Extremes

We have been on a temperature rollercoaster this week. On Monday it was in the 90's and Tuesday we had a record high of 103. Today it was in the 50's this morning. Hope all this isn't too much of a shock for the gardens.  I am done with the regular school year but will be working half days at summer school till the end of July. I will have time next week to work outside during the day before the summer session begins.
On Sunday, Mom, Jenni and I went to Bachmans, Dundees and a Linder's flower mart out in Plymouth. The only way we find all the colors and varieties of plants we like is to make our annual trips to about 6 different garden centers. I was most excited to finally find a rigid plastic liner for my whiskey barrel at Bachman's. I have searched all spring for this. I had to make a small cutout on the edge for the pump to fit but now everything works will no leaks and no splashes.
I made my to do list for the upcoming week:
-weed all gardens, esp. remove the unwanted grass
-cut out dead canes on William Baffin rose with new pruning saw
-fertilize with bloom booster, use acid lovers fert. on azaleas and rhodies
-plant rest of annuals and new fern
-add mulch to hill garden
-plant new apple trees
-plant new peonies
-take more photos

Why Rabbit Ridge?

 When trying to come up with a blog name I decided to create a name for my large yard and gardens. Since part of our yard is up on a hill or ridge and I have this thing for rabbits(a collection of over 200 inside and out) I had to have rabbit as part of the name. We also are home to several wild cottontails that for the most part leave my garden alone, except for the apple trees this past winter. The rabbits share their estate with a couple of squirrels and many assorted songbirds. Welcome to Rabbit Ridge!

My husband's grass seeding project where we had our construction debris pile the past two summers

view from top of ridge overlooking backyard

west side of garage- roses will be blooming soon

Fusion impatiens,Wifi grass and Autumn fern

mini hostas-wintered in garage 

Jack in the Pulpit

dish fairy garden by back door with carpet of baby's breath, Princess pine, gold sedum and alpine  aster

William Baffin rose almost ready to bloom. Needs old dead canes removed .

Planter by back door

deer planter

Tinkerbelle lilac

Hillside garden will soon be full of color with roses, echinacea, poppy mallow, liatris, grasses and more

Java Red weigela

Hostas and Heucheras

Tributes to beloved pets

start of vegetable garden-two peonies at edge of garden

tomatoes and peppers

another view of hosta and heucheras-growing large this year with all the rain

garden by deck with lilies, daylilies and other perennials

Rosa Mundi rose, magnolias Ann and Jane(short one that died back a couple of years ago-had one bloom last year  but none this year,great leaves though so hope it will keep growing)

Look who's in the garden

I went out in the backyard tonight for some more photos. It was hot, humid and buggy-it feels like summer finally.

The Gardens This Week

sidewalk gardens in front of house featuring collection of hostas

Beauty of Moscow lilac- my favorite 

arbor with Blue Moon wisteria on one side and morning glories and hyacinth bean vine on the other- first year

half of front yard gardens

north side shade garden- ferns,hostas,astilbes, heucheras and a few other  blooming shade plants

more of front gardens

pink lily of the valley under ash tree

east side of house- mostly perennials, some beginning to get flower buds

front of house faces north

different view of front garden

In just two short weeks things have really filled in. The lilacs are in bloom, the trees have full sized leaves and the annuals planted last week are settling in to their new homes. Even the swimming pool is warming up a bit although not quite a a temp you'd want to take a dip in(unless you're a polar bear). Most of the planting is done and the gardens are waiting for round two of weeding and some fertilizer to get them blooming. Waiting for all the new veggies to sprout. I took photos of front yard tonight and will move to the backyard tomorrow.

Let the Planting Begin!

I started my planting of containers last night. I always enjoy getting those empty containers filled up again for another season of beauty. The past few years I've settled in to planting of certain plants in certain containers. It does vary some depending on what I find in the garden centers.
When I started planting last night I found some annuals didn't make it because of the cold wet weather we've had. I had something in some of the pots I've never had before-mold. It's been so cold and rainy here this month and the pots were fairly crowded without a lot of sun. Each year it seems I lose a few plants to the cold or drying out or this year too much water.
All the gardens are filling out with the perennials going strong with the warmer weather and plenty of moisture. I still have more planting of annuals and a couple of perennials. I purchased my tomato and pepper plants this week and want to plant the vegetable garden before the weekend. I will be busy the next few nights after work.

Work While the Sun Shines

Been very busy in the gardens this week. I was still cleaning last year's growth out. I finally finished my grass covered hill tonight and can actually see the plants that are supposed to be there. This is always my least favorite weeding task. With our sandy soil my other gardens are a breeze to weed but the grass and the hill make this one tough. I'm ready for some planting and it looks like a second round of easier weeding in the other gardens. There's more rain in the forecast for a couple of days so I may have a break.
I encountered my first backyard frog tonight when moving some containers around on the potting bench. They always surprise me but usually it's when I use the grill.

Cherry blossoms turned pink

Crabapple

dwarf Iris "What Again"

variegated Solomon's Seal

"Blue Moon" Wisteria bud

After 2 evenings of labor

I did snap some pictures before it got too dark. Everyday it seems there's something new to discover. I was excited to see there's buds on the "Blue Moon" wisteria I bought last year. I've had an "Aunt Dee" for many years now with no blooms. I got the new one because it had flowers on it when I bought it so I knew it could bloom. Small now but I know it will shoot up quickly.

Finally Sunshine!

Rhododendron "Elite

Cherry blossoms

Bergenia

After a rainy week we finally have sunshine and a dry forecast for the next few days. Hope to get some things done this week. Mom and I went to a couple of garden centers today. Didn't find too many interesting annuals but did find my 2 replacement apple trees. Not too big so we stuffed them both in my little car. This time of year it's amazing how much plant material I can pack in my compact car(a Chevy Prism).

Star magnolia

today's purchases

to do:clean out

Magnolia "Ann"

Snapped pics of more blossoms. I love how from late March until October there's always something new blooming in the gardens. So glad God didn't create everything to bloom at the same time. I like the way they all take turns showing off.

All in a Week's Time

Here in Minnesota we've gone from snow flurries to temps in the 80's and then back to rain and colder fifty degree temps again. Things in the gardens have really taken off with the warmer weather. Plants and trees now have tiny leaves. The daffodils continue to bloom, the rhododendrons are blooming, the star magnolia is leafing out after putting on it's flowery show and my favorite, magnolia "Ann'" is now beginning to bloom with is lovely pink flowers. I still have a couple of gardens to clean out- one is the large hillside garden that seems to sprout a mess of unwanted grass every spring. I did spend some time this week starting up my fountain and getting our pool filled up and running. I tried to finally fill the liner I had for a wine barrel I purchased last year. Unfortunately there's a leak somewhere. I have waited 2 years to use the cute little pump my husband gave me for a barrel water garden. First I couldn't find a barrel and then last year we were working on the house where the barrel will sit.
My favorite way to spend my time in the month of May is nursery hopping with my mom. For several weeks we hit several local garden centers. Mom has a state hort. society membership so she has discounts at several places. It seems every year we find some new and interesting plants we just have to try. I have most of the annuals bought but need to find a Chestnut crab and a Honeycrisp apple tree to replace the ones the rabbits destroyed this winter. I was so sad to discover the damage since I've had them for seven years already.
After a cold wet day tomorrow it looks like things will improve next week. I will be ready to start my container planting and think about the vegetable garden. I bought seeds but no plants yet. My second year asparagus are popping up. We are patiently waiting for the year we can begin to harvest our crop.