Garden Diary - June 16

There's been lots of change in the front yard, which is very exciting!

Immediately after my last post, the peony bloomed (a paler pink than I had been expecting). And it looked beautiful. Until the multiple torrential rainstorms of this past weekend, which tore off all of the petals. There are still some unopened buds, so hopefully I'll still have a chance to photograph it. Although it's gradually being swamped by the rampant mint, and the looming rosebush (which is also starting to bloom now). I think next year the peony will need to be moved to a better location.

The clematis in front looks ready to bloom any day now, and has happily climbed up the fishing line all the way to the porch overhand. The clematis in back had one flower open over the weekend, and several more opening this morning; I'd forgotten that it is a beautiful deep burgundy colour.

The biggest change has been the (near) completion of the terracing around the retaining wall. I already had about a quarter of it mulched and planted, but the rest needed alot of sod dug out and dirt leveled (and toted to the backyard, pail by pail). My plan for the terracing was put to the test this weekend with the incredible amount of rain, which pointed out a few problem areas (I could see mulch lifting up and floating away by the minute). A few rocks in strategic spots seem to have helped divert the flow. I also finished putting in the path of stepping stones. There's just a small section left to be mulched, and then I'll plant seeds for some annuals (like nasturtium) and perennials (herbs, sedum); hopefully it won't be too late to be getting these plants started. I also have two daylilies to plant, and may transplant some herbs from the back yard.

In the back, the mystery bush by my shed is blooming with lovely white flowers. The pile of sod and dirt from the front yard is piled in a row along the back; I plan to level it down and mulch to create a bed. I've been stealing mulch from the back to use for the front, as I wasn't able to buy any more bags of the brand I'd been using, and I don't want a colour mismatch. So the beds in back will get re-covered in the new mulch as soon as possible. Some of the seeds I planted in May have come up (the nasturtiums, beans, Indian spinach, zucchini, squash, and sweet peas), but there is no sign of the others; I'll probably give them another try, since many of them should do well as fall vegetables. The tomato and kale seedlings have also done well, although one kale plant got chomped, and still really only has one leaf. The sage bush is blooming, with lovely (and edible) mauve flowers.