Planting

Planted the Viburnum nudum 'Winterthur' next to the Summer Snow Hydrangea by the pool. Also potted up the Sizzle Scissors Acalypha I got in the Cold Creek sale.

Planting

Planted the Salvia greggii next to the Itea in front and a Young Lady Smokebush near the Cleyera in front.

Hardscape - croquet lawn edge

Dug in the landscape timbers for the left side of the croquet lawn and prepared for the golf course side. Used some of the spare turf to fill in a weedy patch in the front lawn and a bare patch by the pool.

Mowing - bermuda

Mowed the Bermuda.

Lawn patches

Removed a crabgrass invaded patch of turf from the top of the pool lawn and replaced with some of the spare turf around the croquet lawn corners.

Planting

Planted the Purple Smokebush next to the Oleander and a Soft Touch replacing a Helleri near the mailbox.

Herbicide

Used 1.5 gallons of Roundup and got everything except inside the pool fence.

Fertilizer

Fertilized all the lawns with 30-3-3 - better late than never!

Planting

Moved the middle Knockout Rose which turned out to be pink not red and planted it by the pool fence between the Salvia May Night and the Pineapple Sage. Also planted a Lantana cutting by the Variegated Privet near the AC units. Planted the remaining Phlox (White - 4) between the pool fence and the cobble path, the Rusellia Yellow in the pot with the Rusellia Red (removed some Red and gave to Betty and Betsy), Ogon Asiatic Jasmine behind the Chindo Viburnum.

Weeding and deadheading

Weeded and deadheaded the perennials.

Planting

Planted the Chase Manhatten Ginkgo by the helipad along with a Purple Sunset Dwarf Pomegranate I got from Dr. Dirr. Planted the new Variegated Holly Osmanthus at the end of the grass path on the right property line and replaced the dead Variegated Holly Osmanthus with Leymus Arenarius in the front left bed. Replaced the Clemson Hardy Bottlebrush in the front right bed. Planted the Lespedeza from Goodness Grows in front of ShishiGashira in the second tier bed by the screen porch. Planted Summer Snow Pee Gee Hydrangea in the pool edge behind the middle Gardenias. Planted Sunny Side Up Lantana from Dr. Dirr below the birdhouse and the Carolina Silverbell behind the Dogwood on the right property line. Made a gravel and soil bed between the Daylilies and the path to the pool and planted Jenny Stonecrop and some Angelina Stonecrop pieces. Sowed some Basil seed in the courtyard and planted the rooted cuttings of Summer Coleus.

Mowing

Steve mowed all except the Bermuda.

Planting and potting

Dug up the Variegated Cleyera from the second tier by the screen porch and potted it up to try and save it. Replanted 2 Gardenia radicans and 1 Daisy Gardenia from the front of the house, raising them up. Dug up the Japanese Maple from the left property line and potted it up to be in the conservatory for the summer. Potted the Equisetum and put the pot in the Golfer.

Planting - Indigofera, Salvia and Caryopteris

Planted Indigofera kirilowii 'Angyo Snow' and Caryopteris divaricata ‘Snow Fairy’ in the left front bed and Salvia nipponica 'Fuji Snow' in the back near the White Nandina.

Mulch

Rejuvenated the pine straw in the right front.

Herbicide

Sprayed 1.5 gallons of Round Up inside the pool fence and down the right side property line. The last parts for this round!

Courtyard

Removed the remnants of the grass from one side and replaced with 2+ bags of shredded hardwood mulch. Let's hope Cleo doesn't eat it.

Herbicide

Sprayed Round up around the front and between the pool fence and the golf course. Also behind the garage.

Weeding

Hand pulled a lot of weeds!

Mowing

Steve mowed all the grass. Also edged.

Mulch and Weed Pulling

Hand pulled weeds between the golf course and the pool fence and then filled in all the pinestraw.

Herbicide

Sprayed Round up along the side of the garage, down the left property line, along the back of the croquet lawn next to the golf course and between the perennial bed and the croquet lawn.

Planting

Planted Elliott's Lovegrass near the Bird House post. Also Clinopodium georgianum 'Desi' and Salvia Blue Hill in the same area. Planted the Hibiscus dasycalyx next to the Inkberry Holly between the golf course and the pool fence. Planted the Carissa Holly that had been recuperating in a pot next to the Muhlenbergia between the golf course and the pool fence. Transplanted a Muhlenbergia from the back right corner to the grouping of 3 between the golf course and pool fence - replacing one that did not come back. Also planted the Kerria that Genie gave me along the side of the garage next to the White Hibiscus and 11 White Carpet Phlox around the bird bath in the front.

