Assessing the impact of a long, hard Winter and a late Spring.

This should be my last post about the HORRIBLE winter we just endured, and its impact on everything.  Forgive me, but this post is going to be long, because there was a shocking amount of damage - and - a few benefits - to the bad weather.

First, the benefit.  All of my bulbs bloomed at the same time.  One of my borders was decorated with tall red tulips, frilly, cream-colored daffodils, and standard white daffodils.  The sight was very pretty for a few weeks.

Now, the not-so-great stuff.  First, one of my granite steps cracked.  Who knew?

All I have to do is find a contractor who is eager for a really tiny job.  The plant on the step, by the way, is a geranium that I over-wintered in the garage.  It gets no water, no love, and looks awful until mid-June.  Then, I have a happy flowering plant.  I have several of these on my front steps, and rarely lose any.

Next, I have a mystery survivor.  In my last blog I lamented the passing of two anemone plants and a yellow waxbell.  Today I was putting in some coleus plants in the shade border, and came across a vigorous root and some growth.  Back it went into the ground, behind the coleus, coy about its identity.  Only time will tell.

I am happy to report that my European ginger (some call it ornamental ginger), is finally happy and robust in my shade border.  I planted some tuberous begonias behind the ginger.  I think that the combination is elegant.

Back to the sad stories.  My lilac has reliably bloomed and perfumed my backyard ever since one of my daughters brought it home from school on Arbor Day.  This year I thought a bouquet of lilacs and daffodils would look nice in my green Depression glass vase (thank you Maureen S).  I looked out my window, and saw few blooms, and none within arms length.  No old-fashioned bouquet today.  Let's hope for better luck next year.

 

Walking along my sunny border, I noticed some very sickly looking plants - I thought they were annuals.  They are actually dianthus and look as though someone poured salt on them.  I think that they will make a comeback.

(The weeds surrounding them seem pretty happy.)

Every year, regardless of what type of winter we have, a few lupine die.  This year was no different.  Lupines are a flower that fit into my category "Worth the bother".  Even though I have to replace a few every year, they bloom early, and the foliage is truly ugly after the bloom, I love them. The flowers buds open up slowly along the stem of the plant, and they come in rich, saturated jewel colors.  I will happily drive to the garden center and purchase a few more.

The same border with the dianthus and lupine also has the reliable plant (and herb) achillea yarrow.  A little less reliable this year, though, as one of the plants did not make it (I know because the interior of the border has plants placed in threes, and there are only two yarrow.)

 

I have three choices for action regarding the empty spot:  Do nothing;  buy another plant, and hope it matches the ones already  there; or, divide one and put one of the halves into the empty space.

The third option seems best.  Perennials should be divided every few years anyway, it is the cheap option, and the plants will match.  Neither  may make it - a risk I am willing to take.  I will keep you posted.