@happydigging.bsky.social
A place to record a year in my gardens/yard.
Pea plants are gorgeous! May the cooler/wetter weather of the next few days buy us a bit more time to get a true harvest. Weirdly, snow peas are growing better than the garden peas. I forgot to take a photo, but the Strike pea plants look terrible while the snow pea plants are thriving. (5/10/25)
May 11, 2025 at 1:43 AM
Pea plants are gorgeous! May the cooler/wetter weather of the next few days buy us a bit more time to get a true harvest. Weirdly, snow peas are growing better than the garden peas. I forgot to take a photo, but the Strike pea plants look terrible while the snow pea plants are thriving. (5/10/25)
Prune the blackberries this year!!! 'Nuff said. (5/10/25)
May 11, 2025 at 1:35 AM
Prune the blackberries this year!!! 'Nuff said. (5/10/25)
Pretty pink blooms today...a spirea we inherited with the house and a rose from Tammy. Seems like the late-ish pruning I gave the spirea didn't cause any harm. (5/10/25)
May 11, 2025 at 1:33 AM
Pretty pink blooms today...a spirea we inherited with the house and a rose from Tammy. Seems like the late-ish pruning I gave the spirea didn't cause any harm. (5/10/25)
Seed heads are a beautiful thing. (Allium and clematis pictured. The clematis remind me of something out of a Dr. Seuss book.) (5/10/25)
May 11, 2025 at 1:28 AM
Seed heads are a beautiful thing. (Allium and clematis pictured. The clematis remind me of something out of a Dr. Seuss book.) (5/10/25)
Sarah Bernhardt peonies photographed on May 3. Note: Plant more of these in the mailbox area and possibly other beds in side and front yards, plus add in white and deeper pink varieties; relocate white peony from bed by Steve's house to front porch bed. (5/10/25)
May 11, 2025 at 1:21 AM
Sarah Bernhardt peonies photographed on May 3. Note: Plant more of these in the mailbox area and possibly other beds in side and front yards, plus add in white and deeper pink varieties; relocate white peony from bed by Steve's house to front porch bed. (5/10/25)
Posting these photos from a couple weeks ago (3rd week of April) to remind me where some of the perennials are planted...candytuft (at foot of mailbox post), alliums, creeping and tall phlox, dianthus, armeria. (5/1/25)
May 1, 2025 at 3:07 PM
Posting these photos from a couple weeks ago (3rd week of April) to remind me where some of the perennials are planted...candytuft (at foot of mailbox post), alliums, creeping and tall phlox, dianthus, armeria. (5/1/25)
Happy Jack clematis by front steps is opening up, but sadly, a big stem has broken at the bottom so a whole section is dying. Note: Plant a small mounding plant at the base to protect the roots/stems. Surprised to find ornamental onions by the front porch eaten down overnight...bunnies? (5/1/25)
May 1, 2025 at 2:56 PM
Happy Jack clematis by front steps is opening up, but sadly, a big stem has broken at the bottom so a whole section is dying. Note: Plant a small mounding plant at the base to protect the roots/stems. Surprised to find ornamental onions by the front porch eaten down overnight...bunnies? (5/1/25)
Pruned off the tips of the allium leaves that had been scorched by hot spells earlier in the season, before the crape myrtle had leafed out. Fingers crossed the tidying doesn't increase the risk of infection/disease. (4/29/25)
April 29, 2025 at 7:30 PM
Pruned off the tips of the allium leaves that had been scorched by hot spells earlier in the season, before the crape myrtle had leafed out. Fingers crossed the tidying doesn't increase the risk of infection/disease. (4/29/25)
Really enjoying the scents from these flowers (2 colors of tall phlox plus the alliums) in the mailbox bed. Took these photos last night as the sun was setting, after a day of heat. And this is the *last* clematis bloom left from either vine. (4/29/25)
April 29, 2025 at 7:24 PM
Really enjoying the scents from these flowers (2 colors of tall phlox plus the alliums) in the mailbox bed. Took these photos last night as the sun was setting, after a day of heat. And this is the *last* clematis bloom left from either vine. (4/29/25)
