Spring gardening in the Valley

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7QK_vFIxKgX7sp3UgK0Iho7vsSMoLse0N2mqnXz1hXKiNbyfApb4k3tAK7NBJ8F3HJ3mHCm6b6oH3KHTnFI3OXsaQvy_fIGSW1YUnqfoKkxkn8kk-gQFQ7pzAPHenU82yHzh3NAAPlcD2/s1600/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7QK_vFIxKgX7sp3UgK0Iho7vsSMoLse0N2mqnXz1hXKiNbyfApb4k3tAK7NBJ8F3HJ3mHCm6b6oH3KHTnFI3OXsaQvy_fIGSW1YUnqfoKkxkn8kk-gQFQ7pzAPHenU82yHzh3NAAPlcD2/s640/1.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Spring means hands in the dirt, blooming perennials and trees, and planting bountiful pots of annuals that will grow and bloom into the fall. This purple salvia perennial has been especially pretty this year.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimqqWGOVFhsZ0TwG7u4o-9mRnKasOLULKA-OPs5C2CJQDr2FrBSax7R-3xEYuOSkAm69gZKhIpQt_REtOxkQ8qA4rwvBZv4wFj-6U36ub0Oak2tgsO1jcq-J0XLuv9UULYZMNqlxBUFzrw/s1600/10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimqqWGOVFhsZ0TwG7u4o-9mRnKasOLULKA-OPs5C2CJQDr2FrBSax7R-3xEYuOSkAm69gZKhIpQt_REtOxkQ8qA4rwvBZv4wFj-6U36ub0Oak2tgsO1jcq-J0XLuv9UULYZMNqlxBUFzrw/s400/10.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">The plants in this flower box will grow and fill in the empty spaces until it is overflowing and draping over the sides.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlhEY6FmrxpUhqXkg_oAjCxDiyDbRQywHQbUF6DdStnhpW6iImZJZ3xvFoi6dfmC3a31xdjL_Y33LgUlIKW3KRSAgI_9AetJ22igWKAPUIWqcSNRjR_xKpE-7yLQeZKOE3yXyOl75AUKsa/s1600/2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlhEY6FmrxpUhqXkg_oAjCxDiyDbRQywHQbUF6DdStnhpW6iImZJZ3xvFoi6dfmC3a31xdjL_Y33LgUlIKW3KRSAgI_9AetJ22igWKAPUIWqcSNRjR_xKpE-7yLQeZKOE3yXyOl75AUKsa/s400/2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> The rhododendron bloomed while we were on vacation so we're catching the last of the fading blossoms.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF7p4hAC3O_MHNYFrbxcdIeFeK23vmyCoDQn5GYAlzSskBOyOGVmj9HQIvr-wWIolI18wOQPjQwendUcUTwVJkaq9j5ykpndCaUiXL0yONMv9TwhO4pPl_tRxNPOmXfhJfuecwljdgYVdg/s1600/3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF7p4hAC3O_MHNYFrbxcdIeFeK23vmyCoDQn5GYAlzSskBOyOGVmj9HQIvr-wWIolI18wOQPjQwendUcUTwVJkaq9j5ykpndCaUiXL0yONMv9TwhO4pPl_tRxNPOmXfhJfuecwljdgYVdg/s400/3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Throughout the yard the sweet-smelling peonies are showing off in a way only peonies can.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6mQA2dSbPZgUBiOPHD7ZTa_cwAHuiUkgxwe3VT7BTP_p1aXQLvYYMk8p2kRLHGtWzoeiOx4QRCuYk18MzqAQL_ZLvYW5Qs5UGF7Gch2EVxhFDRp2WF0cHK7gGw4myZj3-9AAC0x7HEe43/s1600/4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6mQA2dSbPZgUBiOPHD7ZTa_cwAHuiUkgxwe3VT7BTP_p1aXQLvYYMk8p2kRLHGtWzoeiOx4QRCuYk18MzqAQL_ZLvYW5Qs5UGF7Gch2EVxhFDRp2WF0cHK7gGw4myZj3-9AAC0x7HEe43/s400/4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">A tender, colorful Columbine.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif2WOw8v2p17sLC9w3UEpPKXHiRG0PnTTIkI2YdTS85bTjwIujCiBX3_0CfQ8uXbfw1yB1wjieicjlfcW5H_FTCK2pRrifI0HucrrETV-OVk8vYjoPSQW4OpHJM_uHHY2pUEgEu3yo8Odx/s1600/5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif2WOw8v2p17sLC9w3UEpPKXHiRG0PnTTIkI2YdTS85bTjwIujCiBX3_0CfQ8uXbfw1yB1wjieicjlfcW5H_FTCK2pRrifI0HucrrETV-OVk8vYjoPSQW4OpHJM_uHHY2pUEgEu3yo8Odx/s640/5.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Tools of the trade ... new potting soil each year helps grow gorgeous flowers.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzKLE2HdRp7pSpZ9k0F48buHmfzdChXBi_MGpE7_Z15WkUflakpoAJFehzJPztpaH6Yc3theijhd3oxVHT_RioOR98bdhyGeMty_1-vHNWJNdV7322g14iRs1gZJAtqgRLyK5TpS0bbMQP/s1600/6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzKLE2HdRp7pSpZ9k0F48buHmfzdChXBi_MGpE7_Z15WkUflakpoAJFehzJPztpaH6Yc3theijhd3oxVHT_RioOR98bdhyGeMty_1-vHNWJNdV7322g14iRs1gZJAtqgRLyK5TpS0bbMQP/s400/6.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> All these plants were transferred into terra cotta pots and window boxes, and will now spread their roots and flourish with watering and fertilizing through the growing season. