Meanwhile, Back Home

Back to things like stumps.  Progress slow.  The motivation is two healthy shrubs still waiting to be planted.  They won't stay healthy forever sitting in containers. 

 Soil softened up around stump #2 with some water got it out.  One to go.   

We got 0.59" (15 mm) here in total from Monday's storm.  The rain started about noon.  Much appreciated.  

Rain makes the garden fresh and clean.  Sodden flowers flop, but foliage sparkles.

Acer 'Emperor I' leafed out quickly this year, while the gully Hippeastrums are flowering early:

New Clematis, 'Julka', a big-box store purchase.  Planted next to 'Blekitny Aniol', which appears to have died, though last year was its best ever. 

Planted there, adjacent to where 'Blekitny' was, or may still be:

Working frantically the day before the rain, and the day of, too, I got some of the Dahlias planted: 

The tomatoes are now also in the ground.  They will get better care this summer, last year having been a total failure.  Not so much because of tomato desire, but to improve gardening skills.  This year I'm practicing the usual tomato care advice, like removing suckers (side shoots) and the like. So much effort last year to completely screen in the bed to keep out critters, and no tomatoes.  Grr!

An opening cluster of Clivia flowers was a reminder...

...there are some others struggling with severely insufficient water down in the gully.   Would a few yellow Clivias work under 'Oshio Bene'?   Probably.  They must live in pots because the Acer roots are now fairly dense within 'Oshio''s drip line.  Clivias tolerate pot life quite well.  I even went to the trouble of using a level to find a spot where the pots will sit level.  Here, at least, there is irrigation, and the long straps of foliage will contrast with the mounds of Alstroemeria.  The yellow flowers will briefly brighten the area once a year.   

Weary of seeing Eucomis 'Sparking Burgundy' waiting in a pot since last May, I read up on where to place it.  'Sparkling' ended up near Aloe 'Hercules'.  There are other South African plants in that area, which has both moisture and sharp drainage.  New burgundy foliage emerged right after last year's foliage was removed:

There you go.  Good luck, Eucomis. 

Long past time to rehab this small corner by the patio.  A $3 cane Begonia thrived there for years (20!), and is  a sad shadow of its once vigorous self.  The area lately has hosted the Begonia in deep decline and the odd potted plant that needed temporary relief from hot sun.  

I potted up the Begonia remnants in hopes of getting  healthy new growth to be re-rooted when the weather warms.  Working on those basic gardening skills some more. 

There.  What had roots went into a pot, to revive or not. 

Cuttings went into pots and into water, hopefully to root one way or the other.  The plant seems like it still wants to live. 

The space cleaned up and waiting for either a refreshed begonia or something new.  Moist shade. 

Beautiful roses this year.  Unlike several years past, this year they got fertilizer.  It made a difference.  

'Princesse Charlene de Monaco':

By the front gate:

'Valencia', looking shyly away:

'Julia Child':

'Molineux':

'Iceberg':

 Apricot Cream:

Really enjoying them!

Enjoying other flowers too.  Alstroemerias in a vase:

Sweet Peas:

More Iris.  Should have moved that hose and Aeonium before taking the picture:

Hunnemannias with Lupines:

Ah, Spring!