My Lilac Tree in the back

This is my white Lilac Tree in the back, all leggy and goofy - it just finished blooming May 20 - After much studying, I decided to do my research to figure out how to take care of such a scraggly looking beast.  

So basically I cut each branch as far down as I could (trying to stay within the 1/3 rule).  I cut it right above where I saw new growth - gently bending each branch down to get to the top.  

At the bottom are what I learned are called "suckers", we spent all last year yanking the suckers out - apparently it's just more lilac tree - these I need to cut as well towards the top to promote branching type growth. 

The path of the sun at the end of May

This is where the sun starts in the morning

My first tree

Today, I found my first tree, fruit trees are the hot item of the season this year.  I predicted this a few years ago when we went through such a huge financial crisis and I had developed my own garden in the back yard.   i digress.  So I went to country max today and found this sweet little tree - a Dwarf Bosc Pear.  Quite frankly, it's as cute as a button.  I was told to not get anything with fruit that might drop - I'll be sure to eat it before it hits the ground.  So as easy as this is made out to be.
1.  dig a hold twice the width
2.  Put the tree in the hole (with out the burlap sac)
3.  backfill the hole

http://extension.unh.edu/resources/representation/Resource000587_Rep609.pdf

Quite frankly it was not that easy, the whole tree fell apart as soon as it came out of the pot - ugh

We have a new home, and while we have been here for a year I haven't had a chance to write about our beautiful garden.  I've been working diligently to get it updated, pruned, cleaned up - but admittedly, I'm not sure on a few things, so tomorrow I am going to go out with a camera and capture the plants I have, especially as they are all blooming. 

Garden Container Ideas and Such

Unique Garden Containers

Way to Grow : Episode WTG-211 -- More Projects »

These unique pots are perfect for a small herb garden. A wheelbarrow with a flat tire can work again as a planter. Used as a planter, an old tire can create some down-home charm.

When gardening with containers, the whole idea is to break away from the traditional planting and gardening locations... so why not break away from traditional containers as well? Here, hosts John Greenlee and Jackie Cicchino share some great ideas for unconventional containers that will add interest and charm to planted beauties.

• Old chimney pots or sections of ceramic or metal pipes make great planters... and take up less space than traditional pots, too. Their elongated shape also provides a great way to introduce height into a group of containers.
• When a metal mop bucket springs a leak, just bring it out of the kitchen and give it a second life as a plant's new home. Simply drill holes in the base to provide adequate drainage (leak holes are rarely sufficient for this purpose).
• A kitchen crock with a broken lid is another ideal candidate for a unique planter. Before placing a plant in the crock, drill two 3/8" holes in the base. (Tall crocks make ideal planters for roses - without elevation, roses' low-growing stems make it difficult for passers-by to enjoy the wonderful fragrance of the blooms.)
• Discarded porcelain sinks make perfect planters for large plant varieties. To give a porcelain sink the look of stone, simply clean it, coat it with a bonding adhesive and apply a roughened layer of cement, sand and peat mixed with water.
• Cut wine and beer barrels in half to create charming planters for large, colorful mixes of blooms.
• Giant seashells can be transformed into planters for low-growing plants that don't require a deep root run. (Some shells even have holes close to their lowest point, eliminating the need for creating a new drainage opening.) The only drawback to large seashell planters is their great weight - two people can barely lift one of these.

I told you how anything can be a container garden, here’s more proof. Here are a couple unique garden containers at my local garden center today.

Here’s a bicycle container garden.

And here’s your kitchen chair in the garden. Just cut out the seat and add a planter.