What are you most looking forward to this spring?

9 years ago

I know just having winter and all the aggravation it brings is a biggie, but what specifically new or different or even same old thing. I know some of you have added a lot of new ones to your gardens. There have been some major re-works done. Some new seedlings should be blooming or old ones blooming again. What are you impatient to see? For me, I made a major rearrangement of my daylily beds. Pulled out about twenty, planted a good many new ones, moved a lot to new homes...but I am most looking forward to seeing the right side front bed. I loved it before, but the blueberry had encroached on the area and were shading some beauties so I had to make changes...hope I like it as well. I haven't posted here

yet, but I'm going to try to post a shot of the bed last year. that is just a partial view of the bed, but I had to move Island Time and Rose F Kennedy.

kay

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hoosier_nan (IN z5b/6a)

9 years ago

last modified: 9 years ago

We have a very busy spring and summer planned. The first thing we are looking forward to is getting rid of the weeds (will that ever happen?). We put in so many cultivars so fast that we let the weeds get ahead of us. But we need all those cultivars--to look at and to hybridize with. We probably bought well over 100 last season. Plus the growers are so generous and send bonus plants. Sometimes I am happy when they just send extra fans, but the fact is I really like bonus plants. I end up growing something I wouldn't have ordered and sometimes it turns out to be really neat. For example, Blueberry Lemonade was a bonus plant. It will stay in our garden for a long time.

We're trying to cut back on buying (which we have accomplished this year so far) and cull those that we don't care for or don't perform well. We're hoping to have an open garden when Region 2 has its summer meeting in Indianapolis, but that depends on the garden looking decent.

Another thing we are looking forward to is seedling bloom time. Last summer we put in over 2500 seedlings. I don't think they will all bloom this summer because many of them were planted in September and spent the summer languishing in tiny pots, but we did get about 800 planted in late July or early August. They were a decent size by frost (one even bloomed). We have never planted that many seedlings in one season--the previous high was about 1000. It's Christmas in July every day when new seedlings start to bloom.

We also have over 200 seedlings (that's far too many and we need to cull those also) in our observation bed. We have pulled these for further evaluation. I am hoping to make some definite decisions as to what will be introduced. We haven't introduced anything yet, but I am hoping by 2017 we have a few. We have identified a couple we think should be introduced but we will have to work on increasing those so we have some to sell.

Can't wait for this nasty winter to be over.

Nancy

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Comments (35)

organic_kitten
Original Author
9 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
To the right of these were several, including Wall of Fire. Hopefully I will find a better shot to post (didn't plan ahead, and I was searching tiny photos on my PC)
sherrygirl zone5 N il
9 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Kay,

Did alot of what you did, moved and eliminated. Added about 30 new ones last season and waiting anxiously to see them bloom this season? Adding 2 more orders this spring, totally about a dozen more, Go AWAY, snow!

Sherry
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marricgardens
9 years ago
I also did some rearranging last year. Can't wait to get my new orders! Think I'll have to pot them as I don't have the new bed made yet. What I'm looking forward to the most is seeing the crosses I made 2 years ago flowering and seeing if what I thought might happen actually did happen! Overall, I'm just really looking forward to summer.
organic_kitten
Original Author
9 years ago
Sherry, I knew you were probably looking forward to new ones too. I don't have any new orders, but have a couple of late ones from last year in pots in the greenhouse. There always seem to be a few I want to get, so I know I will make a very few orders this year. Can't wait o see how the rearrangements worked out. Marric, I figured you and a few others had maturing seedlings they were eagerly awaiting to see. Like opening a gift at Christmas , Huh?
nat4b
9 years ago
I planned to do some rearranging (taller to the back etc) last fall but got really lazy. I did move and eliminate some and then forgot to update both labels and my spreadsheet :(

Also really hope all of my dls overwinter well! We didn't have our usual good snow cover this winter.

Beautiful picture, Kay!
Cindy zone 6a
9 years ago
I also moved a lot of daylilies, and added more!!

I had major tree work done, and the can't wait to see how it opens up areas of the garden. I needed more sunny areas.

I added a fountain.

A fun tea pot!

I also planted even more daffodils this past fall, and I am really looking forward to the spring show. Also purchased two large wind spinners to add to the view.

also, started a hosta garden, with a list of many more to add to it.

New Iris of course were added late summer. So many things to look forward too!!

