The week off, despite the heat, was used as intended. To get on the proper side of the garden’s to-do list.
Not an easy task it turns out!
We finally got the main garden properly edged. Gone are the ratty old decking boards held in place with stakes. Now a lovely line of charcoal brick. I’m please with how it turned out, how affordable it was, and how quickly it came together.
We finished moving the fire pit down into what we call the Cee Garden and finished planting it up. We also refinished the outdoor chairs with a good sanding and a couple coats of Teak Oil. They are lovely now and, with this being the only sunken area in the garden, make for a really nice place to sit and enjoy the flowers.
The Potager/Herb Garden got its top dressing of pea gravel and a few extra dahlias for good measure. This is going to be a work in progress as far as the planting, but it is fun to tinker with a small space like this. The herbs, so far, are happy. I need to fill in with some more flowers, but alas, time has gotten a bit away from us. Perhaps I can throw in a few Nasturtium seeds and hope for the best?
The rock stream got planted up with Burgundy Bunny Grass (Pennisetum alopecuroides ‘Burgundy Bunny’) and the husband is out searching for the perfect field stone to fill in the last gap. I’m excited to see how this matures and how the Hen and Chicks do in the cracks. Another experiment that will surely evolve over time. But for now, it is close enough to done now that it has a dressing of pea gravel.
The four yews in the corners of this centerpiece finally go their companions. 8 Hedge Cotoneaster (Cotoneaster lucidus) have been added and will eventually form dense, strong walls of green that I can clip and prune into shape. Its all a bit ragged right now, but in my mind I can see what it is going to look like and I’m excited.
Two more, very utilitarian, projects got underway as well. On the left is the path that will finally (FINALLY) connect the Dry Garden and house area properly to the Greenhouse. The wide edging will make it easy to run the riding mower over and should help keep the quack grass at bay. The path on the right is a shortcut from the Potager and Greenhouse area into the Main Garden. There had been leftover pavers crammed into this space, but these three generous ones make for easier travels, less tripping hazard, and a more streamlined look.
Of course there was weeding and planting, pruning, digging, mowing, watering. But it feels like we are more ‘in control’ of the garden (whatever that actually means) than we’ve ever been and it is such a relief to be able to potter around and enjoy it more.
I’m off to deadhead more irises, the next post will have more flowers and less hardscaping. I promise!
WOW! What a lot of work with gorgeous results. The grey brick edging looks really nice.
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Thank you! I’m pretty pleased with the brick edging, especially at 33 cents per brick! I was a big concerned about the pricetag edging this big of a space would ring up, but it ended up being pretty affordable! Right around $150 for over 300 feet of edging.
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You’ve accomplished so much! It’s fun to watch your dream garden taking shape from afar. The rock stream is beautiful.
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Thank you! I’m quite proud of the rock stream, its clearly Japanese inspired, but when I saw the leftover pile of small limestone stones, I couldn’t help but think something like this would be a perfect way to use them.
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Truly impressive! I like seeing the larger views of your beautiful garden to get an idea of the whole picture. Wow.
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Thank you so much! And thanks for the feedback re: larger views. I tend to forget that when I’m out in the garden with my camera!
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I’ve only just recently subscribed to your blog. Great project and so much open space. I’m really hoping that once this project is completed you’ll post ‘before and after’ photos. I’m sure the results will speak for themselves.
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Thank you for subscribing Jason and thank you for the feedback! I will definitely get a Before and After blog post up… though the before is honestly 99% lawn!
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Do you ever actually relax in those white recliners?
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WE DO! I swear! Just not very often! This made me laugh out loud… I am trying to relax on those chairs more though!
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Beautiful!
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This article gives the light in which we can observe the reality. I like this kind of blog. Thanks for sharing informative information with usretaining wall Wellington
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Reblogged this on Wolf's Birding and Bonsai Blog.
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