Mid-June Garden Report

Last year I had a single Jack-in-the-Pulpit bud, which bloomed on July 7th, and it lasted one day.  I have three buds this year, and they're ahead of schedule. Can't wait to see them open up!

Hit a garage sale the other day and got 10 large pots for 5 bucks.  There were just enough to house all the tomatoes and pepper plants I overpurchased! Don't they look happy now?  :)

Baby Strawberries

Cleaned up my newfound strawberry patch and discovered it's bearing fruit! 

Last night, as I listened to hail pelting the house, I thought maybe there's a reason these little strawberries sprouted up in such a well-protected spot. 

Will have to wait and see if they are June-bearing or ever-bearing.  :)

Strawberry Surprise!

One year ago I posted a photo of a single clematis bloom.  This year I have a baker's dozen, with more on the way.  But not all of my garden looks this pretty.   You've heard of process blogging relative to quilts?  Here goes some garden process blogging (at least you'll know what's keeping me from quilting).

My hosta bed is out of control!  I offer you photographic evidence:

Blue Hosta

Giant, Low Growing, Green & Yellow

Green Giant

Green & Blue

Tall Green & Yellow, Giant

Tall Green

Many of the evergreen vinca between the hostas came from an elderly neighbor's overgrown garden.  When I dug up the plants, stray plants came with them.  I planted, nurtured and weeded the vinca lovingly until 2 summers ago, when joint trouble interrupted my plans.  Happily, I'm back in the saddle this spring, but am paying a price for two summers of neglect.  Not only are my desired plants overgrown, so are the stray species.

Until tonight, I've been eyeing the chore of weeding, splitting and rearranging my hosta bed as a fate worse than death.  But today I discovered something wonderful - literally  under my feet.  Strawberry plants, in bloom!  Barely recognizable amongst all the weeds.  I'm amazed they're flourishing in deep shade and still deeper neglect.  I thought strawberries needed more sun and more tending to.  So do I weed them where they are, and see if I get fruit?  Should I move them to a sunnier spot?  Or move them to a nice big strawberry pot?  (I always wanted one of those!)  Will moving them at this time be too big of a shock?  Decisions, decisions! 

To my strawberry-growing friends in blogland, have you any advice?  :)