Spring is a wonderful, exciting time of year for gardeners, but it passes by much too quickly. I can’t believe it is the end of June already! It seems like just a few short weeks ago the garden was emerging from its winter’s sleep, but many of the hostas are beginning to flower and the hardy water lilies are blooming regularly…both sure signs (along with muggy, 90* temperatures) that summer is here.

The last two months have been very busy here at the nursery. Early spring in Iowa can often be a bit rocky and this year was no exception. Warm, almost summer-like weather arrived in early April and over stayed its welcome. The garden quickly sprung to life only to be frozen a couple weeks later. Bleeding heart and hostas were turned to transparent mush. It is a sad, depressing sight after waiting not-so-patiently all winter for the garden to turn green, but it is amazing how Mother Nature copes. Most of the hostas bounced right back with a new flush of growth and most surprising to me, the bleeding hearts even bloomed! Even the tulips, which laid limp on the ground for several days, perked up and were only a little ragged around the edges.

Tree Peony

Our Spring in the Country Open House was Mother’s Day weekend. We decided not to host speakers this year, but we had the best turn out we’ve had in several years. I’m sure the picture perfect spring weather had more than a little to do with it! We couldn’t have been happier with the open house, thanks to everyone who stopped out over the weekend.

The following Saturday was the second annual Pond Expo hosted by the Eastern Iowa Pond Society in Cedar Rapids. Last year was great and this year was every bit as successful! Not only were we vending at the Pond Expo and open here at the nursery, but we had a garden club coming for a tour the same day and graduation receptions to go to that evening. Talk about being spread thin! After two busy weekends in a row, the greenhouse was beginning to look a little sparse…that’s a good thing!

Hosta ‘Emerald Ruff Cut’

With nothing scheduled for the next couple weekends, we loaded the van with plants and headed to the farmer’s market in Independence on the last Saturday in May. It was a cool, breezy, overcast day and even though we got rained out early, we were happy with the morning’s sales. This is only the second year for the Independence farmer’s market and our first time vending. Unfortunately, we haven’t been able to make it back since!

June 16th was another first…our first ever Hosta & Dessert Social. Having never tried this before, we had no idea what to expect. A few people told me they planned to come, but would they? A couple didn’t, but many more did! Hosta-holics from all over eastern Iowa and even Wisconsin gathered to talk hostas, buy hostas, swap hostas, play hosta trivia games, and munch on desserts…what a way to spend a day!! About 23 people participated in the hosta swap. There were some beautiful and quite rare plants up for grabs! Despite the sweltering heat, I think everyone had a fun time and several have already asked if we’re going to do it again next year. I think it is safe to say YES, we are!

Hosta ‘Fickle Blue Genes’

Hosta ‘Lakeside Zing Zang’

That pretty much sums up the highlights of the spring. Now it is officially summer and even though it definitely feels like a hot, sticky summer day out there today, the forecast for the next week or so shows things will cool down a bit and be very pleasant. We had a couple inches of rain late last week, so the garden is content for the time being. It is a great opportunity to get some new stuff planted in the newer areas of the garden we’ve been working on. We’re also working on getting a new area of shadehouse built. We put the hostas in the ground last fall and they are looking a little sun burned, but with this recent rain they are all sending out nice new leaves. Hostas actually grow quickly in the sun…they just don’t look so nice.

See more garden pictures in the May 2007 and June 2007 galleries.

The Midwest Regional Hosta Convention is coming up July 12-14. Please note that we will be closed during those days, as we will be vending and enjoying all the excitement! The Convention is being held in Davenport, Iowa this year. A lot of my local hosta buddies are going, plus it is always good to catch up with not-so-local friends. It will be a great time and I’ll have a full report when I return home.

Until then, have a wonderful Fourth of July!