Look up. Look out. New leaves are turning all over the place! I think if you had the patience you could practically sit and watch the births like chicks hatching. I don’t have that kind of patience - or that kind of time! But I’m glad to have taken a look up and out this morning. The Cut Leaf Full Moon Japanese Maple (Acer japonicum ‘Aconitifolium’) was my morning’s favorite and another that sports puppy fur - which reminds me, no one has shared the answer yet to the fur’s-purpose question from the other day - my guess is still for frost protection.

The Kentucky yellowwood (Cladastrus kentuckea ‘Sweet Shade’) is finely fuzzed too. - What a shape! This one was my favorite.

And the Cinnamon fern (Osmunda cinnamomea) are also nestled in fur muffs and suprisingly tall all of a sudden! (favorite)

The Katsura (Cercidiphylum japonicum) leafed out overnight - the last I looked it only had flowers and now it’s got leaves the size of quarters. (2nd favorite)

And the Butterbur (Petasites japonicus) is giving me fits because its leaves have grown so much in the last week that I’ve had to move the label further out 3 times. (gah. but, of course - it’s a favorite.)

Aside from watching the leaves grow, strolling through a peak daffodil display and chatting with hundreds of visitors (hurrah for a banner week!) we’ve gotten a lot done the last couple of days and even put some stars on our calendar. -We draw big stars and underlines and color it all in highlighter orange when we’ve passed a major milestone. This week it was planting the sweet peas! We grew 17 varieties (including colors like Royal Wedding and April in Paris - in honor of my March) and planted them on a new fence edging Dick’s vegetable garden.

We also spent time with the Rockettes this morning replanting a muddy bank of Astilbe that have been hurling themselves out of the ground in the last couple of years. We could just pick up the clumps with our hands, they had heaved so much. Some clumps managed to survive such a life (fish out of water) and we’ll replace the ones that died with other things that might like a boggy shade bank that occasionally goes bone dry in a drought. (Is there anything?) This is a really good time, by the way, to move, divide or replant perennials - we try to do all our perennial moving before the end of April.

And could it be time already to hoop the peonies??!! Better check yours - I got our hoops on in the North Garden just in time - I didn’t have to smash and yank!

What have you been up to this week? Any milestones?  Turn over any new leaves?

This week, one of the Rockettes (Wednesday volunteers) said to me, “Kris, I finally read your blog … –You’re so chatty!”

I blushed and couldn’t think of a coherent reply…

To prove to any readers who might assume from my “chattiness” that “quiet” is difficult for me, here’s a post of pictures (mostly. pretty much.). Remember, inside every wallflower beats the heart of a social butterfly!

My morning walk took me through the cutting garden first: (hover your pointer finger over the pictures for names and click for a larger image)

A week or so ago I promised a picture of Phlox ‘Natural Feelings’ in bloom:

A hummingbird visited me in the Idea Beds and then lit in the bamboo where I shot its portrait. Can’t find it in the picture though…

Ketzel Levine in her blog Talking Plants says not to plant this. (It does have poisonous seeds…)

In the water garden, every step I took at the pond edge was accompanied by a sound like a dog’s chew toy as the frogs sqeaked and dove for cover.

Yesterday someone asked me, “what’s your favorite perennial?” and although I have a different favorite just about every day, I answered without even thinking about it, “Lavender!”It’s my all-time favorite perennial no matter what other daily favorites grab my attention. It’s got everything: a scent I love so deadheading is a pleasure (even if it does take an age — unless you shear, which I don’t…); it thrives on benign neglect - poor -well draining- soil, no fertilizer and little water, and it’s a honey bee magnet. In a nutshell, it’s my kinda plant! Anyone else out there care to share what’s your tried and true all-time-favorite number-one perennial? (Enquiring minds want to know!)

Now that we’ve relocated all the perennials we had-to-had-to move and frantic spring is speeding along to an early languid summer (can you believe the maples that are fully leafed out already?!), I feel like we’ve turned a corner on the track and gone from a mad dash to a steady lope. We’re placing and planting cool season annuals, new perennials and shrubs and now the gardens are really taking shape. I have renewed energy to just go and go to the finish. We’ve still got self-imposed deadlines (everything planted by the 4th of July) but Gail and I can pace ourselves now. Three weeks ago, even Dick, who plants and tends the Vegetable Garden, said he felt at least a month behind. Now he says he’s not worried and not feeling rushed. (He is here every day though…) — I love seeing Dick in the garden - somehow, all’s right with the world when he’s here.

