Day 11 of isolation and I did my usual peony patrol. I have about 70 peony plants at Casa Debbio and they are almost all on the move. Tree peonies bloom much earlier than the bush type.
Some of the tree peonies already have buds.
Some of the other type are still just shoots.
Others are zooming along.
A couple have not yet shown themselves. There is one, in particular, I have been watching. It is in a row where all the others have appeared. I checked in the morning yesterday, nothing. I looked again at midday, nothing. When I went back at 4.00pm there was a shoot about 4 centimetres high and it was as thick as my little finger. This morning another shoot appeared. How does this happen??
Peonies are the perfect plants for Casa Debbio. The wild goats and the deer don’t eat them. They require almost no work, just a little pruning of the tree peonies and keeping weeds away from the others. They just come up all by themselves each spring and look gorgeous.
I found 7 tiny peony plants which have come up from seed. I have moved them to a pot where I can keep an eye on them. This morning there are 2 more…I love it!
The weeping cherry is now in full bloom.
We lose a few lavender plants each year for unknown reasons. This year I am filling some of the gaps with daisies for a change. They are not perennials, but most things in the garden are, so adding some annuals each year is OK.
I found some verbena at the supermarket.
Gazanias should do well in summer.
Some of the rhododendrons are beginning to open.
Things are gradually turning green.
I think these are grape hyacinth. They pop up all over the place.
I wish the nurseries were open. There is always room for more plants.
Yesterday I made pulla, a slightly sweet Finnish bread flavoured with cardamom. The dough just kept rising. I thought it would take over the kitchen!
It turned out well, but I think I left it in the oven about 5 minutes too long. Anyway, it tastes great and I sliced most of it and put it in the freezer. It will last until my next supermarket visit.
Today has been overcast and cool, so I am back inside with a fire. Spring came a bit early this year, but when the sun is not out it is not warm.
Maybe tomorrow will be better.