First Two Weeks of May in the Garden

These pictures were taken May 5th.

Forsythia and cherry tree in bloom with daffodils and hellebores in the St. Francis garden. Also I planted some pansies.

Front perennial border. Up at the road the daylilies Frank and I planted last year all made it through the winter. I dug up and divided my Grandmother's blue flag iris and interplanted clumps of those with the lilies.

South side of the house with phlox starting to bloom. Maybe this year I'll finally finish that walkway!

Fishy has a new fountain, a Japanese "clacker" on sale at Class Grass for $20 (originally $40)!

Sunken Garden: I dug up and divided one of the hostas, removed all the "Venusta" or Queen of the Prairie, divided two astilbes (took some to plant swap and re-planted the rest in two different spots), dug up and potted the butterfly bush that used to be in the corner because it had outgrown its space (waiting until landscaper finishes with steps then will replant in a different spot. I really overdid it and got overtired.

The Korean spice bush is in bloom with the daffodils. It is so fragrant!

Pocket garden with forget-me-nots, ajuga, and violets starting to bloom. Foxgloves have self-seeded for the first time this year and the columbines are doing very well here so I won't move them after all.

Perennial border showing gaps filled with topsoil where iris used to be. Also removed some monarda and dug up and divided half the shasta daisy to take to plant swap.

Dug up half the yellow late-blooming chrysanthemums and planted half the vole-chewed sedum "Autumn Joy" in front of it.

Dug up half the golden creeping oregano and tossed it! What a job! The alliums have reappeared this year after disappearing mysteriously last year. I put some bulb food on them. The dark red foliage of the peony is coming up.

Sunken garden from a different angle. I should dig up the ornamental grass, divide it, give some away and replant some in a sunnier location but I don't know if I have the strength this year! The Joe Pye Weed will be dug up and given away when it makes its appearance.

Radishes and arugula planted a week ago are up in one raised bed. Hens and chicks and thymes overwintered here.

Snap peas are up in the other raised bed.

Broccoli (starts bought at Home Depot) in one Earthbox.

I cleaned up the herb garden and removed more than half the apple mint which was taking over! Strawberry plants are looking good. The rhubarb is not dead. Instead the roots have come back as dozens of smaller plants.

Lower level has anise hyssops, above that apple mint on left with catnip, above that I planted the valerian (moved from Sunken Garden) next to the Bergarten sage and garlic chives, and a French tarragon which came back and is doing incredibly well.

Epimedium in bloom above golden "Creeping Jenny" near the shed.

The next set of photos was taken May 10th.

Epimedium "Lilafee" in bloom in the shade garden.

Phlox in bloom on the south side. Hydrangeas starting to leaf out.

Forget-me-not, white violets and ajuga in bloom in the pocket garden.

Another view of sunken garden. I also dug up and moved the big blue hosta so it is now right beside the deck and can leaf out to its full four foot spread.