Corn Gluten

Grape hyacinths

Last week I took another step in the on-going battle with weeds in my lawn.  I avoid using most of the weed-killer products available, and prefer products that are safe to use around my dog (and all of the non-domesticated visitors to my garden).  Twice every year I apply corn gluten to my lawn.  It serves as an organic fertilizer, plus it helps to suppress germinating seeds.  It is suggested to apply it at about the time forsythia is just starting to bloom in your area, and again in the early fall.  It does not kill any weeds already present, just helps keep down any further generations, plus encourages a nice, thick lawn of grass, which helps smother weeds as well. 

Flowers in the Snow

Tulips in the snow

The cold front that came in yesterday dropped a bit of very late-season snow overnight. Thankfully, it's supposed to warm up today to the 50s, so it won't be staying around. 

When I heard the forecast, I moved all my outdoor pots and seedlings into shelter.  I'm hoping the cold doesn't nip too hard on the perennials and shrubs that have been budding out. I have planted out only the hardiest annuals so far, such as the snapdragons and some sweet alyssum.

Favorite Flowers: Lungwort

Allergy Index Scale: 2
Perennial, zones 4-9

Trevi Fountain lungwort in bloom

Partial shade to shade, 6-12 inches

Lungwort, or pulmonaria, is a reliable perennial for the shade garden that blooms in early spring.  Depending on the variety, the foliage may be plain green, spotted with white, or nearly pure silver.  The flowers may be blue, pink, or white.  The specimen in the photograph is "Trevi Fountain," which has pink buds that open to a lovely clear blue. 



Welcoming the Orioles

Oriole feeder

Over the weekend I brought out my oriole feeder, and put out the first batch of grape jelly for this year.  Orioles are due to start returning to the area in a week or so, and it's good to have your feeders out as they come so that they choose to settle down and nest in your yard.  The males arrive first to find and stake out their territories, and then the females join them.  I have so enjoyed watching these colorful birds in my yard over the last couple of years, and all it takes is a constant supply of grape jelly, and an occasional slice of orange.  Orioles are attracted by the color orange, so feeders and nectar designed for them generally use this color.

April Ice Storm

Ice-covered flowering pear tree

This morning, we looked out to find that everything was covered in a quarter-inch layer of ice.  Every flower, every wire, every blade of grass was encased.  My flowering pear tree, which had been looking so lovely with the most flowers it's ever had, was weighted down so that the branches curved to the ground.