Cindy
Brad KY 6b
9 years ago
Over the last 3 years I've aggressively moved daylilies based on past performance and have figured out which need more sun or less sun. I've gotten rid of about 30+ daylilies that were poor performers or I didn't like much. Have gotten some better performers and have some to come this spring. If the weather cooperates, hoping for a great year.
organic_kitten
Original Author
9 years ago
Cindy, I can't wait for the photos. Any of you who joined the forum in the last year or so are in for a treat when Cindy posts, as you can see from these beautiful shots. Her garden and her setting are just gorgeous. She even has swans on occasion. Love the fountain, Cindy, and you always have such neat ornaments.

Brad, you started reorganizing earlier than I did, and got rid of even more. We had the same reasons for changing too. bad performers or just not favorites. I know this won't be a peak year for new ones, but I still look forward to them.
Julia WV (6b)
9 years ago
I have just a few that I got last fall and especially looking forward to the one Kay sent when it blooms. It is getting a real test of winter in the north. I fell off the NO BUY mantra. I bought a couple from Judy Davisson (her intros) and a couple from Dan Bachman (his intros)so they will arrive this spring. I'm just finishing up my indoor projects but it will be a long time before I'll be going back outside and working in the garden. This winter has been brutal both in snow amounts and temps.
organic_kitten
Original Author
9 years ago
Just remember, I'll send you another if it doesn't make it. It is a northern cultivar though, so it should be used to Winter.
sherrygirl zone5 N il
9 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Wow, Cindy, lovely garden shots. I joined maybe last June? After lurking for awhile, i want to be amazed again! I added new hostas and heuchers along with the daylilies. I am anxious for all these beauties to "grow up"

It really looks like bob and Nancy have alot going, cant wait to see the results!

Sherry
Billi
9 years ago
Cindy your garden is dreamy! The last picture looks like something from a magazine!
Cindy zone 6a
9 years ago
Thank you for all the kind comments!! I know how much we all love to be in the garden. I enjoy everyone's pictures and ideas on this forum. I can't wait to enjoy my morning coffee out among the daffodils.
jean zone 8 Ar.
9 years ago
What a beautiful seting,Cindy I always look forward to your gorgeous pictures, Always so very pretty.
organic_kitten
Original Author
9 years ago
Cindy, I found a group of daffodils blooming today...they have been here at least 20 years, and never bloomed before. Just ordinary yellow daffs, but it was nice to see them. There used to be a huge rose bush with a lovely fragrance there and year before last, the power company cut it down...now it had been here for at least 18 years without bothering them, so go figure. Anyway, must have had enough sun etc to bloom

kay
Cindy zone 6a
9 years ago
Thanks Jean!! I saw that you were able to post pictures, it is so nice to forget photobucket!

Kay, you must show us your daffodils! I am so tired of seeing nothing but white when I look outside, ( I am slowly going crazy and I'm sure I will be hearing voices!)
gdjcb
9 years ago
Great pictures, I am looking forward the most to seeing the first blooms on my two-year-old seedlings. These are my very first seedlings, about 100, and I don't have any idea what to expect, but am hope full for a few good ones.

Gale
organic_kitten
Original Author
9 years ago
You are so funny, Cindy. I'll try to get photos of Cum Laude on today. right now I have to go make a green bow tie for the 3 year old grand son...DIL asked for it a few minues ago.

kay
signet_gw(6b)
9 years ago
What am I looking forward to the most come spring ? Well ,let's see......I am looking forward to this

becoming something like this

and then changing to this
Cant happen soon enough for me

Signet
marricgardens
9 years ago
I completely agree!
Cindy zone 6a
9 years ago
Those are great before and after pictures. The change can be remarkable! I can't wait.
organic_kitten
Original Author
9 years ago
Beautiful photos
lemonthyme5
9 years ago
Ready to see my new daylilies bloom I planted from last fall bloom and then to get my ones I ordered in this winter. So ready for spring! Love your pictures, Cindy and Signet!
Waitforspring
9 years ago
Cindy, your garden is always so beautiful. What a fantastic setting you have. Love the fountain. Signet your garden looks like another beautiful one. I have plenty of snow too--can't even see my daylily markers so one of the things I look forward to is seeing the ground! I'm also looking forward to seeing seedlings bloom. That's one of my favorite things. Also looking forward to seeing the plants I got last fall bloom and to hopefully spend more time in the garden than I could last year.

Val
signet_gw(6b)
9 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Thanks Val for the nice comments . I pretty much work in isolation out in the countryside here and there are not a lot of daylily growers near me (doesn't seem to be a very popular plant here ....go figure!) so it is nice to receive validation when a real daylily afficienado gives nice compliments about my gardens. Makes me feel like my hard work is paying off . When we bought the place there were no gardens as a matter of fact the lady of the couple we bought the place from had a little veggie garden . While showing me around the property she pulled a scraggly little dried out onion from the garden , handed it to me and said " you try to grow something here .....good luck ! " It didn't even fizz on me cuz at the time I was not a gardener at all . That came about 15 years later . I often wish I knew where she was now so she could see the changes

Signet
Brad KY 6b
9 years ago
Signet,

I agree-you have done wonders with the place the previous owner couldn't grow anything on!
nat4b
9 years ago
What a beautiful garden, Signet!
signet_gw(6b)
9 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Cindy it looks like you have a wonderful garden and right beside a lake? river?......ooooooooh ! I would love that .Gorgeous pictures ... I am drooling !

