Before and After in the Pellie Bed

I spent yesterday afternoon raking leaves and pruning the Pellie bed. I wish I would have taken a closer picture of the plants to show what I have but if you would like to see them click Here (the lower photographs on that post will show the flowers in this bed)

On the left side of this photo is cannas and then just ahead is about 6 pelargonium plants, about 10 feet or so.  I pruned them severely this year because the fallen leaves had pretty much covered the lower half of the plants making it difficult to get in to clean around them, and many were just too large.  They can cover that area when blooming and it makes it difficult to get past them.  I took some cutting just in case I need to replace a few.  I want to transplant some of them back closer to the wall of the house to give them more room to expand without reaching the pavers. When I put these in a few years ago they were only 4 inch pots.

 Here is the area after I raked up the leaves and pruned the plants. You can see how I cut everything down to the ground level. We are forecast for rain for the next three days.  I will fertilize and mulch after the rains.  Looking at this photo I see I also need to plant in-between the pavers with more Dichondra seed.

 

Another view looking North

Lavender in bloom at end of paver path

Blue Flax in the Herb Garden

Rosemary Bush in Bloom

Here are all the leaves I raked up. The compost bin was half full when I started and it stands just under 5 feet. Notice the overflow on the side. After the rains come it should lower enough for me to put the rest in.  Lots of good compost in the near future!

The leaves had a wonderful frolic.

They danced to the wind's loud song.

They whirled, and they floated, and scampered.

They circled and flew along.

The moon saw the little leaves dancing.

Each looked like a small brown bird.

The man in the moon smiled and listened.

And this is the song he heard.

The North Wind is calling, is calling,

And we must whirl round and round,

And then, when our dancing is ended,

We'll make a warm quilt for the ground.

-Anonymous

Grandma Called Them Geraniums!

Whether you call these hard working plants Pelargoniums or Geraniums, be sure to call them Beautiful!

Last year I joined the local Geranium Society.  For a few dollars a year I receive a wonderful newsletter and advance notice of all the sales and garden tours.  I have yet to make it to one of the meetings as the drive would take some time, but I did make it to one of the sales last year and this is my reward.  I planted most of these in the ground, a few in pots; I love to look out back from my kitchen window and see all their happy faces smiling back at me.

"You must not know too much, or be too precise or scientific about birds and trees and flowers... a certain free margin, and even vagueness...perhaps ignorance, credulity helps your enjoyment of these things."

-Walt Whitman

The Bee heavy with pollen