Beautiful Compost

 Our compost arrived yesterday, and I began using it immediately. The mulch pile is getting smaller, as I mix the two together to fill my pots in the front yard. I mulched over the entire bed first, and planted some hosta, which are pictured here sitting in pots to hold their site until I am ready. The new hydrangea are in their pots. Our previous pots of hydrangea over wintered really well at the country house.

 New to the garden are Guacamole and Blue Hawaii hosta. The Halcyon and Celandine Poppy are transplants from the country house.

The two azaleas are beginning to open, with very bright pink blossoms. 

 My bargains from Lowe's are $1 a pot Stella D'Oro daylilies in yellow and purple. Our Lowe's (which supplied most of my plants at the other house too) has such a vigorous and enthusiastic ordering person, that they often run out of space and have to put stuff on clearance, DAILY, to my benefit.

 

Dave is digging holes for the trees, and it is an arduous task. The clay and stone from these holes are transferred to the tubs and will supply the necessary drainage and air pockets for the first tier of the fill. When we plant the trees, they will be above grade, and mulched significantly. The first hole he dug filled with water from our neighbors sprinklers and didn't drain after two days, so we refilled it and will be covering that low wet spot with mulch and use it as our plant nursery, with plants in pots, of course.
 Here's my new trick. After all these years of gardening, I just figured out an easier way to plant in a pot. I put the base of potting mix in and then sit an empty pot in place and fill around it with more mix. Then I lift it out and put the plant in the hole. This way I am sure to get the depth right, and get less dirt in the leaves of the new plant.

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Today is closing day on the country house. We passed all the inspections, the walk through, and are closing days earlier than expected. I am ecstatic! This was the least stressful sale of our entire marriage. And we intend to celebrate with champagne. Yay!