Pruning

Cut back the Ruellia that is growing in the pot with the Lemon Tree.

Removing Juniper

Had to remove 2 of the Junipers from the right property line. They were not draining - and drowning. Put them in pots to try and recuperate.

Planting - right property line

Planted the Ruellia brittoniana (blue) that Betty gave me for overwintering in the conservatory - next to the Saucer Magnolia. Also the Arundo donax 'Peppermint Stick' in the same area. Put 5 Big Blue Liriope around the red-leaved Berberis on the right property line, with 3 White Carpet Phlox in front.

Planting and potting

Planted the Cabaret Miscanthus and potted up the Ponytail Palm and Bird of Paradise (with some variegated Alstroemeria too).

Hardscape

Got all the plant labelling up to date.

Planting perennials and potting

Planted 3 Blue Fescue and 3 Gaura in the fountain bed. Also planted another Aloe by the bird feeding post. Decided to plant the Rhubarb Elephant Ear in the ground and put it next to the Variegated Boxwood on the helipad. Potted up the Pygmy Date Palm for the helipad.

Planting perennials and Spiraea

Planted the First Frost Reeves Spirea in the front near the Fringetree and then planted 3 May Night Salvias, one in front by the Citrus Swizzle Forsythia and 2 in the back, one along the pool fence and one near the Dolchica Spirea. Planted a large aloe in the ground near the bird bath in the back.

Planting - purchases from Nur Car

Planted Dolchica Spirea, Magic Carpet Spirea, Kirlowi Indigofera, and Rosa's Blush Blueberry near the bird house post between the perennial bed and the golf course. Planted John Blue Blueberry along the golf course edge with the Muhlenbergia. Planted Hopley's Abelia along the strip between the croquet lawn and the golf course. Planted the Fragrant Abelia behind the garage near the screen porch. Planted Chantilly Lace Hydrangea on the second tier by the Sasanqua Camellia. Planted Giant White Calla Lily by the helipad. Planted a mammoth Elephant Ear behind the elephant.

Planting

Planted 3 Rose Creek Abelia in the front along the right property line. Also moved 5 Variegated Acorus from the pool fountain bed to the big fountain bed. Planted the Umbrella Sedge in the pool fountain bed along with a lot of Dwarf Mondo Grass. I dug up the 2 Elephant Ears by the helipad because they are spreading like crazy, and potted them up.

Hardscape - edging

Finished the edging around the Bermuda and started to replace pine straw along the bed. The part behind the perennial garden is done - just need more plants!

Planting - Daylilies, Acorus

Planted 18 Acorus, 7 Stella de Oro Daylilies and 2 Pardon Me Daylilies around the fountain.

Planting - Zenobia, Buddleja, Daylilies

Planted the Zenobia pulverulenta 'Woodlander's Blue' and the Buddleja lindleyana that I got from Woodlanders, both in the back near the bird post. The Buddleja is replacing the Mediterranean Fan Palm that did not survive the winter. Also planted 11 Stella de Oro Daylilies and 5 Pardon Me Daylilies around the fountain.

Planting - daylilies, verbena

I planted 10 Pardon Me Daylilies around the fountain in the back and 18 Homestead Purple Verbena around the edge of the front grass. Also potted up the Tibouchina grandiflora with some Maidenhair Fern and put it in the courtyard.

Mowing - bermuda

Mowed bermuda and weeds.

Planting - perennials

Planted the following plants from Santa Rosa:
Geranium Rozanne - by the golfer
Sedum Vera Jamison - in the raised perennial bed
Lavandin Provence - in the courtyard.
And these from Evergreen:
Matrona Sedum - on the second tier by the screen porch steps
Artemesia Powis Castle - by the bird house post
Stokesia Purple Parasols - on the second tier by the screen porch steps
Scabiosa Butterfly Blue - on the second tier by the screen porch steps
3 x White Carpet Phlox - on the second tier by the screen porch steps
Salvia Marcus - by the bird post.
From Goodness Grows, x pardancanda 'Lollipop' - on the second tier by the screen porch steps.
From Thyme after Thyme, Buddleja Bicolor.
Replaced one Lantana from the right side of the driveway with another cutting.
Replanted the supposed Sun Coleus from the golfer bed in the courtyard.

