Bleeding Heart (Dicentra Spectabilis)

My bleeding heart is doing much better this year since I moved it last summer. The previous location was getting too much sun and as a result my bleeding heart would go dormant much too soon. Bleeding hearts will die back to the ground and go dormant when the temperatures climb in the hot summer days. Since mine was going dormant much too early, it was not feeding the roots as much as it would have in a shadier location.

Bleeding hearts are easy to grow; they prefer a very rich soil with plenty of organic matter and moderately wet conditions. The soil should drain well or you will risk root rot. Bleeding hearts are perennials, so once planted they will come back year after year; reaching maturity in two years. They require part to full shade for best growth; avoid planting where the hot afternoon sun will reach the plants. For best blooming, do not let the plant become stressed for water; however, don't let the soil become waterlogged either. To help keep the soil moist, and to add organic matter for next year, apply a layer of organic mulch around the plant. Bleeding hearts can reach a height and spread of 91-122 cm (3-4 ft)

Bleeding hearts are a wonderful addition to any garden that contains shady locations. They are easy to grow and require little care outside of watering during dry weather. There are a few varieties with colours of pink, white, and red.

Weigela florida

The front garden Weigela florida is in bloom. A weigela is a great addition to a garden; they are very hardy plants and can thrive in light shade to full sun and tolerate a wide range of moisture and soil types. However, the soil should drain well for best growth. Weigelas can reach a height of 83-305 cm (6-10 ft) with a similar size spread. If pruned, weigelas should be pruned in late spring after they have finished blooming. There are several cultivars of weigela, including one with variegated leaves.

Flowering Almond

In late winter I decided to relocate my flowering almond (Prunus glandulosa). This relocation would constitute the second move since Mum and I first planted the flowering almond; an offshoot from one that had died from insect or disease damage. Flowering almonds are early spring bloomers; small ruffled pinkish blooms will sprout out from the branches before the leaves appear. They grow to a height of 90-120 cm (36-48 in) with a similar size spread and are hardy to US zones 3b-8. Flowering almond can grow in full sun to partial shade and only need moderate watering although the ground where they are planted should drain well. In autumn the leaves will turn a very pretty yellow-orange colour.

Flowering Almond Before the New Bed

When I relocated the flowering almond, I mixed in lots of organic material, compost and humus, into the clay soil that is common in my area. When I was finished, this created a mound where the flowering almond would be planted; which would help to insure the soil drained well. I had already decided that I would probably expand the area to a new bed. This spring after the flowering almond had finished blooming, I put my idea of expanding the area into a new bed in motion. I mixed in generous amounts of organic material into the clay soil and then bordered the new area with stones from the property, and then added soil to level out the bed.

The Finished Flower Bed

The new bed is in a rough oval; actually it is more of an egg shape, with the flowering almond at the top. I enjoy using the natural stones on the property to create my borders. However, some may prefer to use the more uniform cut stone blocks, or the cast stone blocks you find at garden centres or to even forgo a border altogether. It really is a matter of personal taste. If you are building a raised bed without a border, you simply tapper the soil out to ground level with will increase the size of the bed just a tad.

Now that the bed is finished, I have to decide what I want to plant in it. I have already planted a few perennials that Sisters #1 and #2 gave me, but I want to make sure something is always in bloom. I can view this new bed directly out of the window over my kitchen sink, which is nice when I have to do the washing up.