You Grow Girl!

The hostas are unfurling and the shrubs are stretching their limbs as everything is awakening from the sleepy winter here in Maryland’s gardening zone 8a. I’ve also been amazed at how rapidly my peonies are growing. I added plant supports that I purchased from Amazon to help support the billowing pink blooms soon enough. Once the peonies are past their peak, I plan on moving the plant support stakes over to my Shasta daisies later in the summer. At the moment, the daisies are only about six inches in height but I know in time they will grow to be nearly two feet tall. I intentionally avoided the grid-style plant support stakes so I could use these rounded ones in different areas of the garden if needed. I have immensely enjoyed seeing the growth of the peonies and hostas in recent days. The peonies have grown so much you can’t even see the support stakes!

The plant support stakes are camouflaged among the peony stalks.

I also recently added affordable, custom eight-inch metal garden tags purchased from Specialty Garden Markers to identify my roses by name and variety at just $1.50 each. They arrived in a week and were easy to place in front of each rose. Meanwhile, my fragrant, yellow hybrid tea rose known as ‘Eternal Flame’ was the first rose to bloom in my garden, reminding me first and foremost, to keep my mind focused on the Eternal and less on the insanity of this world. This rose bush is nearly as tall as me already! I look forward to propagating it and a few others from my garden after their first flush of blooms – I’m going to try anyway!

The pink dianthus and lavender I recently planted have taken root and are blooming beautifully. I look forward to seeing them bloom in full force as the weeks go on. I’ve staggered the pink dianthus in between the lavender to create a romantic border. In a different, distant bed, one yellow lily has exploded in color but for the most part, my various plants are growing and loaded with buds. I look forward to seeing my garden burst forth soon in hues of yellow, pink, purple, and white.

While my garden is exploding in growth, I, too, am growing spiritually as I continue to study Torah/Tanakh, and I’m also expanding my education as I am about to embark on my next college course while working full-time.

Everything is growing good in my life. I guess you could say, “You grow, girl!”

Welcome Spring!

Although a tad chilly here in Maryland, I welcome the first day of Spring! Since purchasing my new home with a modest yard near a river, I pre-ordered five roses from various rose vendors and bought four more from Home Depot. I look forward to sharing photos and tips this glorious garden season.

Joseph’s Coat, a climbing rose.

Four Weeks Till Spring!

The most wonderful time of the year is rapidly approaching — just four weeks till Spring!

Yesterday, I purchased two large container pots and organic potting soil as well as fertilizer for my roses. I have three different roses arriving in the coming weeks plus one already well-established in my new yard. I purchased this home over the winter months and am anxious to see what prior owners have planted. Once I make note of the colors that pop up, I can better design the garden. Until then, I will likely plant the roses in pots though until I can commit to a garden design. Thus far, I am thinking of a cottage-style garden anchored by white roses. How exciting to have a fresh canvas this upcoming Spring!

Despite the lingering winter, remember to be ever-blooming!

–Carrie