Sometimes it can be difficult to recognize when your root-hardy perennials are emerging....it's it what you planted or something else! In case you wonder what peonies look like when they are emerging from their winter sleep, here is a Peony 'Bowl of Cream' emerging to greet spring.

Emerging Peony
PC: Leslie F. Halleck

I've been having some nice chats lately with Michael Tortorello who is writing a series of articles and blogging on the adventures of a gardening newbie for the New York Times. Our lengthiest conversations have been those about garden poop, or manure if you want to be technically proper. This time around he's posted on his trials and tribulations on starting seeds...it's a fun read.

http://topics.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/04/08/when-seedlings-slouch/

Just thought I'd post a closer shot of the new Japanese Maple I planted the other day. It's called 'Oshi Beni'. What lovely color...This variety can grow up to 20-25 feet, although I expect this one to max out about about 20...but that's a long way off. I find this variety to be much prettier than the more commonly planted 'Bloodgood', but it does get a bit larger. So pretty when the light shines through the leaves...

Ok so I got some partial planting done yesterday. The large weeping tree that hasn't leafed out yet is a weeping mulberry that I pulled out of the front yard a couple of weeks ago. It was so established and well rooted in that by the time I got it out (quite the sight) I pretty much had to butcher the root system. Figured it was a lost cause. But after looking at it yesterday, I noticed it was trying to leaf out and all the wood is still green. So what the heck...mulberrys are tough so I'm going to see if I can't get it to root back out. It would look pretty cool there if it did. Think happy thoughts for the mulberry, lol.

Also planted a few groups of background shrubs, some Japanese Aralia, Variegated Pittosporum and some 'Spring Bouquet' Viburnum. Also a wonderful Sweet Olive at the end of the bed and an Oakleaf Hydrangea. I'll be planting another right next to the patio. Dropped a handful of perennials in the ground, some 'So Sweet' Hosta, Autumn Fern, Heuchera, Dwarf Acanthus and a few transplanted Iris. Planted a beautiful Japanese Maple 'Oshi Beni'. There will be lots more planting to do in the next couple of weeks...

Ok, so I know I'm crazy, and it's completely masochistic, but I agreed to be on the White Rock Lake garden tour on May 17th...sigh. This means killing oneself in the garden for the next 6 weeks. This is a crazy time of year for me at work, so it's doubly hard in that regard. BUT, I knew if I said yes it would kick me in the pants to get all sorts of long awaited garden projects done.

Yesterday, thew new ornamental shade bed in the back yard:

The bed runs the length of the West side of the yard, but is shade or dappled sun most of the day. Now I've got to fill this sucker up! Which will be no small feat, because it's huge. A couple of Japanese maples will make their way into the planting as well as a sweet olive. We also used some of our leftover flagstone to built a pad around the shed so I have a nice place for my potting bench. Now, I'm off to work to hunt some plants...

A few spring bloomer updates...

The crazy beige Iris I have have yet to identify...

Rose 'Abraham Darby'

Louisiana Phlox 'Blue Moon'

I forgot to post a picture of our first egg...at this point we're getting about one a day. So there is either only one hen laying right now, or they're taking turns in the "good spot", lol.

As they ventured into new parts of the yard, they discovered the leftover pile of decomposed granite. It's some good grit. But these gals have yet to let me touch them or pick them up. They are just not havin' any of it. Of course the 2-year old neighbor comes over and they her reach right down and grab them! It is cute to watch. Now all she wants to do is torture her parents to bring her over to see the chickens. I have no idea how I'm going to catch them in order to bring them back to the breeder in a couple of weeks when I switch out for the breeds I'm waiting on. THAT should be video worthy...

Spanish Bluebells, Hyacinthoides hispanica, are blooming in North Texas now. These are one of my favorite perennial bulbs here. Anything that falls into the "blue" category will get at least one shot in my garden. These are great for naturalizing in perennial beds, groundcover beds or even turf. They'll tolerate some afternoon shade. Purty.