Harvested more lettuce (Romaine) and early Strike snow peas for dinner last night. Make a note to plant peas at the proper time next year to maximize the harvest! (4/29/25)
April 29, 2025 at 7:21 PM
Harvested more lettuce (Romaine) and early Strike snow peas for dinner last night. Make a note to plant peas at the proper time next year to maximize the harvest! (4/29/25)
Both clematis on the mailbox are currently blooming (Nelly Moser and an unknown purple variety). (4/21/25)
April 21, 2025 at 11:57 PM
Both clematis on the mailbox are currently blooming (Nelly Moser and an unknown purple variety). (4/21/25)
Not sure how these iris came to be here, nor what their variety is (Alcazar? Dogrose?). This whole garden bed desperately needs to be pruned/divided/reorganized after blooming: Remove rose of sharon (white); prune gardenias; divide/move iris; add more small perennials for summer color. (4/21/25)
April 21, 2025 at 11:48 PM
Not sure how these iris came to be here, nor what their variety is (Alcazar? Dogrose?). This whole garden bed desperately needs to be pruned/divided/reorganized after blooming: Remove rose of sharon (white); prune gardenias; divide/move iris; add more small perennials for summer color. (4/21/25)
The jalapeño starts are in at last. I also planted Tithonia along the chicken wire of the veg patch. Hoping to surround the garden with more flowers (Zinnia, Cosmos, Celosia)...and chives to deter the bunnies. Perhaps in a few years I can upgrade the planters to ones that are much taller. (4/21/25)
April 21, 2025 at 11:17 PM
The jalapeño starts are in at last. I also planted Tithonia along the chicken wire of the veg patch. Hoping to surround the garden with more flowers (Zinnia, Cosmos, Celosia)...and chives to deter the bunnies. Perhaps in a few years I can upgrade the planters to ones that are much taller. (4/21/25)
I am SO excited that the Allium Gladiator in the mailbox beds are coming up *and* putting out buds!!! Think it may be bc I planted these with gravel. The ones I have planted w/o gravel in the past, plus the Allium Christophii I planted by the front porch this year, have failed to appear. (4/18/25)
April 18, 2025 at 3:19 PM
I am SO excited that the Allium Gladiator in the mailbox beds are coming up *and* putting out buds!!! Think it may be bc I planted these with gravel. The ones I have planted w/o gravel in the past, plus the Allium Christophii I planted by the front porch this year, have failed to appear. (4/18/25)
Planted out a bunch of herbs and veg on Sunday (4/13): Green/red/cayenne/Carmen peppers (starts and seeds); carrots (Yaya seeds); cukes (Fresh Pickles Hybrid and Suyo seeds); green beans (French Fillet Bush seeds). Hope to put in jalapeños and tomatoes this week, plus more herbs in front. (4/18/25)
April 18, 2025 at 3:09 PM
Planted out a bunch of herbs and veg on Sunday (4/13): Green/red/cayenne/Carmen peppers (starts and seeds); carrots (Yaya seeds); cukes (Fresh Pickles Hybrid and Suyo seeds); green beans (French Fillet Bush seeds). Hope to put in jalapeños and tomatoes this week, plus more herbs in front. (4/18/25)
Backyard beauties...a white azalea, a pink/white azalea (possibly George Taber?) that I started growing from a cutting when F was in preschool and that I assumed was dead for years), and a white spirea (that desperately needs a prune after blooming). (4/6/25)
April 6, 2025 at 9:05 PM
Backyard beauties...a white azalea, a pink/white azalea (possibly George Taber?) that I started growing from a cutting when F was in preschool and that I assumed was dead for years), and a white spirea (that desperately needs a prune after blooming). (4/6/25)
Odds + ends:
*Wallflowers now blooming. They look lovely against the purple-y Distylium leaves/seem to like the location. Yay.
*White dogwood on side back blooming, but pink dogwood is not/seems to be dying. Think it's a Cherokee Brave. Boo.
*Viburnum is shifting to white puffballs. Yay.
(4/6/25)
*Wallflowers now blooming. They look lovely against the purple-y Distylium leaves/seem to like the location. Yay.
*White dogwood on side back blooming, but pink dogwood is not/seems to be dying. Think it's a Cherokee Brave. Boo.
*Viburnum is shifting to white puffballs. Yay.
