We went to Carroll Gardens today

For a belated birthday present, Dave drove me up to Carroll Gardens in Westminster, MD to go plant shopping. It was a nice day, almost 60 degrees with a bit of March wind.

We bought three sweet box plants -- Sarcococca hookeriana var. humilis -- which have the most heavenly fragrant flowers, and are in bloom right now. The car smelled gorgeous all the way home. Sweet box is a shade-loving evergreen that grows no more than 2 feet high, spreads way out on all sides, and can be used as a ground cover.

I also splurged on two hardy geranium plants, Brookside and Tiny Monster, for the shady part of the back yard. Then I picked up a trio of allium bulbs. I know they are supposed to be planted in the fall, but they were sprouting a tiny bit, so I figured I'd give them a chance. They might bloom next year.

A pair of nice miniature dahlia roots topped off the heap. They will go into the big front planters after the last frost date, around April 16 in Montgomery County.

On the way we stopped at a New York pizza place in Mt. Airy for lunch. Dave ordered baked ziti and I got the pasta with broccoli and garlic. It came with the best garlic bread we ever had -- and we're from NJ originally.

When we got home I planted the alliums, geraniums and the two small sweet boxes, saving the big sweet box for tomorrow afternoon. A lovely day.

Where in MontCo. are you? I just moved into townhouse in Aspen Hill, after 1 year in apt. in Colesville, after 20+ years in old house in NW DC.

Hope to do some gardening in very small patch, but this place was vacated by messy family so will take some time to organize indoors! Am looking forward to small garden as one aspect of my changing life!

I think my folks had allium someplace (NY or FLa), isn't it finally onion? Nice round purple flower?

Seen any Aspen trees in Montgomery County???

in Derwood. Hi neighbor! :hi:

You're right, elleng, allium is an ornamental onion with round, purple or blue flowers. I decided to try them because I've read that deer don't bother them. We have a huge deer problem, and last week they ate all my blooming crocuses.

Derwood used to be called Deerwood a long time ago, and it's obvious why. I have to check everything I plant to make sure it's deer resistant, or it's toast.

I can't recall seeing any aspen trees in MoCo, but I'm not sure I'd recognize one.

Good luck with your new home and garden! Mabus, someone who posts a lot on the Maryland forum, also recently moved to Aspen Hill.

I'll look for Mabus.

AND I think we discussed deer resistant plants here recently; will check! Crocus were up at my 'old' house in DC last week; fortunately they weren't bothered by deer!

on deer; you've probably seen this:

http://www.agnr.umd.edu/CES/Pubs/PDF/FS655.pdf

This is a good list too.

http://njaes.rutgers.edu/deerresistance/