BEFORE
here's a couple of pictures of what my garden looked like last year at this time (interestingly, I've noticed that my peonies haven't even opened yet - wonder if that's because of all the rain we've had?). Thanks to my father-in-law for the 2010 photos
from last year: notice the grass between the rose/peony and Torran
from last year: some kind of short-term flowering bush that dominated the back corner of the garden and the peonies that existed from previous owners; in-between, the unruly mass of raspberries and red currents we planted from cuttings when we moved here in 2005
early May 2011: cut out the big bush (and revealed an ugly boat, shrug, oh well) at the same time my neighbour was replacing the chain link fence - his chainsaw came in handy!
early May 2011: in the shade you can see the area that I've cut out of the grass to extend the garden bed. Still needs edging properly (hasn't been done in YEARS)
early May 2011: wide view of the garden before the flowers and herbs are planted/transplanted DURING
early May 2011: Long view of garden bed planted with plants that previously existed in this bed, plants that existed elsewhere in my garden, and new purchased plants. In the back: the bush stump still has to come out, the raspberries and red currents are still unruly and not trellised and the edging is not done. There is also a large bush of stonecrop that got removed and split into four or five portions for the front of my house.
early May 2011: Long view of garden bed planted with plants that previously existed in this bed, plants that existed elsewhere in my garden, and new purchased plants. In the back: the bush stump still has to come out, the raspberries and red currents are still unruly and not trellised and the edging is not done. There is also a large bush of stonecrop that got removed and split into four or five portions for the front of my house.
early May: fresh planting - what I'm calling the "east bed" - back row from L to R: 2 English lavender and 3 delphinium from other areas of the garden, and newly planted sage. Front row (all new): artemesia, cilantro, spanish lavender, rosemary and french lavender and potted bay laurel leaf.Tulips are all pre-existing from bulbs. To date, I still haven't edged the front of the garden, but I have installed plastic edging in the back of the bed to control weed and grass growth from my neighbour's side of the fence. The big rose plant I was going to move, but I've decided to keep it - not least of which because it makes a pretty flower and it's too late in the season. The peonies are pre-existing as are forget-me-nots, small violets and a couple of unidentified flowers in the middle of the garden.
I do have pics of individual plants that I've moved or inserted, but that's not exciting to post. When they grow a little prettier I'll put up some more piccies. And I'll take some more pictures on Sunday with my debauchery of sorting out the raspberry and red currents, and moving them to where the bush stump USED to be. I'm hoping by then they'll perk up a bit (not looking so hot at the moment).
Excavated stumpThank you to Bruce for extra brute strength and to a certain orange DIY store for the rental of a gas powered tiller to churn up this disused portion of my garden (the back part)... and giving my body aches and pains to complain about all day today. No photos of the power equipment though...pout pout.
And yes, I know that I'm not supposed to move plants with growth on them, oh, say like the berries that are showing up on the current bush, but I HAD to do something about it. It has not been tended since we planted it. Besides, if we lost the red currents, it won't be such a loss. We also have lots of raspberries still growing in our wild bushy area, I just need to trellis them (now that I know that I'm supposed to!). So at least we'll have some fruit crop this year.
So far, things are progressing fairly well. I have had one true death - the columbine did not survive. However, I'm going to go back to the nursery and get them to replace it (it's guarenteed for two years). I've also planted pysalis (Chinese lanterns) which some bugs have gotten a hold of. It was planted near dill and garlic which are supposed to be natural pesticidals... then I used a diluted soap spray which I use for aphids on roses... I don't know if that helped or not - but I think it killed the white lily, as all the pretty slightly chewed petals got brown and fell off. Of course, a week afterwards, I found a "natural" pest spray of boiled garlic water. Hrphm. Over this week I've planted magnoila as another natural pest control. I hope the physalis stays with it, because they are really pretty (and part of the project!).
So far, things are progressing fairly well. I have had one true death - the columbine did not survive. However, I'm going to go back to the nursery and get them to replace it (it's guarenteed for two years). I've also planted pysalis (Chinese lanterns) which some bugs have gotten a hold of. It was planted near dill and garlic which are supposed to be natural pesticidals... then I used a diluted soap spray which I use for aphids on roses... I don't know if that helped or not - but I think it killed the white lily, as all the pretty slightly chewed petals got brown and fell off. Of course, a week afterwards, I found a "natural" pest spray of boiled garlic water. Hrphm. Over this week I've planted magnoila as another natural pest control. I hope the physalis stays with it, because they are really pretty (and part of the project!).
I don't know whether or not the White Wolf Fian has accepted my challenge. However, if they do accept, I may be able to present the challenge at War of the Trilliums. In which case, the garden is still fair game for next spring's growth. In the meantime, my research books have arrived just in time to avoid the postal strike... so I have a lot of reading to do!
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