There’s so much growing in today’s sunshine that I had fun taking lots of photos. Today we return to garden areas of Lupine Hill, the pond, and the low black fence.

Lupine Hill as it appeared three weeks ago with forsythia still in bloom in the background:

And today:

This gravelly, full-sun slope is an area in progress, partially overcome by weeds. This garden area keeps me humble since it always needs work. It is bordered on one side by five beautiful lilacs in purple, pink, and white that are just starting to burst into bloom.

Plants on the slope include many lupines, some irises, lots of yarrow, Alchemilla mollis or lady’s mantle, Centaura montana or perennial cornflower, ajuga, pink flowering strawberries, and terribly invasive creeping buttercup weed.

There are a few other perennials I haven’t identified even after three years of living here because they are crowded out by other plants. I’m also afraid I’ve missed the window of opportunity for major weeding when the soil was moist and pliable. My dream is to one day have an entire slope of lupines.

Today’s view of the pond differs from three weeks ago in the leafing out of nearby maples and a scarlet hawthorn, plus many more grasses and lily pads (and frogs!) showing up in the water. Three weeks ago:

And views from all sides today:

The final views today are of the low black fence which divides our flat lawn area from the steep hill leading down to the pond.

Each side, three weeks ago:

And today, with the 70 dahlia tubers pushing through the soil:

The new dahlia bed is planted, staked, and protected in two ways. First, I use barely-visible black bird netting to prevent our free-range hens from scratching up the soil and breaking new shoots. Second, I set many vole/meadow mouse traps three days ago when I discovered new holes in my new bed. I’ve already caught two voles and three baby moles.

The low black fence is where we find the first clematis to bloom each year — a prolific, 20-foot Clematis montana with bronze new foliage and simple, lovely pink flowers. The first buds opened this morning.

One of the newer plants along the black fence is a clove currant or Ribes odoratum I ordered last March and planted when it was about six inches tall, shown below. The smaller photos show its remarkable growth. We enjoy the spicy clove fragrance emitted by the yellow blossoms as we sit up on our deck.

 

Thanks go to Cathy at Words and Herbs. I’m joining with her and other gardeners who chronicle the changing views offered by our gardens through the weeks and seasons.