Blooming

The purple iris are just starting to bloom, Tango Weigela started a few days ago and now the Variegated Weigela is blooming too. The Kalmia buds are getting ready to burst.

Planting - perennials and cuttings

In the courtyard I planted a Vitex trifolia cutting from last Autumn. I planted another in the front next to the Magnolia and one by the pool near the Cannas. Also I replaced the one by the retaining wall in the back with a cutting.
By the bird bath I planted a Caradonna Salvia and then a Mexican Variegated Sage by the gatepost - a cutting replacing the one from last Summer. By the opposite gatepost I planted a Pineapple Sage cutting.
In the raised perennial bed I planted an Arizona Sun Gaillardia, a Purple Knockout Salvia and a Hot Lips Salvia.
By the pool near the Cannas I planted two dark Elephant Ears and by the Agapanthus, a Bright Edge Yucca.

Hardscape - bird house and bird bath

We put up the post for the bird house and set up the bird bath in the front.

Mowing

Mowed all the centipede for the first time.

Planting - Amarylis and Sedum

I dug up the Sedum that was at the Willow Lake house, transplanted from NC, and planted it around the bird bath which set up in the front across from the TV room window. I also took some Amarylis from Willow Lake and planted them in front of some Cannas around the pool.

New plants

Potted up the following that I received from Santa Rosa today:
Leymus arenarius 'Blue Dune'
Arondo donax 'Peppermint Stick'
Miscanthus sinensis 'Cabaret'
Pennisetum orientale 'Karley Rose'
Pennisetum alopecuroides 'Hameln'
Gaillardia 'Arizona Sun'
Geranium 'Rozanne'
Cyperus involucratus

Hardscape - retaining wall

Built a mini retaining wall in front of the fire hydrant for the Cabaret Miscanthus.

Planting - Lamb's Ears

Planted 3 Lamb's Ears that Ruth gave me in the tiered retaining walls.

Planting - Lantana

Planted the remaining 5 Lantana along the driveway and the street.

Planting - elephant ears, mandevilla, rosemary

I planted a black elephant ear by the pool fence next to the Bengal Cannas. Then I transplanted the Rosemary from the cutting bed to the side of the conservatory between the Dogwood and the Magnolia. I also planted the Mandevilla under the frame I got from the J&P outlet, behind the garage so we can see it from the screen porch.

Hardscape - edging

Started digging in the edge stones for the bermuda lawn. Digging down and then adding gravel and putting the stones on top. Got only 38 done before I gave up from exhaustion.

Planting

Planted the Camellia handelii 'Snow Bells' in the back behind the garage, Deutzia gracilis 'Nikko' on the corner of the screen porch, Rosebud Salvia and Pineapple Sage along the pool fence by the perennial bed, Mexican Variegated Sage and Sensation White Salvia in front of the screen porch. The Salvias had all been overwintering in the conservatory except for the Sensation White which I got on sale at Lowes. Also planted the Angel's Trumpet grown in the conservatory from a cutting from Linda by the side of the croquet lawn and Spiraea thunbergii 'Fujino Pink' between the Loquat and Mary Nell on the property line. Finally Euonymus alatus 'Cole's Select' in front of the AC units.

Tropicals

Moved the plants out of the Conservatory and put them in the garden in pots.

Mowing

Mowed the weeds along the property line and the Bermuda on high to reduce the weeds!

Planting

Moved the Princess Bush, Tibouchina urbilleana, out of the conservatory and planted in the courtyard. Also planted the Schefflera arboricola out in the courtyard and the Foxtail Fern, Protasparaus densiflorus, and Bird's Nest Fern, Asplenium nidus.

Planting

Planted the Cyrilla parvifolia on the back right property line and the Calypso Oleander on the back left property line. Both from Nurseries Caroliniana. Also planted the replacement Gardenia that I got from McCorkles along the pool fence. Potted up the Chase Manhatten Ginkgo, Abutilon megapotaminum variegatum and Acalypha pendula from Avant Gardens. Planted the two Cannas that I grew from seed last year and overwintered in the Conservatory, by the pool. Moved a Maidenhair Fern from the conservatory to the courtyard and planted it out and potted the Rhubarb Elephant Ear, Variegated Alstroemeria and another Maidernhair Fern in a large pot by the helipad. Planted the Shrimp Plant and a black Elephant Ear from the conservatory in the second tier retaining wall by the helipad.

