GARDEN STRATEGY: NO MULCH, JUST GROUNDCOVER!

I absolutely love this season! With the perfect spring weather, it’s almost a pleasure to do the limited weeding that’s ahead. I say, “limited,” because with the strategy of NO MULCH, JUST GROUNDCOVER, I have very little weeding to do. By planting periwinkle (Vinca minor) in all of my garden beds, I’ve eliminated the mulching that I had been doing for over 30 years. All of my bulbs and perennials come up through it and the groundcover keeps in the moisture, preventing roots from drying out, even in the heat of summer. If you aren’t already doing this, you may want to give it a try – maybe only in a small portion of your garden, as a test patch. 

Red with Yellow Tulips

Grape hyacinths, tulips, heuchera, roses and narcissus growing through the periwinkle.

Bleeding Hearts, violets, and other perennials among the periwinkle.

When the first daffodils appeared, I painted this little girl trying to decide which flower she would choose. She's reaching for one, but looking at another! I hope that you enjoy her, along with my "Yellow Daffodil" painting!

"Girl with Daffodils" by Barbara Rosenzweig

"Yellow Daffodils"


Garden Tips for this Month:

• Some of the plants that may be divided now are primrose, bleeding hearts, asters, primrose, iris, daylilies, and chrysogonum. This is best done before they get too large, avoiding excessive wilting or death.
• To make plants bushier, cut back beautyberry, roses, St. John’s Wort, buddleia, and caryopteris in late March, early April.
• Remove “weeds” (any plants that you do not want growing where they appear) as soon as you see them. One man’s weeds are another’s valued garden addition!

 Primrose

Narcissus

What are your favorite spring gardening tips?

Website: http://www.WatercolorsByBarbara.com/

Etsy: http://BarbaraRosenzweig.etsy.com

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/barbrosenzweig/

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/WatercolorsByBarbara

Posted by Barbara Rosenzweig

MORNING COFFEE & FRUIT

Morning Coffee & Fruit

by Barbara Rosenzweig

Sitting quietly with my morning coffee, I started playing with my food - something my mother emphatically told me as a kid not to do! But the color combinations were so lovely and the arrangement so appealing, I decided to paint this serene scene. My original framed painting would look great in your kitchen or make a wonderful housewarming gift!

Periwinkle Breakfast

Curator Diana from familycraftstudio says, "mmm.....breakfast....." What a terrific collection of periwinkle handmade and fine art!

NEW PAINTING - WHITE ROSE 2

White Rose 2

As one of my favorite flowers in the garden, this white rose is a knockout! I continue trying to capture the wonderful pastel shadows of this beautifully fragrant blossom! With this Fine Art Reproduction, you can enjoy the splendor of the rose all year round!

FROM GARDEN TO EASEL - CLEMATIS FLOWER

 "Clematis Blossom Close-up"

                            Botanical Limited Edition Matted Watercolor Print
                                          By Artist Barbara Rosenzweig
                                                      Buy Now $20 

Many photographs and a multitude of hours went into creating this inner view of the beautiful clematis that grows up the side of my garden shed. I wanted to be sure to capture the rust colors of the tips of the stamens (called "anthers" where the pollen is - sorry, I taught biology and can't help myself!) that contrast witht the shadows of the petals. I hope that you enjoy this interpretation of my lovely flower!

Clematis Blossom Close-Up Photo

THE POWER OF PURPLE

Early spring is a wonderful season to see how purple blooms, as well as the blues, enhance the depth of your garden. Grape hyacinths, Vinca minor, lungwort (Pulmonaria), and perennial forget-me-nots (Brunnera) all help punch up the contrast to our bright spring blooms – daffodils, tulips, and hyacinths.

                                            Red Parrot Tulip and Grape Hyacinths

                       Tahiti Daffodil with Grape Hyacinths and Vinca minor (Periwinkle) groundcover

                                          Tete-a-Tete Daffodils with Grape Hyacinths

Linked to:
Rednesday on Wednesdays
Wordless Wednesday  Alicia
Outdoor Wednesday     

BLUE RUST

 "Clematis Blossom Close-up"
Botanical Limited Edition Matted Watercolor Print
By Artist Barbara Rosenzweig
5x7 print in 8x10 mat $20 (includes shipping)

Other Sizes Abailable

Curator Amy of glasspanic created this terrific collection of rusts and blues - my favorite color combination! She also included my matted Limited Edition print of "Clematis."
Please check out my website: WatercolorsByBarbara.com).

OUTDOOR WEDNESDAY, WORDISH WEDNESDAY, ALPHABE-THURSDAY!

Here's my contribution to Outdoor Wednesday and Alphabe-Thursday, an exuberant child running into the surf showing the UNLIMITED fun a child has at the beach! Enjoy!

  "Into the Surf" matted Limited Edition Watercolor
           by Artist Barbara Rosenzweig
          8x10 print in a 11x14 mat - $24

Check out the March Madness sale on selected items in my Etsy Shop.

Please join Susan for more Outdoor Wednesday.