenty of color en masse without leaving large, difficult-to-camouflage leaves to die back for months after blooming. Chionodoxa, mini-daffodils, and several types of crocus made the list. I've been so pleased with the results that I'm going to continue the plan for next spring.



Other than the bulbs, my garden is mostly full of emerging leaves. Above is Nepeta '6 Hills Giant', and below is Heuchera 'Green Spice'. The spring coloration of the heuchera leaves is really interesting, and really different from its summer look.



We finally put the shutters and new lights up on the house. We also spread bark, planted a tree and put matching pots on the porch. I love the way bark helps polish up the beds while the plants are still filling in. Below is a picture of what the front looked like when we moved here in 2007.



Now you can see the house in its current state. 'Emerald Blue Cushion' phlox are blooming along the front of the beds. In past weeks I've planted a bunch of 'Big Blue' liriope, 'Abraham Darby' roses (OK, hubby did those), rose colored daisy-type chrysanthemums, 'Giggles' dahlias, violets and lewisia.



I still need to plant some 'Green Tower' boxwoods, 'Pink Double Delight' coneflower, 'Rozanne' geranium, 'Clemantine Blue' columbine, and plenty of annual 'Twinny Peach' snapdragons, 'Victoria' salvia, 'Vintage Pink' petunias, and blue fanflower (scaveola) to fill in while the perennials and shrubs are still small. We also need to pull a lot of weeds - apparently our new dirt came with plenty of weed seeds. But I've been paying my kids to pull weeds so I can enjoy the fun of planting. I always knew there was a good reason for having children!