Spring is here

Now that spring is here I will start working on my blog a little more. This past winter was mild but towards the end it started to linger and gave us two last minute snow storms. I thought it was going to destroy a lot of my buds and stuff like it did last year. It only damaged a few lilac bushes and a few rose bushes. My Hardy Primrose was blooming and even after it snowed twice the blooms were still looking good. I really like the Hardy Primrose because they require little to no care and the flowers seem to just keep blooming all season long. They are also great for the shady side of the house. Over the mild winter I did loose a bird bath but since I have the pond now and another bird bath its no big deal. I might try to find another one this summer to replace it.

The pond looks good and because of the mild winter I just let the pump run the entire winter. I have been trying to get a jump on removing some of the string algae before it gets to warm and this year I will treat the water to control it. Last year the pond was brand new so it was not much of a problem. Yesterday I re potted the American Lotus (Nelumbo lutea) the native type of lotus that the Native American Indians relied on for food. I was a little concerned about weather or not it survived the winter because I planted it so late last year. I was thrilled to see that it is doing good and I moved it into a larger pot. There were three pieces growing together and I did not want to risk breaking them by trying to divide them so I left them together all in the same pot. This year I am hoping to add some Sacred Lotus (Nelumbo nucifera). I think instead of putting it in the pond I will grow it in a barrel and move the goldfish from the pond to the barrel. These are not native species so they do not need to be in the wildlife habitat area but can be placed elsewhere in the yard for my enjoyment.

I have ordered a few new plants for the yard this year. I have some Yellow Trumpet Vine, Sunny Knock Out Rose, A thorn less Climbing Yellow Rose, and others that I think will look good. I do not have much to do around the pond this year so I plan to be able to sit back and enjoy it more. Last year I was so busy with trying to get it all in I did not get to enjoy it as much as I would have liked. I am hoping the Crape Myrtle and other plants that were added last year will bloom this year. There is no telling what to expect but I am  looking forward to the new growing season.