Planted 5 more Lantana, Thuja, Cordyline

Planted 5 Lantana grown from cuttings and overwintered in the conservatory, along the left edge of the driveway. Also planted a Thuja plicata 'Pygmaea' in the perennial bed where the Eurya used to be and the Cordyline had been transplanted to. The Cordyline has produced a 'baby' so I potted that up.

Planting - Potatoes

I put 30 potatoes, a mix of Peanut and Red Thumb Fingerlings in the MV plot. Also did 3 in pots at home.

Planting - Agapanthus, Lantana

Planted 2 more Agapanthus in the perennial bed, 1 was Bressingham Blue and the other was from NC. Also planted 8 Lantana from cuttings overwintered in the Conservatory, along the right side of the driveway.

Bald Cypress, Distylium, Rosemary, Agapanthus

Moved the Bald Cypress to the property line to make more room for other trees. Moved the Rosemary in the bed by the screen porch so that it defines the corner better. Also planted 3 Agapanthus from NC that were overwintering in the Conservatory. Planted the Distylium myricoides in the front near the Fringetree.

Irrigation

Switched the irrigation on and made sure all was working right. 85 degrees this afternon (45 this morning).

Pruning Ligustrum and Hollies

Pruned the Ligustrum and Hollies a little for shape.

Fertilizer and insecticide

Fertilized all the shrubs today with 16 4 8 or Holly-tone or Osmocote. Also treated three fire ant mounds.

Planted Dianthus and Scabiosa, Lysimachia, Ragin' Cajun and Tricolor Sage

Planted the Dianthus and Scabiosa I found on the clearance rack at Lowes, then the Lysimachia, Ragin Cajun Ruellia, and Tricolor Sage in the raised perennial bed.

Conservatory Plants

Moved a number of plants out of the conservatory today. Also potted up the Bougainvillea I bought on Monday and the Mandevilla. I decided to give them a couple more days in the conservatory before exposing them to the outside.

Path from the screen porch to the helipad

Originally this was going to be stepping stones but the cobbles looked so good I thought a continuous path would be better. I used 258 cobbles, 6" x 6" and need 5 more for a total of 263.

Planting - Geraniums, Sweet Potato, Bloody Sorrel

Planted 2 Geraniums, a Bloody Sorrel and a Black Sweet Potato Vine in the front bed by the golfer.

Planting - Liquidambar, Bamboo

Planted the Liquidambar Gumball along the property line and the Rivieriorum Bamboo by the pool fence.

Planting - Butterflies Magnolia, Illicium

Planted the Butterflies Magnolia and Illicium in semi-raised beds along the back right property line.

Planting - May Knight, Pond Cypress, Ilex Highlander and Frankinia

This afternoon I transplanted the May Night Salvia from the Courtyard next to the Raised Perennial Bed. Also the Prairie Sentinel Pond Cypress on the corner of the golf course, the Highlander Holly near the AC units and the Franklinia by the guest room window (replacing the dead one!) Then I moved 5 Lirope from the Front Island Bed and planted them around the Pond Cypress and planted a new Sun Coleus and Sweet Potato Vine in the front.

Planting - Purple Pixis, Acorus, Fibre Optic Grass, Juncus

This afternoon I planted the Purple Pixie Loropetalum near the raised perennial bed, by the future bird house. Also 15 Variegated Acorus in the fountain bed by the pool, along with a Fibre Optic Grass and Curly Juncus.

Ornamental Grasses

Cut all the grasses back - need to be a couple of weeks earlier next year.

Herbicide

A full round of Roundup - 7.5 gallons used.

Path edging

I worked on the edging for the path from the garage to the back garden. It is a stone edge so I used the stones I was clearing up.

Planting - Eurya

Had to move the Green Thinly Margined Eurya from the perennial bed - it was browned badly from the cold this winter - needs a more sheltered location I think. So I put it by the helipad where one of the Cordylines was. The Cordyline appeared dead, but when dug up, the roots were still alive so I transplanted it in the perennial bed for the time being.

