Getting Pots Ready for Annuals

After a very brief burst of 80 degrees, it has gotten cold again (actually closer to long term average). We had a frost warning 2 days ago and actual frost about 8 days ago. I have been impatiently biding my time before I buy annuals. I’ve gotten 2.5 yards of mulch spread around the yard (a bit late because some little things already popped up and are now covered). Also started sifting and refreshing my flower pots. I save the pots (and the potting mix) from year to year. If possible, I pull the old flower stalks/roots out in November before I put the pots in the garage to rest. In spring sometime, I dump each pot into a big tub I have and then I sift and hack and chop up the mess to pull out as many roots, root balls, and slimy tubers/whatnots as I can. What is left gets juiced up with some slow release fertilizer, some water-saving crystals, and perhaps some peat and then put back into my flower pots. At the end, I usually have to add some new potting mix. Here are a few that are finished, and waiting for annuals. I have my 3 largest flower pots to finish (but, of course, those have the worst root balls since they all held red fountain grass).

The trays are from my garage, and most of those plants made it. Also, the one as yet unidentified thing in the hanging basket (yeah, I shoulda kept the tag!)

And, here is a new outdoor plant stand that I picked up from the curb while out for a walk a few weeks ago!

I Just Love My Redbud Tree

When we just finished college, my husband (boyfriend at the time) took a job for a little over a year in Roanoke, Virginia. Such a beautiful area!!!! When I visited, we would drive around the area exploring. I fell in love with the Redbud trees that peeked out from all the scrub and sticks that were everywhere. I saw a lot of them that spring due to the different times of emergence since we were driving in mountainous areas.

I was able to add a Redbud tree to my yard several years ago. I can see it when I am enjoying a cup of coffee in the morning. Here is a pic from early April – it has been in color just under a week. This is the "far" corner of my yard; the northwest corner.

Here are some closeups from today of the flowers.

In other spring news, my bleeding hearts are looking happy.

And here are some grape hyacinths.

And some tulips that the squirrels and rabbits haven’t taken the tops off of yet.

And, my fern-leaf peony.

This shows the frostbite from 2 days ago (Wah!!), but I’m hopeful the rest of the heads will still open.

Some Columbine - a bit early

Prairie Smoke

Violets in the grass (I think they are cute and don't try to get rid of them)

Garden Bloggers’ Bloom Day April 2017

Bloodroot

Tulip

Tulip

Hyacinth

Scilla

Daffodils and Tulips

Wood Violet (this wee one is only about as big as a nickel)

Pasque Flower

Garden Bloggers’ Bloom Day is hosted by Carol at May Dreams Gardens.

Garden Bloggers’ Bloom Day February 2017

Snowdrops (and grateful to at least have these)

Garden Bloggers’ Bloom Day is hosted by Carol at May Dreams Gardens.