Mockingbird Hill Cottage

A look around the garden:

The catmint is bigger than ever. I have it planted throughout the large bed. I can see the beginnings of its purple blooms.

Yellow Archangel. Do you see the Jacob’s Ladder in the top left hand corner? Heidi gave me some cuttings a few years back and it has really taken off. I wish everything thrived like it does. However, it tends to take over.

I wanted it for the portion of the bed that is right under the Sugar Maple. Jacob’s Ladder does really well in shade.  But it’s a pushy little devil. I’ve already had to yank some of it out. See how it’s trying to take over where my grasses and daffodils are (in the upper right hand corner?) And how it’s creeping down around the Yellow Archangel and toward the Sedum?

The silvery Lamium will have purple blooms soon. Jacob’s Ladder will also bloom. All in good time.

The peony buds are getting bigger. Every year that we’ve lived here, the peonies have bloomed the first week of June, but I think it will be much earlier this year. Please, peonies, hold off until I get home on May 19th!

But here’s the biggest news; it may not be as pretty, but it’s pretty exciting to me:

Grass is growing! After a drought-like winter and early spring, we had some rain last week, and this is what I saw when I got home on Saturday.

That grass seed sat on the dry ground for a long time. But I remained hopeful. I’m sure we’ll have to seed in the fall, too, but it will be much less daunting. And yes, I know there are rocks there. After picking up approximately 1 jillion rocks, I finally realized it was a losing battle. Anyway: Hello, grass! Welcome!

I scrubbed down the porch yesterday, planted my pots and window boxes and added a couple of hanging plants. I must admit, the inside of the house is being woefully neglected as I devote my energies to the outside. I only have so much time on these days off. One more day at home, and then I’m off to Hartford again for 10 more days.

Happy Monday.