(4/6/25)
April 6, 2025 at 2:32 PM
Odds + ends:
*Wallflowers now blooming. They look lovely against the purple-y Distylium leaves/seem to like the location. Yay.
*White dogwood on side back blooming, but pink dogwood is not/seems to be dying. Think it's a Cherokee Brave. Boo.
*Viburnum is shifting to white puffballs. Yay.
(4/6/25)
*Wallflowers now blooming. They look lovely against the purple-y Distylium leaves/seem to like the location. Yay.
*White dogwood on side back blooming, but pink dogwood is not/seems to be dying. Think it's a Cherokee Brave. Boo.
*Viburnum is shifting to white puffballs. Yay.
(4/6/25)
Grandpa's cherry tree. I wait all year for it. (4/6/25)
April 6, 2025 at 2:24 PM
Grandpa's cherry tree. I wait all year for it. (4/6/25)
We returned home last night after a few days away to find the color of the garden has shifted to pinks and purples. My favs!!! Need to get another Bloomerang Lilac: The one by our back neighbor seems to handle the sun/heat well and smells divine. (4/6/25)
April 6, 2025 at 2:23 PM
We returned home last night after a few days away to find the color of the garden has shifted to pinks and purples. My favs!!! Need to get another Bloomerang Lilac: The one by our back neighbor seems to handle the sun/heat well and smells divine. (4/6/25)
Happy to see the native violets in the backyard. (3/30/25)
March 30, 2025 at 9:15 PM
Happy to see the native violets in the backyard. (3/30/25)
There are several Viburnum in the yard that we inherited. This is the one by the fence near the back gate. Possibly a Burkwood? I hacked it down a year ago and it has not grown back correctly. Note: Do some research on pruning viburnums. (3/30/25)
March 30, 2025 at 9:14 PM
There are several Viburnum in the yard that we inherited. This is the one by the fence near the back gate. Possibly a Burkwood? I hacked it down a year ago and it has not grown back correctly. Note: Do some research on pruning viburnums. (3/30/25)
Finally got the greens in today - a few varieties of lettuce (red & green Romaine, Black Seeded Simpson), arugula, spinach (Double Choice Hybrid). Unlikely to get a real harvest out of these because I am so late (again). The garden peas and snow peas are popping up. Pray for cool weather! (3/30/25)
March 30, 2025 at 9:07 PM
Finally got the greens in today - a few varieties of lettuce (red & green Romaine, Black Seeded Simpson), arugula, spinach (Double Choice Hybrid). Unlikely to get a real harvest out of these because I am so late (again). The garden peas and snow peas are popping up. Pray for cool weather! (3/30/25)
Sights from this morning: The Yoshino cherry is in full bloom, and the Kwanzan is not far behind. I adore the way the Snowball viburnum blossoms start out spring-green. And seeing the wallflowers appear (against a wall, ha!) makes my English heart happy. (3/29/25)
March 29, 2025 at 1:13 PM
Sights from this morning: The Yoshino cherry is in full bloom, and the Kwanzan is not far behind. I adore the way the Snowball viburnum blossoms start out spring-green. And seeing the wallflowers appear (against a wall, ha!) makes my English heart happy. (3/29/25)
I worked on the mailbox bed today, trying to fill it out with more plants. Really need to label all the perennials *this* year so that I don't accidentally pull them out when weeding next spring. Color scheme is pinks/purples/blues/whites with a bit of yellow thrown in here and there. (3/23/25)
March 23, 2025 at 11:38 PM
I worked on the mailbox bed today, trying to fill it out with more plants. Really need to label all the perennials *this* year so that I don't accidentally pull them out when weeding next spring. Color scheme is pinks/purples/blues/whites with a bit of yellow thrown in here and there. (3/23/25)
It is clear that Spring is almost here! The redbud and flowering almond are showing off, and the potted tulips are popping up. Pea shoots are starting to push through the earth in the veg garden. MUST get the greens in this week...very late, but will take what I can get come harvest time.
(3/19/25)
(3/19/25)
March 19, 2025 at 7:36 PM
It is clear that Spring is almost here! The redbud and flowering almond are showing off, and the potted tulips are popping up. Pea shoots are starting to push through the earth in the veg garden. MUST get the greens in this week...very late, but will take what I can get come harvest time.
(3/19/25)
(3/19/25)