Beginning Gardening

I used to believe gardening to be an all or nothing adventure. My big yard was always overwelming. No more. Over the last few years, I have managed to make one or two changes to my yard each year. These changes have been successful for the most part, so they motivate me to try something new each year.

Last year I purchased five different varieties of irises and 3/5 bloomed. I checked back with the supplier and it was a fact that they all wouldn't bloom the first year. At the same time we planted a nice long row of tulips and they are coming up this year again too. But one of the best changes I made was to move my hydranga. They were originally planted in too much shade, so I dug them up and moved them. At the same time I bought 5 more to make a long hedge. All of the hydranga have new growth this season.

This year's experiment was to purchase ranunculus bulbs.I bought them a little late, so I am refrigerating them. We'll see how it all works out. I will plant them behind the tulips and remove a few pine tree sprouts after a large tree is removed from my yard.

The year before I planted several butterfly bushes. I only needed one, but it has taken off nicely and attracts lots of butterflies each summer. I notice that several of my neighbors have also planted butterfly bushes... I will add photographs a little later.

Provincetown, Massachusetts

Sunday

Mileage 17

Bike Mileage 15.4

Provincetown is located at the "fingertips" of the arm hook of Massachusetts. Here is a shot of the town from the beach. We are driving to Nickerson State park, which is 17 miles from our hotel in Dennisport to camp for a night. This park has a nice bike path. I don't think we will have internet today, so I am uploading two photos from earlier.

Hydranga is one of my favorite flowering bushes. Hydranga is abundant here on the Cape. The bushes are old and larger than any I have seen. These must have been trimmed because the large blooms are all sticking out like bobbing boats or a sea of people.