Yesterday, the Deadheads weeded the Idea Beds while Gail and I placed plants in the Cutting Garden and in the new raised bed by the pond. We’re planting that with our favorite Pennisetum ruppelianum, Salvia, Dahlia combination for old-time’s sake (the dahlia/grass beds around the pond were taken out in the first phase of the Display Garden redesign).

In the Cutting Garden we use concrete reinforcement mesh as a staking system. Planting through the grid is a little tedious but it’s worth it in the long haul because the heavy-on-bloom plants don’t flop over! (we raise the grids up on stakes for the plants to grow through - like a peony hoop).

The North Garden is being planted now with the first round of annuals and a few new perennials and later, Gail and I will place the new shrubs for the Rose Garden re-vitilization project. (I’ll have a lot to say about that as we go)

Here are a couple pictures of my current obsessions. One of the things that’s great about public gardens (whether you work in one or are a visitor) is that you get to look at established plants with an eye for how they’d look in your own garden! (so much better than just looking at a picture on a tag or a runty individual in a nursery pot!). I can’t stop thinking about crabapples and blueberries… Look at those colors!

We are asked - fairly frequently - what do we do to make our gardens grow so lusciously? - What do we use for fertilizer? Our answer “not much” is hard for fellow Rhode Islanders and New Englanders to believe. When we really want to push plants along, we use Neptune’s Harvest Fish Fertilizer which is OMRI listed organic. We also add Electra to the potting soil we use for our container plants and we feed the Rose and North Garden roses with Electra once a year. We’re lucky because our gardens are blessed with dreamy dark fluffy cake mix soil - only a mile and a half down the road at my own house, I can’t jump on a digging fork without a teeth rattling bounce against a pile of rocks embedded in clay. These gardens though, have been under cultivation - ornamental and otherwise - for almost 100 years - just think if your own garden had been annually ammended with compost and an arboretum’s worth of leaves…

The plight of the honey bee has been all over the news lately (Colony Collapse Disorder) and with garden chemicals being one of the possible causes, we all (I’m editorializing) should really think long and hard about how our choices impact the eco-system. For years now, Gail and I have refused to use chemistry on our infested roses - not only would our visitors and volunteers be in constant contact with it, but the beneficial insects and organisms would suffer. So we have plucked spotty yellow leaves and squished aphids and drowned Japanese beetles in soapy water. Last fall, Dan (one of our groundsmen) applied Milky Spore to several patches of lawn for beetle grub control. We’re crossing our fingers that that works! And instead of fighting a losing battle with blackspot - if the only way to win is with destructive chemistry or a weekly regiment of organic solutions that we haven’t got the time to apply - we’re raising the white flag, taking out some of the most disease prone roses and starting to interplant the rest with a healthy-garden mix of shrubs, perennials and annuals. Why fight it? (and don’t get me wrong - I love roses!)

In a nutshell (and there’s so much more to say but the greenhouse beckons - there’s a plant somewhere in there rasping, “waaater… cough.. cough … I’m thiiiiirsty…”), I think Blithewold’s gardens are gorgeous because we try to make sure our choices are healthy for everyone - creepy crawly or otherwise.

If I’ve raised more questions - please ask them!

On a hunt for my missing camera this morning (”have you seen it?!”, I asked the birds. “To weetle weetle weetle”, said the birds.), I cruised through the Bosquet past nearly done daffs and wide-eyed Trillium (thinking I would take a picture, if only…) to the North Garden. Gail and I spent yesterday afternoon in the horseshoe beds finishing up with our perennial re-location project. We have taken out extra burly Phlox ‘David’s and a couple of daylilies here and there and some Amsonia orientalis (aka Rhazya orientalis) which nearly killed me (the taproot on that thing!… the runners!…) to give breathing space to the wanted clumps and make ample room for our rotations of annuals for more color-no-waiting. As my lucky stars would have it (thank you lucky stars!) my camera was high and dry, despite the fog and forecast rain, on the fountain steps exactly where I don’t remember leaving it. (phew!) So I was able to, then and there, take this foggy morning picture. Tulips are ‘Creme Upstar’ and ‘Burgundy’ - looking actually more like red (which I think suits the garden very well).

Yesterday, while some of the volunteers worked near the Enclosed Garden and some worked out at the entrance gate (Ellie asked “Are we being punished for something?”), others of us started planting out our new “dry shade” bed under the Sophora by the Moongate. We borrowed giant Hosta ‘Sum and Substance’ from the Display Garden along with Hakonechloa, Kirengeshoma and Rabdosia. The only picture I have so far of the bed is of Brunnera macrophylla cheek to cheek with its doppelganger Forget-me-not (Myosotis sylvatica). A point in favor of the Brunnera is that the foliage keeps on keeping on long after the flowers have gone. After tea more of us helped Ellie tackle the entrance gate - it’s looking so much better!

