An example of synchronicity? The world knows no boundaries of nation or language; if it’s spring, there’re plants for sale tempting people to try to get them to grow. Earlier today I was plant-shopping in Schaumburg. Meanwhile, Mediatinker was plant-shopping in Japan.

Lamb’s Ear is the softest plant ever. I love stroking its leaves and was very happy to do so at the herb shop we visited today.

I didn’t buy any, though. Instead I picked up parsely, sage, rosemary, thyme, margoram, basil, shiso, lemon balm, tarragon, wild strawberry, lettuce, yarrow, lavender, and eucalyptus. I would have purchased more, but I’m not sure I have enough pots or space to plant everything.

I bought perennials today to go into the circular bed I dug out and amended yesterday. This is my first foray into creating a perennials bed (other than the “lets stick these lavender plants here in this weird little corner the former owners left”).

I picked out plants that attract butterflies and/or birds and hummingbirds, and later on will install a birdfeeder on a hook and a goofy little “birdwatching cat” statue.

I bought 3 catmint plants… and then for myself I bought cheddar pinks, larkspur, black-eyed susan, purple gayfeather, some blue-green grass of some kind, and a variety of other sunloving perennials that bloom at different times. I tried to be aware of things like texture, foliage, and mature height. I may decide to put one or two things in a bed in front, in case the bed is smaller in reality than it is in my mind’s eye.

As it happens, I already have some lamb’s ear in the yard – I stuck it in the one front bed otherwise known as the “afternoon hell” bed, because it’s the driest one that gets all the afternoon sun. That one is going to get dug over and composted and mulched, and some more columbine and maybe some lupine will go in there later (will try to start that from seed).

I tried to grow these plants and more from seed last year (including shiso) but failed utterly to get them to grow beyond a certain point. I probably overwatered early on, and underwatered later on. Well, I’ll give it another shot.

So for now the round bed is getting a bunch of relatively mature plants, and so I’ll have some flowers this year and not have to wait for next year.