The Front Entrance Bed

Continuing with documenting my garden beds, this is the "Front Entrance Bed". If you click on the picture you can see it a little better. As all garden are, this is a work in progress. The vinca and junipers were there when we bought the house along with a few tulips. We added the bleeding heart, Japanese maple, some hostas,  coral bells, a miniature rose, clematis with trellis, yellow flag iris, the red switch grass and various spring bulbs. I sometimes think the bleeding heart and the miniature rose throw off the balance of the bed. I have thought of moving them or at least one of them, but I so love admiring them from my kitchen window I just can not relocate them. All three (japanese maple/bleeding heart/minature rose) peak at different times and are doing quite well. The bottom line is they make me happy and that is what it's all about, right?

The Front Entrance Bed in the distance

A different view.

From the driveway, you can see some of the daffodils and tulips. The bloom times very with the bulbs some are finished and others yet to come.

The bleeding heart was the 1st plant added when we moved in. We have always had bleeding hearts and have planted three at this house.

Our house faces east and the conditions must be perfect. This is the largest bleeding heart we have ever had. In 2009 I am not exaggerating when I tell you it was 5 feet tall and covered in blooms. My daughter said its a monster out of control, but that year was a cool wet spring. Last year it was a little more  reserved.

I do love pansies. I treat myself to pansies every year for my birthday in April. My neighbor always says its a little early, but thats the beauty of planters they can always go in the garage if needed.

The idea was for the clematis and iris to bloom together, I definitely can say not all of my plans work out so well. I know the yellow flag iris can be invasive but I cut the stalks before they go to seed and I needed a tough iris that can take wet feet. The gutter overflows all the time, even though my husband is always on the ladder cleaning them out. There is a price to be payed for large mature trees. Oversized gutters may help but are not in the budget,  at least for now. Anyway, the water pouring over had created a low spot, and when we tried adding fill the rain always washed it away. So flag iris was my solution. The clematis is tucked back on higher ground and so far seems to be doing okay (They do not like wet feet).

Noble clematis planted in 2009.

Yellow Flag Iris added 2010.

Fire Glow Japanese Maple, more photos to come in an other post. 

Juniper

June Hosta 2010.

Santa Claus Miniature Rose.

The Red Lace Leaf Japanese Maple.

I bought this tree 2 years ago and planted it after my youngest daughter left for college. It was my consolation purchase. I was a little nervous about what life would be like with both of my daughters off to college. When I told Kate I was feeling lonely so I bought a tree, her reaction was not positive at being replaced by a plant. Well it survived the winter and so did I. In the spring last year it was full of buds ready to burst out. Then it started to rain and those of you who are in the Chicago area will remember it rained and rained and rained. The buds never bust! I had neglected to pull back the heavy winter mulch and as for as we could tell, it drowned. My husband kept telling me it was dead and I kept saying the trunk was alive. Eventually we cut the top off and waited to see what would happen.

Is it dead?

YAY!!!

It survived

So this year we decided it had to be moved, it was about 4ft and now it is more like 18-24 inch soooo.  Now where to put the pot, I knowThere by the front entrance behind the Japanese Painted Fern and the Heuchera.And how has life been without my children, not so bad. I have learned to let them go, celebrating their independence and my own Independence for that mater. Oh and instead of obsessing about my children I have found a new obsession. Its so much more fun, can you guess what it is?