Today the pond, which is front and central to the Display Garden redesign, will be de-scummed. A local expert, Barney Webster from Nelumbo Water Gardens will clean it out and has generously offered to donate some plants (Lotus, maybe?!). I’m sure our resident frog will much prefer clean water and lovely plants to his current scuz-cloud basking platform!

Looking around the potting shed there are piles of to-do lists masquerading as debris, an open container of cookies, a variety of hand tools, filthy gloves, plants in various states of need, open books, unwashed mugs, torn pages from magazines and a film of dust (dirt to be perfectly honest) over everything. But we have truly not been inhabiting this room for the last few weeks (even when I sit here to write, my mind is in the garden). It’s a little shocking really to actually look around at the mess of days upon days! (I’d get up now to neaten it but my readers beckon — don’t you?!)

Out in the gardens it’s a different story. The entire grounds and garden staff (all 5 of us) along with the volunteers have spent the beginning of the week in the Display Garden getting it going for the season. The grand redesign of the area will be in progress for at least a couple of years but this week Fred and Dan have concentrated on getting the paths sodded and this year’s new beds ready for planting. We haven’t put in many super tender annuals yet (cold nights still in the forecast…) but we did unpack and plant some of the dahlias to give them a head start. This year we tried a new (to us) method of storage - dampened sawdust in cardboard boxes and so far so good! The tubers are nice and plump and we only had a little rot loss. Some of the tubers were kept in our pump house (garden shed) where the temperatures dipped to the 30’s over the winter and we kept some in the greenhouse cellar which stays fairly warm (low 60’s) all winter because of heat from the furnaces. Both batches (so far!) are fine!

Today’s group spread shredded leaves (our favorite mulch - and we never make enough!) on the Cutting Garden and peony row and they pored over the Rock Garden on an onion grass annihilation mission. Gail and I have spent the afternoons working in the North Garden - reorganizing bed by bed. Yesterday we worked in the star wall bed where I performed surgery on this tri-perennial - a Dicenthalictracallis? A bleeding day rue? A meadow heart lily? Whatever it should be called, it was a beautiful combination but we decided that space being tight where it was, it needed to be un-siamesed. Now in its place is a daylily shadow of its former self.

I can’t send this out into the world without at least one - or maybe two up the skirt shots. Dicentra exima ‘Snowdrift’ is blooming in the Rock Garden and my favorite tulip ‘Artist’ (orange and green all on one!) is opening up in the Cutting Garden.

For weeks, Gail and I have been staring at our newest bed in the Display Garden like nervous painters in front of a blank canvas. There’s something about a “tabula rasa” that can be just plain daunting. But like a painter after making the first bold stroke, we’re full of sudden inspiration. After spending the weekend in my own new (to me) garden, cutting in a new bed, I can also say that starting fresh is a different kind of satisfying than refreshing the old. There’s a sense of “ha! I own this garden!” Of course with that pride comes ownership of all the mistakes and oopses and did I really think that should go just exactly there?! - But perfection and gardens don’t go together and what fun would it be if they did? (answer - “no fun!”)

Today Gail and I started the process of placing plants in the new bed - some perennials and grasses that we removed last week from the prairie bed; some cuttings and seedlings we grew in the greenhouse; some plants we purchased - to be planted by the Deadheads tomorrow. We’re both inclined to pack plants in for a beefier show immediately but we’re practicing restraint (so far) in order to give everything room to grow (more or less) un-smashed. We also plan to plant out the very tender annuals when the temperature is consistently warmer and really should leave space for those… !

Meanwhile, elsewhere … remember that little wildflower I didn’t know the name of? I found it! I spotted this “wild oat lily” in the Rock Garden. Thanks to Marion Murray, Blithewold’s pre-me Interpretive Horticulturist who left last fall to become very important in Utah, for making exquisite choices in the Rock Garden and for labeling them! (Marion, we all miss you!)

And until the daffodils have gone by, I’ll keep looking up their skirts - this one (Narcissus ‘Pheasant’s Eye’) is in the Water Garden tucked up with the uncoiling Cinnamon ferns.

