A Garden Saturday - perennials return!

Today was a great Saturday because most of it was spent in the garden. I'm going to make today's photos two posts: One on a garden checkup with photos, and another on the new construction today.

Perennials are so great! I had a great time this morning walking around and checking up on all the plants that (through no effort of mine) were already growing strong this year. I feel like the garden has a huge head start because the perennials have been taking advantage of every warm day and late-winter rain we've had lately (there have been many of both). Most of them are not substantive plants, but at this point, their growth/productive is something I can take for granted. As long as they get enough water to stay alive this year, I'll have them again next year, too.

Here's an overview from the back porch:
 

A checkup on the compost bin: it's pretty full!



Lots of rain lately means the barrels are pretty full. Current supply: ~250/300 gallons



I think moonflowers and morning glories will go here, and compete with the grass.
 



Raspberry bush looks boring from this distance
 


but there is new growth all over it!
 



Irises from Joyce never really stopped being green all winter. They're actually growing now.
 


Chives are growing a lot already. I guess I should clean out those old dead black-eyed susans.
 



Savory returns!
 



Lovage is alive!
 


more lovage:
 



Yarrow is unstoppable. This is the main growth of it, but its seeds have started babies in the four corners (and beyond) of my yard.
 



future home of a fence post, probably
 



Mrs. Loveridge's flowers are returning
 



Lilies doing well so far. Got these on craigslist and they never bloomed last year. They're already bigger than they ever got last year.
 


Liles: day and -of-the-valley. (this bed needs some cleanup)
 


Spearmint is showing small bits of new life.
 

Spring bulbs growing in the west bed:

Soon this will smell so good!
 


Daffodils and irises, too
 


sedum still looking dead. hope remains
 


hostas waiting
 


tulip foliage in the front bed
 

tulips and daffodils (leaves only) in the morning light
 


An empty spot. What shall fill it? I don't know yet.
 


Bean pole preparations. Die grass, die!
 




Auxiliary compost pile
 



Garden beds from the north
 

NW bed: oregano and thyme are strong. probably will also have tomatoes, eggplants, and peppers:
 


N center bed: Rhubarb is off to a great start! Peppermint also present. Catnip may not come back this year (unsuccessful attempt to divide it last year)
 


NE bed: I missed All Of That garlic and onion last fall when I harvested, I guess. It works out, though, because it's been growing little by little for the past few months. Horseradish and bee balm are also coming back.
 


long E bed: probably tomatoes and maybe pumpkins this year.
 


SE bed: Costumary coming back strong (it never really died), sweet woodruff everywhere, and chamomile looking good. Swiss chard will go in the empty soil.
 


Empty E basil bed:
 


Failed attempt at potatoes last year - the soil was too heavy and compacted the potatoes in their attempt to grow.
 


Empty W basil bed.
 


SW bed: Caraway, sage, and bronze fennel returning. This bed may also contain tomatoes or cilantro or other stuff.
 


Closeup on the sweet woodruff!
 


Chamomile poking through the mulch.
 


Rosemary still looks dead. Will it return? stay tuned.
 


This creepy looking growth is the horseradish plant returning to life!
 


Bee balm is sending up shoots around its base. Hope for no mildew this year.
 


Seedlings all over the NE bed. The sunflower feeder spilled there in January, so they're probably sunflowers.
 


Peppermint attack!
 


Bronze fennel is very small, but strong. I did not harvest the bulb last year, and it paid off.
 


New seeds I bought today: 5 on the left from May's Greenhouse, Swiss Chard from Bloomington Hardware, and the peas from Red Rosa Farms at the market. I think I have enough (aka too many) bean and pea seeds now. Still need some spinach seeds.
 
I also got some red onion sets from May's, but not very much.



These were leftover from last year. I never used the arugula or endives because I didn't have enough space. That is not an issue this year.
 

So, things survived the winter and are starting up on their own! I'm also doing stuff... more to come!