Mulch and Herbicide

Removed the pine straw from the raised perennial bed and replaced it with 10 bags of shredded hardwood mulch. Weeded the bed and put down a weed preventer underneath the new mulch.

Planting - Gardenias

Raised and replanted the 13 Gardenias in the island bed. Also added a gravel drainage channel all around the bed.

Roundup and Pre-emerge

Sprayed Roundup on the weeds in the front gardens - lots of problems with the sprayer! Also spread pre-emergent (Halts) on the front lawn and the pool lawn (but not around the pool).

Planting - Helleri, Loropetalum, Daisy Gardenias

Planted the replacement Helleri that I bought at McCorkles in December, on the left side of the driveway. Also raised and replanted the three Loropetalums in the front island bed. Dug a drainage channel in the bed to move the water away from the plants. Planted the two replacement Daisy Gardenias by the turret.

Planting - Helleri

Moved a Helleri Holly from in front of the fire hydrant to the other side of the driveway to replace one of the ones that failed last summer. Also added soil to the base of the first Dwarf Yaupon Holly on the right side of the drive because the soil has been washed away.

Pre-emerge

Spread pre-emergent herbicide, Halts, on the croquet lawn and bermuda lawn.

Crocus and daffodils starting to flower

The crocus in the pot by the courtyard gate are blooming and the daffodils in the perennial bed are starting to bloom.

Cut flowers

Got my first daffodils for the house today, from the cutting garden by the conservatory.

Weeding

Weeded the cutting garden around the conservatory and the perennial bed.

Pruning

Cut back Liriope in the perennial bed. Also trimmed dead wood from perennials, cut the Lantana in the courtyard and front garden and pruned the Crape for shape.

Pruning liriope

Cut back liriope in front garden.

Pruning cannas

Cut back the cannas and elephant ear around the pool.

Planting

Finally planted the Riverbanks bulbs:
Triteleia laxa 'Queen Fabiola' in the cutting garden with the Amaryllis
20 Gypsy Girl Crocus, 10 Blue Jacket Hyacinths, 10 Lady Jane Tulips, 10 Candlestick Tulips in containers
5 Summer Snowflake by the Sky Pencil Holly next to the courtyard.

Mulch

Finished off the pinestraw on the back right corner.

Herbicide

Finished off the other half of the yard with RoundUp.

Planting

Moved the two hydrangeas from the helipad to the side of the garage.

Herbicide

Did half the garden with RoundUp again.

Planting

Planted (and mulched) the remaining 9 Muhlenbergia capillaris on the right corner near the golf course.

Potting

Potted up the Carolina Silverbell and Yucca from J&P outlet and the Anise from Nurseries Caroliniana.

Planting

Planted the Old Blush Rose that Betsy gave me and the Ginger I pulled up from Willow Lake.

Planting

This morning we almost finished the area between the golf course and the croquet lawn. We planted 3 Clinopodium georgianum and 3 Serissas (Snow Rose, Variegated and Variegated Pink). We also planted the Clethra alnifolia near the corner of the raised bed where it drains out.

Planting

Planted the 4 Junipers from McCorkles as a continuation of the other 8, 1 one the retaining wall side to make a run of 5 and three on the opposite side (making 7). Also put the second Variegated Chinese Privet on the retaining wall side to balance the one on the other side. Since they are staggered, I will eventually move the Swift Creek to provide a third. Planted the Miss Jilene Hibiscus from Nurseries Caroliniana next to the Saucer Magnolia.

Potting

X Amarcrinum from Brent and Beckys - potted until spring.

Planting

Bulbs arrived from Brent and Beckys. Planted 12 groups of 3 bulbs of St Keverne Daffodil, 12 groups of 3 bulbs of Tete a Tete Daffodil and 4 bulbs of Golden Bells Daffodil in the raised perennial bed. Then planted the remaining 14 St Keverne in the courtyard and the cutting bed. Also the remaining Golden Bells, about 6 in the courtyard and the 14 Tete a Tete in the cutting bed.

Planting

Planted 3 groundcover Phlox that I removed from the Blue Heron Garden as well as 2 Society Garlic - all in the octagon perennial bed. Also the Amarylis from Blue Heron in the nursery/cutting garden bed. Betty gave me an "unknown" so I put it in the nursery bed too.

Camellia

The Pink Snow Sasanqua Camellia is in bloom.

Herbicide

One complete application of RoundUp - took 2 gallons.