Is it really only Thursday?! We’ve been busy busy busy. The Tuesday crew (a very photogenic bunch - they’re the only ones I have pictures of!) had a varied morning - first they un-planted one of the display beds to make way for more work on the grand redesign, then they planted the “wedding pots” (giant pots at the entrance to the tent - which is occasionally used for other kinds of events!).

Hint: When un-planting keepers, it’s a good idea to either re-plant right away - or if you have to hold plants over (as we often do), put them in full shade, cover the roots and keep them watered. They’ll resent the disruption to their routine but with a little love and attention after replanting (water water water) they’ll settle into their new spot.

Wednesday morning was pretty rainy (was it really only yesterday?!) so a couple of volunteers spent time at the potting bench transplanting seedlings, writing tags and keeping Gail and I on task. The Florabundas spent this sunny morning forking out massive amounts of onion grass (it’s almost embarrassing) and making those first-impression entrance beds look well kept and cared for.

In my spare time (when’s that?! - after sleeping, before digging!- ie. first thing in the morning) I’ve been cruising the property checking out all the spring ephemerals and sticking my camera up every flower’s nose. The broad view is a stunner but look closely and you’ll see things like more maple flowers - this one is Acer japonicum ‘Aconitifolium’ Cut leaf full moon Japanese maple. And Mayflower, Anemone quinquefolia, a RI wildflower that blooms around the first of May. And does anyone know what this one is? It’s only about 4 or so inches tall and we spotted it near the interpretive sign in the Bosquet. Pretty little thing… probably has a name… !

Not only are the daffodils still looking gorgeous, but the tulips are starting to bloom! The orange ones (American Dream) are in the Cutting Garden and spectacular Tulipa ‘Princess Charmante’ are in the Rose Garden.

Every time I walk the propery, I think it just can’t get any prettier. But I have to say, after walking around this morning, the daffodils must finally be peaking — it’s gorgeous out there! I looked back at last year’s calendar and they’re definitely about 2 weeks behind but like a box office smash, this year’s run is being extended. I thought the rain last week would do them in but they’ve popped back up and the forecast is calling for more cool nights (in the 40’s for the week) so they should be in peak for the week (finger’s crossed; kisses to Mother Nature).

In other bloom news, the Autumn flowering cherry is at it again although slightly less floriferous than when it bloomed during December’s warm spell. How cool is a cherry that blooms (at least) twice a year?! (answer: very cool!)

Ever since I found out one of my friends is color-blind I’ve been on a green flower kick. Looking for and enjoying a good monochrome is as close as I (as a color junkie) can get to understanding what it’s like to see in shades of grey. (That and un-Ted-Turner-ified classic films.) I spotted this Winter hazel in the water garden. With so many chartreuses in the spring landscape it’s too easy to overlook little delicacies like these.

According to last year’s calendar, on May 4th, 2006 we were late putting the hoops on the North Garden peonies. Only ever so slightly more on top of it this year, I put the hoops on this morning - probably just in the nick of time. I only had to coax a few buds through the grids rather than smashing the whole plant through. If you are a hooper - get to it! –The peonies are not waiting around! Keeping a garden journal or just writing down a few observations in the calendar helps clarify which plants are day length sensitive and which hold out for the warmer weather.

Remember this guy? Today the same Cinnamon fern looks like this!

Spring is happening so quickly with this warm weather spell! Everywhere I look here there are things waking up with a stretch saying “mmm… what’s for breakfast?!”. The Magnolia stellata (Star magnolia) is rising with the sun from the top down. The water garden ferns are uncurling (exept for this fuzzy little guy is still tightly tucked) and early bird Hepatica has been up for hours already.

The volunteers have been busy so far this week - Tuesday’s Deadheads weeded the entire Display area and planted the Sweet peas! Sweet peas are the first seeds we sow in the greenhouse and the first annuals we plant in the garden because they thrive in the cool weather.

Today the Rockettes weeded the Rock Garden and uncovered some washed out paths and this afternoon, Gail and I took advantage of the afternoon’s cloud cover to start the North Garden relocation project. (As I wrote that I flashed on an image of jacking up the garden and trailering it to a new spot. We’re not doing that - it’s good where it is!) We were inspired by Fergus Garrett, the late Christopher Lloyd’s head gardener at Great Dixter, to reorganize the plants we already have to take better advantage of their best attributes. I’ll talk more about this as we get more organized! Early spring is a great time to move or divide perennials because they’re easy to handle before they’ve grown too much and as long as you keep them watered like you would a new plant, they’ll settle in before the heat of summer. It’s also best to move plants on a cool cloudy day with rain in the forecast - today was perfect!