Early this morning I staked all the tall bearded iris which are just coming into bloom. I hate iris on the ground which they would be without staking!

I also staked my Baptisia. I usually forget to do this until mid summer when again, strong winds always bend that huge mass of foliage all over the place and it looks really ugly. It's just getting ready to bloom, so the foliage is only about 2/3 its ultimate height and very upright - perfect for staking now. 3 stakes, a piece of twine and the job was done. By summer you won't even know they're there.

I love it when I'm ahead of the game!!

Kevin

Dee

The front garden and xeric garden are almost caught up, those are in the front yard and most visible. I had to transplant in many new plants because of the severe losses from the voles. I started putting wire cages around some of the new perennials such as the Echinacea and Salvia Black & Blue since they were vole favorites. Also watered other vulnerable plants with a castor oil vole formula I learned about on the Hosta forum (it's working!).

Now lovely Irises, Baptisia, all sorts of Aquilegia and Digitalis, Miss Kim Lilac, and more are in early bloom in front. The peonies are budding and they have more buds than I've ever seen before. It is heavenly.

Now to get in the back yard and get cracking there!

ngraham - I'm not saying a word. I certainly wouldn't say: I TOLD YOU SO!! (snicker, snicker) What you described is exactly what I usually go through most years and I really wanted to avoid it this year. In addition, when that plant flops, it shades it's neighbors too much which becomes a huge problem.

gardenweed - Isn't it nice? I don't support my peonies because that's a job I really hate. Instead I make sure to pick everything in bloom if it's going to rain hard. It's a great excuse to have the flowers inside where I almost get high on the fragrance. I look forward to this every year.

prairiemoon - I completely agree. We are weeks and weeks ahead this year. I kind of wonder what that will do to the rest of the summer and fall season?

Yesterday was one of those almost perfect gardening days. It was hot, but I still managed to get everything done I wanted to. When the rain finally came last night, it came in buckets and the iris and baptisia are still very upright this morning.

Kevin

;)
Dee