It’s that time of year where I have to stop thinking about planting plants that have arrived, and I actually have to start doing it. And how do I know when it’s time to really start? When my roses arrive!

The roses this year came from The Antique Rose Emporium in Texas. I ordered Prairieville Prince (a cross between April Moon’ and ‘Tess of the Urbervilles’), General Jacqueminot, and Baronne Prevost. Technically I am only adding 1 additional rose because voles ate the roots of two David Austin roses that had lived in my garden for close to a decade. England’s Rose and another pink one, James Galway I think.

I planted the roses a few days ago now. Yes, I put my post down and got busy in the garden. The roses seem to be taking and tonight will be a test because we are expecting a hard frost overnight.

Also planted over the past few days? Four hydrangeas, camellias, a weeping dark red leaf redbud, hellebores, another fig tree, and about five clematis plants.

In the greenhouse I have started zinnias and sunflowers. Fingers crossed and so far so good as they have sprouted. Also in the greenhouse? Herbs waiting for more even temperatures and geraniums, mini hostas and some coleus.

This is also the time of year when I have started my tomato and chili pepper seeds. My dining room table at one end is all flats with clear plastic covers and LED grow lights. The tomatoes have all sprouted well. The chili peppers? So far nothing.

Yesterday I put down a lot of bales of pine straw mulch. They went into the other shade and woodland beds in the front off to the side. I call this section the Derecho garden after the Derecho winds a couple of years ago which literally cleared the area of saplings and trash trees. The beds now have mountain hydrangeas, daffodils, azaleas, rhododendrons, woodland perennials. I have bluebells coming up there now!

I have also been weeding. I hate weeding but Bishop’s weed and invasive garlic mustard are sprouting up everywhere.

I do love this time of year, however. It’s so fun seeing the garden come back to life!

How does your garden grow?