Been too busy to post- but making progress

 As of now, I have about 45 larger plants to get in the ground, 73 started from seed perennials left to plant and 378 iris left to plant. It sounds like a lot, but I started a ton from seed this year, so having less than 100 left to plant is pretty great.

I replaced the wisteria with a native wisteria a couple days ago- talk about a grueling afternoon. I was going to keep the chinese wisteria in the ground until it flowered, but, then realized the trunk was already 6" around and if I waited I wouldn't be able to remove it at all without cutting it apart. I was able to get it with most of the rootball intact and it hasn't even wilted. Stuck it in a large half barrel pot- it can live on the patio like that where it can't send runners everywhere. Removing the runners was such a project. I'm glad I had so much weed barrier down- it kept it from getting more of a foothold, but, oof, what a project removing it.

I have all my solarizing tarps removed, new weed barrier and mulch down. I realized my solarize then weed barrier method wasn't going to work with the iris. Having weed barrier down works fine for roses, but with the way iris spread it's a pain to use. I ended up buying a sod cutter- a manual kick sod remover. It definitely works more easily than a shovel- but is still a tough job. I just need a second set of hands out there to help me mark the rest of the beds with stakes and twine because I goofed the first bed I tried to cut. After it's marked, I should be able to cut and prep a 10'X10' every evening- weather allowing. Of course, spouse is on afternoons this week so it's tricky to find a time I can step outside for a few minutes while he's home to mark the rest of the new beds.

I know it sounds like a lot left to do- but it's so much less left than there was last week.

A rose vendor I like restocked- I've been trying to collect all the remaining Buck roses and they have about 20 I don't have suddenly in stock. However, only ordering them if I get everything else in the ground in the next week or so.