Gardening

It's been so long since I've updated. I can't believe Aaron will be 2 months old tomorrow. It goes by so quickly. I'm enjoying him and trying to catch him with a smile on. He doesn't give them to me real often and I haven't had a camera ready at the right times. I'm sure I'll catch it sometime and send it on to everyone. He's doing really well and is cuter than ever.

We bought a truck yesterday. Yes, now I really feel like a "Highland Hick". There are just so many times we have wished we'd have one so we just decided to get one. It's huge! I'm going to have to get used to being up so high again. It's been a while since I've driven a suburban. It will be nice to be able to haul things though. The kids love it. Robert thinks this means we can get 4 wheelers now. Not sure on that one yet. I'm thinking landscaping bricks and playhouse for the kids.

I've been working a lot on our yard lately. It's starting to look better. We planted a couple of trees in the front and have a plum, pear, apple and peach tree in the back as well as a couple of planter boxes filled with vegetables. Not much is growing yet, but I'm hoping some good warm weather will start them growing soon. I've had some pretty amazing lessons. We've got some great gardeners in our neighborhood. Here's what I got from my Perennials lesson:

Bloom times:
March - Crocus, Daffodil
April - Daffodil, Tulip, Aubretia, Arabis
May - Tulip, Aubretia, Arabis, Potentilla, Iris, Rose, Gernium, Poppy, Salvia
June - Potentilla, Iris, Rose, Gernanium, Salvia, Sage, Campanula, Daylily
July - Potentilla, Rose, Geranium, Sage, Campanula, Daylily, Chrysanthemum
August - Rose, Salvia, Sage, Campannula, Daylily, Aster, Chrysanthemum
September - Rose, Salvia, Campanula, Daylily, Aster, Chrysanthemum

Tulip - "Darwin" or "Emperor" recommended. They seem to be the longest blooming and best repeat over the years (red, pink and yellow)
Aubretia - pink or purple ground cover. Spreads but not too invasive.
Arabis - pink, white or purple ground cover. Spreads but not too invasive
Potentilla - small shrub - 2-3 ft. Blooms May-August. Yellow single flowers. Gold Star is the best
Rose - "Knockout Red Blooms" Other varieties of Knockout aren't quite as good
Salvia - "May Night" is the best abt. 2 ft Purple-blue. May-June; recurs if you shear it
Geranium, perennial - blue 18-inch mound
California Poppy - many colors. Big and bushy, but they die back so you can see other plants
Russian Sage - shrub 2-4 feet. Purple.
Campanula carpatica - different colors "Blue Clips" is the best ground cover.
Daylily - many colors, but the yellow "Stella D'Oro is the best for reblooming.
Chrysanthemum - has big flowers the first year, smaller in subsequent years.
Aster - Many colors, sizes. Check size carefully, some are quite tall

She also suggested keeping a photo journal of the garden. She had all sorts of spreadsheets and pictures on the computer of different varieties so she could keep track of what worked and what didn't. She also said when things get overgrown to dig it up and separate the clumps and replant. She also recommended pruning after the plant has flowered unless it will bloom in the fall, then you should prune in the spring.

The best book for gardeners is "The Western Garden Book". Another resource is the University of Connecticut Plant Database. You can google this. In Provo, there is a gardeners resource in the basement of the County building next to the 4-H office. It's called the University of Utah Extension and there are all sorts of pamphlets and booklets about this area in particular. They also have a website where you can get a lot of information. Just google University of Utah extension gardening.

Well, if you can't tell, I'm really enjoying being in a home that we can do something about. It's fun to get everyone outside working together too. Kyle actually likes pulling weeds for the time being. In fact, all the boys don't mind it. Ashlee hates me, she says, but oh well. I'm sure it will only get worse for a little while.