Early in 2011 I started to add perennials. There is a long line of green thumbs in my family but I have to say it’s daunting when you get started. I had really no idea what I was doing or what I liked or how it would fair.  There was a lot of consultation with my mom. Look at my teeny tiny hydrangea back there (way to close to the corner).

Last spring things looked great! It was filling in nicely, everything was lush and blooming. It looked fabulous. By the end of the summer is was almost overwhelming, I may have over done it in some spots. I tried to thin things out and move things around a bit. I got rid of some things I wasn’t crazy about and added some others I wasn’t sure if I’d love or not. 

This spring I have some bare spots. I’m not sure if we had a harsh winter or if I just didn’t mulch well enough but I do know that’s how it goes. I lost my gorgeous delphiniums and I’m most bummed out about that. But I was surprised by some amazing irises that I scored half off as bulbs last fall and some tulips and crocus that I never expected to bloom after sitting for a year in my garage.

So my process is that I plant what I like, mostly perennials because it’s so exciting to see how the plants change from year to year. I can get up on the wrong side of the bed and walk outside, see that something new has bloomed or is getting buds and do a complete mood 180. I have a lot of sun so I know full sun lovers will do great in the beds right off the back of my house. I try things out and I know sometimes they won’t work. Every year I rip stuff out and throw new stuff in. I take hand-me-downs eagerly and always make notes of new stuff I see. It’s a constant evolutionary process. It helps me to keep a running tally in my head of what I want.

This year I plan to fill in some blank spots in my back sun beds, start on a new shady bed toward the back of our yard, and maneuver some not so happy holly bushes to a new location, which will free up a lot of space next to my garage that will need to be tackled. I also have pumpkin seedlings (that Harrison planted) started in a raised bed that I’m hoping to add some cucumbers to. There’s some sunflowers in there too. My loftiest hopes are to plant some container herbs and maybe a couple tomatoes too, we’ll see. I love gardening. And now I really need to get out there and weed.