April 29, 2011--A Real Spring Day, at last!

As with most of "life," garden moments can be "all or nothing."  After a week of rain, drizzle, and cold, today's dawn had a sunny glow.  I know because I was already awake watching the royal wedding in London and had the pleasure of seeing a beautiful sunrise and a beautiful wedding this morning.  It was not only the sunrise and the eternal hope a wedding brings, but also the opportunity to hear The English Lady speak last night that energized me to spend time in the garden today.

The English Lady

Baroness Maureen Haseley-Jones, known as The English Lady, encouraged gardeners to connect to the Earth with mind, body, and soul--and manure!  She claims manure will manage all the problems in your garden--and in your mind.  "Just go play in the dirt and forget all your cares," she recommends.  I tried it today and it works. 

I stopped at Paul and Sandy's for more composted manure and a three-tine cultivator--not as expensive as this one from Garden Tools, but a replacement for the one I gave Sara when we moved.  I thought I wouldn't need it anymore.  What was I thinking? It's good for breaking up the "cap" (The English Lady's term) on the mulch and incorporating the manure and old  mulch into the soil.  I also sprinkled some Osmocote on the manure before mixing it all up around the dripline of each shrub. 

I'm hoping that this mixture will boost the front shrubs' recovery from the whitefly invasion last summer.  I used the insect soap spray somewhat successfully last summer and hope those pests don't overwinter!  Where were those lady bugs that swarm on the screens each fall when I needed them?

I deadheaded the Tete-a-tete daffodils.  They were so lovely, but very short-lived. I'll leave their leaves to die back naturally, absorbing energy in the bulb for next year, but also gave them a "better late than never" boost with Bulb Tone.  This should have gone down before they bloomed. I also put some Bulb Tone on the tulips, grape hyacinths, and other daffodils still blooming in the side and the back garden.  The English Lady doesn't like the term "yard" and wants gardeners to refer to all planted areas, including the lawn, as gardens.



Chaenomelis speciosa "Toyo-Nishiki'



Lastly (remember everything at once?), the Flowering Quince is blooming. It has pink and white blooms on the same branch. I have needed to prune it the last two years and it may be still too big for its spot near the bedroom bump out on the south side of the house. I am considering moving it to another spot but we planted it on Easter in 2009 after my melanoma surgery and I feel that I should leave it alone.

What is a gardener to do with so many things happening at once?

Go out and play in the dirt!