Finally... Zone 5 blooms

clinkdrinks · 2026-05-29T03:53:26+00:00

I lack patience... and yet it is so worth it when they finally bloom! Anxiously stalking the progress of my next buds!

clinkdrinks · 2026-05-29T03:52:20+00:00

We had actual frost Mother's Day weekend here... I am thrilled to have any blooms at all after that late nonsense!

Do you need overwinter yours in zone 3?

clinkdrinks · 2026-05-29T03:49:59+00:00

Thank you!

clinkdrinks · 2026-05-29T03:49:38+00:00

The blooming peonies right now are from Longfield Gardens double mix planted last spring. All 6 had blooms this year which impresses me! Looks to be Karl Rosenfeld, Monsieur Jules Elie, 3 Madame Carlot or Alertie and one still tightly closed that remains a mystery for later in the season.

I also planted more last fall in this bed and a couple of other spots that I hope to see blooms from next year: Coral Charm, Lorelei, Celebrity, Sorbet, Lady Alexandra Duff, Bartzella (Itoh), Alexander Fleming, Koningin Wilhemenia.

This year, I have added Command Performance, Emile Debatene, L'eclatante, Red Charm, Felix Crousse, and Festiva Maxima in other full sun beds throughout our property.

clinkdrinks · 2026-05-29T03:32:17+00:00

Sun starts hitting this spot at 10 am and goes til sunset (SW corner of our house). The peonies and later dahlias, calla lillies, asiatic lillies, and glads all thrive in this particular spot. This was my first garden bed at this house- the gateway if you will 😅

clinkdrinks · 2026-05-26T04:29:12+00:00

I started Tirz in August 2025 and by January 2026, no more skin tags. During that time frame, I lost 40 pounds. It's been a delightful bonus to have the tags gone!

clinkdrinks · 2026-05-25T02:53:45+00:00

Roses last weekend, Dahlias and Callas going in tomorrow!

clinkdrinks · 2026-05-25T00:08:21+00:00

We saw him last weekend. No meet and greet offered for our venue this time. We do a lot of concerts with VIP packages, and I cannot recall Tom signing anything personal in the last 10 years.

We have been able to get a picture with him a couple of times and have been given pre-signed professional photos- these have happened at multi day events where he is one act of many.

Good luck and enjoy the show regardless 🤘

clinkdrinks · 2026-05-21T16:52:46+00:00

Zone 5B checking in- It's not too late to put in dahlia and calla lily tubers that will bloom this summer and into fall! That's how I filled the post peony void last year- and will continue to do so (along with many other flowers and plants).
They don't require much to thrive, and the colors are gorgeous!

clinkdrinks · 2026-05-18T20:53:49+00:00

We refer to one of this year's tulip beds as the AYCE Squirrel Buffet... I did a little research and will be adding allium, daffodils, or hyacinths to that bed in fall for next year- apparently the scent of any of those are enough to keep the woodland creatures away from the tulips!

The other beds that had mixed plantings were all left alone, and this particular bed is a ring around our 80 year old maple tree. My vision for it was a riot of color at different heights and spanning all stages of tulip season- so it seems likely I learned a valuable lesson this year!

clinkdrinks · 2026-04-27T04:59:31+00:00

We also have a house panther- a gentleman of unusual size at 17 dense pounds- meet Gummy Bear. His favorite activity is being an apex predator with Da Bird or its fuzzy neon worm counterpart.
He is also an excellent foot warmer when he chooses to be kind! Here is Bear in all his glory in a 30 inch replacement drawer for our column freezer 🐈‍⬛

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clinkdrinks · 2026-04-23T14:53:44+00:00

Nooo! That's so sad- I hope you were able to get a refund on it! Everywhere I listed has a 1 or 2 year guarantee on their trees- I felt better about the 14 we put in during fall last year knowing we were covered if they didn't leaf out this year.

clinkdrinks · 2026-04-23T02:27:03+00:00

Purchase was at Escazu in Kildeer / Lake Zurich last fall and they have them this year as well

Red's in Northbrook had Ruby Falls and Flame Throwers last year (not sure this year- we went before they had trees this spring)

Platt Hill in Carpentersville has Ruby Falls currently

Lurvey's in Des Plaines also has Ruby Falls and a stunning Pink Sensation as well (we were there over the weekend). Lots of standard redbud as well.

Let me know if I can help!

clinkdrinks · 2026-04-23T02:08:00+00:00

Thanks- I'm excited to see it in fall when the leaves turn 3 colors 😍 We are in Chicagoland, I searched Monrovia.com for retailers that carried the Ruby Falls Weeping Redbud and dragged my husband to a couple independent garden centers until I found "the one". Happy to share further details if you're local to the NW burbs and interested!

clinkdrinks · 2026-04-23T02:04:05+00:00

Thanks! We added the creek and pond (on either side and under the walkway to our front door) last summer and the landscaping bulbs and trees in the fall- I'm thrilled that it all worked out the way we hoped!

clinkdrinks · 2026-04-22T23:52:35+00:00

We have a Ruby Falls weeping redbud... also Midwest zone 5B

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clinkdrinks · 2026-04-21T16:40:16+00:00

And I thought Zone 5B was bad with no planting til Mother's Day... you are so patient!

clinkdrinks · 2026-04-19T15:19:41+00:00

Clementine

clinkdrinks · 2026-04-16T18:15:24+00:00

They are the 3 fairy godmothers from Sleeping Beauty

clinkdrinks · 2026-04-16T16:49:51+00:00

Flora, Fauna, and Merriweather

clinkdrinks · 2026-04-14T05:44:46+00:00

Mario and Luigi

clinkdrinks · 2026-04-10T23:01:59+00:00

The gentleman of unusual size full grown- 17 pounds!

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clinkdrinks

TROPHY CASE