How Does Your Garden Grow?

How do you plan your gardens?

This year I didn't pre-think what I wanted to do with my window boxes. I walked up and down every annual and greenhouse aisle at Bachman's. Inspiration struck when I saw this beautiful Coleus:
I was torn between plain white Petunias and these because I couldn't tell if these clashed or complemented the Coleus:
I couldn't say "no" to the Dracena for a splash of drama, even though it was NOT cheap:
And, that's a variegated Vinca for some trailing off the sides of the boxes:
I didn't replace the soil in the boxes from last year so seeing how these plants fare will be an experiment!

I've been taking stock of plants that have and have not decided to return to my garden this year. Check one and check two for the clematis (clematises, clematii?) I planted last year:

I cannot understand why two of the same plant would fare so differently. They were nearly identical when I planted them but "lefty" is much more well off than "righty":

Blooms everywhere!

Bleeding Heart:

Cherry Tree: planted 2008—it didn't die!
Classic Tulip: planted 2008—squirrels left the bulbs and bunnies have spared the blooms!
Turkish Tulips:
Rhododendron:Wake Up Sleepyhead Fern!
Garden Cat!

Remember the other day when I said my Eyeliner Lilies were coming up? I lied. Those were apparently the Crocus (?) above. This garden bed is chock full of random bulbs from multiple years. Can't wait to see what all is in there!
Chopper Cat, get out of the photo frame!
Chopper Cat, stop chewing on the freshly sprouting flowers!

Jacob's Ladder that I thought I had gotten rid of a few years ago. Xteen dug it up from my yard but apparently it really wanted to stay, and spread. I'm letting it "naturalize" in an area where it seems really happy...


Sedum I got for free from a co-worker...


Hmmm, my garden map does not show there are tulips in this location (!). I think these are Monsella Tulips, planted fall 2007...

Eyeliner Lilies (asiatic), planted fall 2008...