The Rome, Georgtia Junior Service League tour of gardens will happen on April 28, 2012. We’ve been preparing the yard for the event for a while. Click here to see part one of the series. Dekie and I drove up to check out the progress on March 20, the first day of spring. We were delighted with all of the early flowers and the new growth to be found everywhere we looked. Heading up the long drive to the top of the mountain, we enjoyed the dogwoods.
I know what you are saying after that picture caption, but I figure that a writer only gets to use the word “plethora” once every two months and it’s my turn. I stopped to take a picture of the dogwood and an iris bed with the house in the distance.
The wisteria was in full bloom. I’m sure the wisteria will kill that big tree one day, but Patsy doesn’t seem to mind–she loves that plant– so we just try to keep it under control as best we can.
The viburnum by the front entrance was showing off. Of course, it will be only solid green for the tour.
I noticed the hostas poking their pretty leaves out of the ground. They will be beautiful for the end of April. I wonder, given the warm weather lately, if the hydrangeas will be in bloom for the event. It would be nice if they were.
The beautiful dissectum Japanese maple at the front door had been growing way out over the steps. I had pruned it away from the steps earlier and I’m happy with the results.
The beds along the extensive pathways have been cleaned of all winter debris and stray weeds. They are ready for pine straw which will be applied as soon as the current pollen drop is over with. I love the little hints of the mountain view as I walk through the garden.
The ivy on the house has been nicely trimmed. We have to trim this planting two or three times a year.
The box stores with their nurseries take advantage of the nice March days to offer unknowing customers annual flowering plants even though it is way too early to plant them. Sometimes I think they are taking advantage of customers who don’t know any better. Well, this year I am going to take advantage of the box stores. I got a load of begonias from Lowe’s and took them to the greenhouse. I will grow them out to nice healthy plants to be put in the beds the week before the garden tour. I’m afraid there will be a shortage of nice plants at that time and I want to be sure that I have what I need. We gathered up all sorts of 4 inch pots and prepared them. I bought small plants in 6 packs and will grow them out.
I am using Pro Mix for the plantings. This is one of the best potting mediums available. I could save money by mixing peat moss, vermiculite, and perlite to get the same thing, but I don’t really have the time.
Here are the begonias ready to take off and grow. I will give them a good drink of Miracle Grow 20-20-20 plant food and spray them well with a good fungicide. I’ll show you the difference in a follow up article a couple of weeks or so from now.
Stay in touch with johntheplantman for further developments in preparing the mountain garden for the April tour.
To see a previous article about this lovely landscape garden, CLICK HERE
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Happy Gardening!!
johntheplantman--Gardening 
Beautiful…this is a dogwood year, for sure.
I bought some wave white petunia’s and some orange petunia’s (never see the orange ones)…couldn’t help it. I have some blooming in pots that over wintered outside…also some begonias..our winter wasn’t that bad! Get ready for lots of insects…inch worms already on the roses. Had to put out sevin…will watch the Jap. lace maple! How do you keep the deer away from the hosta? Deer Rid? Can’t wait for the tour. 🙂