Last week began the marathon of planting at the Barrett "estate." I say that laughingly because I was asked one time if I had a gardener! Yes, me, I explained. I couldn't tell if the question was one of praise or slur at the condition of things in the yard. Last week I certainly felt like a gardener.
Somehow I managed a span of four hours nonstop as I planted three dwarf powder puffs, a gardenia, tomatoes, peppers, canna lilies and calla lilies, and transplanted an arborvitae and liriope grass.
The arborvitae fills the spot left vacant by the transplanting of the magnolia two weeks ago. I searched and searched for a tree (preferably blooming) that would grow well in a shaded corner. That proved fruitless other than tropical plants, which I didn't want. I realized finally that the arborvitae that I had growing in a pot in the back corner was doing well in the shade and, once in the ground, should thrive and spread to fill the space.
The gardenia replaces the nearly dead azalea in the garden in front of the house. I had expected a major effort to dig out the roots, but it was easier than I thought. Perhaps that accounts for the dying plant. The gardenia looks small now, about 2 feet high, but I know they can grow quite large if left to spread, which I will do for a few years.
The air in the front will be resplendant with roses, magnolia and gardenias, but probably not all at the same time.
The canna and calla lilies were impromptu buys, as I was caught by their beautiful color and foliage. The red and pale yellow cannas are on the south side of the house, which failed to produce the mail-order lilies I planted as bulbs last year. I seem to recollect they were not appropriate for our zone but I had hopes to succeed anyway. I take chances like that but this time it didn't work out.
The calla lilies are planted on the north east side of the house, near the pool pump. It's a small garden that features dwarf bougainvilleas that bloom nearly all year long. But that is just half the space. I'm hoping the callas like the site and will spread. They are red and pink -- like nearly everything else in my gardens.
I continued the planting today with a Knockout rose bush in the rose bush island in the front yard. I realized I have space for one more, so that will be added next week. The other planting was another powder puff. This one is in front of the arborvitae, providing color against the green bush and brown fence.
I'll start taking photos as the plants get rooted and show more color.
That's it for now.
