Rough and tumble gardening

Today we moved two mid-sized shrubs in the garden.  The plants were beautiful but weren't the right fit for the places they were growing.  It was quite the chore to dig them out, trying to preserve the root systems, and then replanting them.  One plant was a lovely red barberry and the other plant is an unknown shrub.  Our neighbor asked us to give her the plant so we did.

Sheared barberry in new location

After taking the barberry out of the ground, and discovering that it had layered itself and created a completely separate plant, we moved it to its new location, sheared it of half of its growth, and then replanted it.
     Since our neighbor was not home at the time of digging, we had to cover the roots of the potential transplant which we did with soil and burlap.

Awaiting its new home

     We then transplanted the last of the winter squash and pumpkins into the flower bed (see previous post) which had held the two bushes.  Here is the result.

Plant of the day

     One of the flowers that Illijana loves is bearded iris.  Here is a quite unusual one.  It is almost black as it begins to open.  Quite stunning.  Click to enlarge.