Annuals and a Perennial

We aren't usually fans of annuals - I don't really enjoy gardening so planting something only designed to last one summer seems like a waste of time. But this year we had a large patch of mulch from where the oak came down that needs to sort of decompose before we can plant something lasting - the arborist said to wait at least a year before putting in another tree or shrub. So this seemed like the perfect excuse for some colorful annuals. And as for gardening, well at least I had "help":

Lots of purple and white pansies to fill in the space - maybe we should  have planted them tighter and bought more...

Now I thought the whole point of annuals is that they are really robust for their season of glory, but these guys are already looking pretty sad. Hopefully the recent rain will perk them up a bit. Or I just wasted $60 on plants that will be dead and gone by May.

In happier plant news, we have what looks to be a happily established new tree. The zelkova that we planted last year to replace the white oak that we took down in October is coming alive! We were worried about it because it didn't start budding until this month, but now it seems healthy and alive.

For a better idea on where this and the annuals are on our property, you can look at this post from before the oak came down.

Fingers crossed they all make it through the summer and our forgetful, careless, and haphazard watering.