The Last Cherry Tree.

4-5-11 SHORT HILLS: Another exciting day in the garden! It was warm this morning after a trace of rain over night. At midday a front came through with big wind gusts, heavy rain for a few minutes and a major temperature drop. By late afternoon, it was all over and the sun was out. We got 0.2 inches of rain. I was at Home Depot putting another cherry tree in the car when the rain started. This fifth and last tree, Prunus subhirtella, is now planted in the same area as the others and those dogwoods. I had to move that blueberry bush that I had previously moved a couple weeks ago. It must feel like one of Judy’s end tables.

I also bought a hose repair kit and fixed the sprinkler pipe that I cut yesterday. Earlier I stopped at the town dump and shoveled a yard of aged compost into the car which I used to fill holes in the yard. Thanks a lot, Gus.

Tonight I planted basil and tomato seeds indoors, of course. The oregano has germinated and tiny, two-leafed seedlings are just visible in the planting tray.

So many of the early spring flowers are vivid yellow—daffodil, forsythia, spice bush, marsh marigold, dandelion, trout lily—come to mind. Could it be just coincidence or, perhaps, an important color to some pollinator. With the low sun angle of early spring, maybe the yellow is better seen by insect eyes??

I forgot to mention another perennial with yesterday's list: pulmonaria 'Trevi Fountain'.

New blooms: spice bush.


Vinca minor. Not yellow.