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ5tuwbrKTwJh1yI39-5VwpO0yF3VPqAuM7m6SRzGmNXlN0TgBzJ72CKdsEhQ50is1sPR0TTNSSI1xhUzvQJ-Y-2pAIFzN2vGsCF3WGf4fsvSW9jtU040POJJaZvGjhz2ZbufB4vduEVy4/s1600/7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="247" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ5tuwbrKTwJh1yI39-5VwpO0yF3VPqAuM7m6SRzGmNXlN0TgBzJ72CKdsEhQ50is1sPR0TTNSSI1xhUzvQJ-Y-2pAIFzN2vGsCF3WGf4fsvSW9jtU040POJJaZvGjhz2ZbufB4vduEVy4/s400/7.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Besides perennials that are already growing in the yard, the new crop of annuals includes white impatiens and red geraniums for the back yard/porch and for the front yard/porch/deck there's pink and purple<span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" id=".reactRoot[55].:1:0:1:comment10200134788438063_46421413.:0.:1.:0.:1.:0.:0.:0:2"><span class="UFICommentBody" id=".reactRoot[55].:1:0:1:comment10200134788438063_46421413.:0.:1.:0.:1.:0.:0.:0:2.:0"><span id=".reactRoot[55].:1:0:1:comment10200134788438063_46421413.:0.:1.:0.:1.:0.:0.:0:2.:0.:0"><span id=".reactRoot[55].:1:0:1:comment10200134788438063_46421413.:0.:1.:0.:1.:0.:0.:0:2.:0.:0.:2"> dianthus, purp</span></span><span id=".reactRoot[55].:1:0:1:comment10200134788438063_46421413.:0.:1.:0.:1.:0.:0.:0:2.:0.:3"><span id=".reactRoot[55].:1:0:1:comment10200134788438063_46421413.:0.:1.:0.:1.:0.:0.:0:2.:0.:3.:0"><span id=".reactRoot[55].:1:0:1:comment10200134788438063_46421413.:0.:1.:0.:1.:0.:0.:0:2.:0.:3.:0.:0">le alyssum, white alyssum, violet petunias, and yellow zinnias. As scraggly plants are marked down in garden centers, I'll add some new varieties and nourish them from ugly ducklings into beautiful swans.</span></span></span></span></span> </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg89pM82kdoA7gxA-h-XLy28IvLZMsIe94ItP24WkT8khUbEEAqDKgeice11H9HLZhNFZG7gh4qp3V2o66F6ng-z1AhzCONmF6Nk9MHSMJweS1dMMnv2f9Zs91SGF2oCCbF9SswK3v6D0cG/s1600/8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg89pM82kdoA7gxA-h-XLy28IvLZMsIe94ItP24WkT8khUbEEAqDKgeice11H9HLZhNFZG7gh4qp3V2o66F6ng-z1AhzCONmF6Nk9MHSMJweS1dMMnv2f9Zs91SGF2oCCbF9SswK3v6D0cG/s400/8.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> More tools of the trade: planting pots. I love the texture and Old World look of terra cotta.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn-jpEErBOv7_9mhzhYybR8CiEZLaQCd0e1C3ltIz23_uKw3Yk3QIjPzPxSxxFbzZd6_NCZC5gj7TRyQL_4TFKPWJ6zQ0kTi9CFM4-pA1b_vhIqSglKrDXwIx6ssQ0p7gy5NBvgOVBfxVv/s1600/9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="227" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn-jpEErBOv7_9mhzhYybR8CiEZLaQCd0e1C3ltIz23_uKw3Yk3QIjPzPxSxxFbzZd6_NCZC5gj7TRyQL_4TFKPWJ6zQ0kTi9CFM4-pA1b_vhIqSglKrDXwIx6ssQ0p7gy5NBvgOVBfxVv/s400/9.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">These two were ready to be placed on the porch. As the alyssum grows and spreads, it will fill in under the dianthus.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Sadly, we lost our bluebird babies Tuesday when a five-foot black snake crawled up the post and got into the house. The parents had been busy all morning flying back and forth feeding their little ones but the snake had wiped them out by the time SWAC Husband found him. He won't be back.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">We're back into the mowing-gardening routine, and ready to begin outdoor entertaining. It's spring in the Shenandoah Valley....</div><br />Photos by Lynn R. Mitchell<br />May 28, 2013

annuals bluebirds flowers gardening perennials spring in the Shenandoah Valley Spring gardening in the Valley

 Spring means hands in the dirt, blooming perennials and trees, and planting bountiful pots of annuals that will grow and bloom into the fal...

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