We are stuck right in the middle of farm country and everything around us is flat flat flat and boring .We loved the small acreage we bought cuz it had so many trees ....all around it was farm fields ( read no trees whatsoever.) unfortunately or maybe fortunately we are losing all our big trees to Emerald Ash Borer and Dutch Elm Disease . The huge old Manitoba Maples that were here when we first moved here have almost all gone ( they rot from the inside out ) so we keep planting trees but it will never be the same in our life time. The only blessing is that where trees once stood I can plant daylilies! and I do . LOL

Here is an area that had a bunch of old Manitoba maples in front of an old shed that was built on the foundation of an old out building . It took me 3 weeks working with my son's jack hammer (while hubby was at work ) to remove the old foundation once we tore down the old shed. I like this much better

signet
Cindy zone 6a
9 years ago
Signet, Well, I would just love to have your wide open area! I am next to a lake, but my area is just a double residential lot. The lake gives the effect of it being wide open, the thing I like the most is that there No houses across the lake, just trees. Motor boats are only allowed on Sunday and holidays,during summer months, so it is rather quiet and peaceful. There is a corn field across the street, on the other side of my house, and my neighbor has allowed me to use a stretch of that land to plant my overflow daylilies, and vegetables over there. if I didn't have the area across the street, I would have to make some tough decisions! I would love to have all your wonderful space! Your grass areas are so neat, what do you do to edge them?

Cindy
Waitforspring
9 years ago
Signet, you must fell good to have created such a beautiful garden from nothing. Your beds are so neatly mulched. I'm envious.

Val
signet_gw(6b)
9 years ago
ha ha ha ! Cindy .. mulch? did you say mulch ? what is that ? I wish I had mulch . I don't have any mulch other than some leaves we rake up in the fall, which with all the trees dying ,is getting less and less available to us. I may have to resort to a leaf round up from neighbors bags heading to the dump .....the leaves do help to keep the weeds down and I use them cuz I cant afford mulch for all the gardens......so I spend my whole season WEEDING ! Good thing I like to weed cuz otherwise Ack! As for edging LOL when I am not weeding I am edging the gardens with a shovel. One year we did round up a bunch of sawdust from where my husband works and put it all along the edges and it looks nice and neat for a while but then the weeds grow up through it and I have to resort to the shovel anyway. I will have my work cut out for me this season as last year I spent all my time cleaning up all the branches and bark etc that was left behind when the trees came down ( clean up from about 40 odd trees that are 80 to 90 feet tall is no small job let me tell you ). It meant that there wasn't much time left to weed .....so I will be playing catch up this year.

Signet
organic_kitten
Original Author
9 years ago
Signet, you remind me of Christine. A beautiful, beautiful garden, and stone bed edging that is gorgeous that she built using rocks dug up in her yard. You garden is certainly a thing of beauty. I just sit and sigh when I look at Cindy's photos. and I promised a photo or two of the daffs blooming, but Gus's dog attack kept us busy for a bit, here goes.

Those Hyacinths are pitiful...need replacing badly

These are next to butterfly bushes, and they are all bowing their heads from all the rain we keep getting.

A close up. Some of the others have buds and are ready o begin opening.
That is not the photo I wanted...don't know how to delete it, do any of you?

Everything is so pitiful right now...Need to divide these. I have managed to trim the butterfly bushes. That is the lovely mess in the background.and today, in the light rain, I got a good bit of weeding done.

kay
signet_gw(6b)
9 years ago
Thanks for the nice comments Kay. Wow it is soooooo nice to see pics of real live plants again thanks for sharing , I needed that !..... You are two zones higher than me and I wonder how long it will take to see the kind of thing you are showing us today up here . At least it gives me hope that it will happen. I was beginning to lose faith. What kind of Daffs/Narcissus are the pretty white with peach frilly trumpets? So very pretty !

Signet
organic_kitten
Original Author
9 years ago
Signet, those are Cumlaude...I noticed the Hungarian Rhapsody and a couple of others are just ready to burst into bloom also...If I can beat the rain, I'll have other daff photos soon. It always seems as if spring will never arrive, doesn't it?