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Where did all the gardeners go? I have been frantically trying to finish my projects before hand surgery on Tuesday, tomorrow should be the end of it - so here is my report for the week.
Last week I reported removing a huge patch of lily of the valley - Saturday it was replaced with a half dozen beautiful hostas rescued from where they were misplaced around the yard, and lots of lovely mulch, creating a serene little oasis in the center of a 100' back fence garden. While I was planting, a colleague came and dug many misplaced and/or exuberant native plants from around the yard to populate one of the educational gardens at her school district, leaving more calming spaces and showing off some of the unique plants I have acquired over the past 30 years.
And after I saw how lovely it looked, I couldn't help myself! Next to the lily of the valley spot, the 10' X 15' overgrown patch of ditch lilies (aka common orange daylilies) mixed with common purple iris and bee balm, all in a tangle, just had to go. Tuesday I dug and pulled and hauled for over 5 hours - taking out a large compost container-full and 3 - 35 gallon bags unwanted of plants. There must be a special place in gardener hades for people who plant these aggressive buggers in the middle of a suburban garden - even for free, you can't give them away around here.
Yesterday, I scouted my gardens and found a dozen filler plants, then made a quick trip to 3 of my favorite outdoor garden centers and found a half dozen new plants to add. I came home and started planting, but before I finished the job, my body said "no more." So today I will add the last few plants.
While I was doing all of that, my gardening fairy (aka the girl next door) was weeding, Preening and laying down mulch - 75 bags worth - or 6 cubic yards. What a worker she is! Her Dad stopped over to admire the renovation, and commented "I've never seen bare ground in your garden since we lived here" - 22 years...
The adventure will end tomorrow with a (safe) visit from my grandsons and daughters, during which the 4 year old will get to help his auntie repot a bunch of rescued houseplants, and help me plant some marigolds in a stump in our yard - he's been bugging his Mom to let him plant something for weeks. Auntie has found a plastic pot in her collection, so he'll be able to take a plant home too - you can't plant the gardening bug too young!
What is everyone else doing in the garden?
Sue
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@sueinmn and @fiesty76 I love reading about the gardening adventures here! I decided to sit out a year to watch light and shadow habits [thanks, Sue, for that idea]
The roses already in place are blooming, lemon yellow, salmon, dark red. The oldest and biggest rosebush is being shy, but is growing real tall; I think it is a fiesta coloring. The cement and stone raised small bed in back has sedum growing over the edge, and the zinnia and sage starts from my neighbor are happily getting used to that area. She tried to get sunflowers started for me, with no success, so I have a large sunflower plant to get into a container today [bought at semi-local nursery]. Colorful geranium is on porch, plus a hanging basket of petunias. I love pops of color!
I am putting in a rock feature in front yard. Scribed out a 9' circle with lawn edging, anchored with homemade pegs. Center of circle is my wind whirler. Killed the lawn inside it. We have a lot of large rocks on south and east perimeters of fence, so they will be moved into that circle, which will have a weed cloth type barrier. Husband wants rocks off the fence.
Still deciding where to plant our little pine tree that was last year's Christmas tree. Along the chain link fence on driveway, there are three Japanese barberry plants that need company to be planted between them, and considering boxwood hedging [good color contrast].
The area at bottom of the slope on north side will be a while. It is literally "out of sight, out of mind". Eventually it will be fenced in, with a little garden spot, bench and place to relax.
Ginger