We planted five new additions to the Bialczak Botanical Gardens this morning.

OK, that’s a bit of a stretch for the oval in front and triangle in back of our Eastwood home, but my dear wife Karen and I love what we can grow on our city plot.

A trip to Hafner’s Garden Center yesterday brought back the goods. Two big stakes and green tie tape to better secure our first-year flowering Robinson Crabapple in those big winds that’ve been blowing though Syracuse this Memorial Day Weekend. A bag of Miracle Grow potting soil. A pair of Gerber Daisies, one red, one white. One white rosebush. One yellow primrose. One pretty violet Royal Candles, a new species.

The primrose and fellow perennial went out back, in our butterfly garden that’s fenced off to avoid the trampling paws of Ellie B. The daisies and white rose went in front, joining an expanded plot where the stately old olive tree used to rule until toppling last winter.

Sweat equity. How satisfying.