How does your garden grow?

Last year we started a garden, and the flowers are coming back strong!  Many of the bigger (and more expensive) plants came back and I've been holding off on planting the replacements for those that haven't come back.  I figure we're a month ahead of schedule anyway, and it wasn't until looking at last year's photos that I remembered what I had planted where.

 I cut the bleeding heart to the ground (left, above) and it came back wonderfully!  It was one of the first things to flower.  The azaleas are starting to bloom and I've uncovered most of what I think will come back (hostas and lilies).

 My columbines are coming back here and the lilies too.  The bleeding heart died, but I replaced it with a mum  that doesn't look like it's coming back.  My foxglove isn't popping back up either, but I wasn't crazy about them last year, so I'm happy to replace it.  So two empty holes here...

 Most excitingly, the hydrangea is coming back!  I splurged for the bigger hydrangea to hopefully get it to last through its first winter, and since we had no winter it is doing great!  

 I had a bit of a hole in the front of the garden and saw some grape hyacinths at my sister's new place, so I planted these little guys in one of the empty holes.

 The azaleas are now blooming!  And I think I can now fill in the holes... if they're not coming in by now they're likely not going to.  A project not for this weekend but likely next weekend.

We've been keeping busy otherwise.  Two weekends ago we volunteered at the 4-H state awards and last weekend we helped my sister and brother-in-law move from Ames to Des Moines.  I am so excited to have them closer!  Her yard is fully landscaped--if I get the chance to go over and work in her garden I'll be sure to take some pictures.  I'm jealous of her landscaping!  Otherwise we've been enjoying the weather, put some time on the bike and lots of walks with the dog.  Work has been very busy prepping for planting season and while we'll have a bit of a lull in a month or so, it will pick up again shortly after that.  Ahh, the joys of working in agriculture!  I likely won't post again before the holiday, so Happy Easter!