More happenings in the Garden

I decided to get out and take some pictures while it isn't raining! We are due for rain it looks like the rest of the week! I do apologize here, I am usually better about my fall cleanup, but we were doing some projects and I didn't get to that with my peonies and things, BUT that actually turned into a blessing because I learned something new there!
Anyhow~this is the front yard. This is our humble home. I need to paint the trim, that will be this year. I wanted to show you the tree closest to the street. This is one of my projects for this year. I am going to make a big bed here. We will place rocks like the other bed, which actually, I need to expand that one as well, so we will see!
I would like to put something substantial here~ as to block out my neighbors! Especially the one directly across the street! Long story and long history, but let's say, she burned her bridge with me! I have forgiven, but I won't be going back for more! I had to really work through some things, and well, it's still hurtful to me, when I see her, but I have to move on.
My birdlady friend, the one that I help out, she is suggesting that I place some type of creeping evergreen there, which I like, but then that means I still would have to look that way, and so I am not sure!
Sometimes, I wish I could just build a big fortress around our home! I know that sounds awful, but some of our neighbors are real jerks and  that is why I have planted all these shrubs so I don't have to look at them!
Actually, there are really only three of them that we don't care for. Moving on...


We have three Ash trees in front, two of them were planted when we built our home, and the third one was planted about 4 years ago now.
You can see, our Spring is behind, still no leaves yet, buds, but no leaves! I need to get out here and chop the peonies back, some of the perennials! I leave some things up for winter feeding purposes.
This year I have lots of dividing to do, Sedum, salvia, catmint. All have to be divided. You can see my bleeding hearts~ I also need to move them, I know they dislike it, so I will wait until they are done, but they get too much sun where they are, and I want to move them in back. I have one white bleeding heart, and I would like to get more of them as well, it's only up about two inches.
I did notice and you might be able to see, I have Candytuft, and it's starting to bloom, it's SO pretty! I love it. Brandon has been enjoying the Hyacinths this year, and the tulips are starting to bloom as well as some of the other daffodils.
Don't mind my windows! The blinds will be getting replaced st some point. Zipper has ruined them! I want to get wooden ones in there too because he can't wreck them! One of the things my husband and I did was install the fencing there in the front. We did this back in the late summer. I primed and painted it all, and then we installed it. I really like it! I may add something to the front like a wreath or something. What I have behind it are peonies and roses.
Everyday, it's more and more things coming to life! I just get so thrilled, I am sure it's boring to some, but to me, it's part of what keeps me going. I will share more pictures as time allows. I am hoping that by my next weekend off, I can at least get some things planted in the vegetable garden.
This year we are doing potatoes,broccoli, cabbage, brussel sprouts. That will be first, then it will be green beans, cucumbers, zucchini, squash, tomatoes and peppers. Last year, I didn't have good luck with the peppers, I didn't get very many. I am going to give it another whirl this year. We haven't done potatoes before, but I want to try! I got the Yukon Gold potatoes. Does anyone have any thoughts on Asparagus? I haven't tried growing it, is it fairly easy? Any special tips? Oh~ I forgot that we were going to do buttercrunch lettuce!  Variety is the spice of life!
If anyone has any tips on shrubs or things that I can put in this new front bed, I am open! I want to get it right! Thanks to everyone for welcoming Shirlee! She's a real sweet lady.I hope that everyone has a great week!