Making Some Progress...Update #2

We're making more progress here, at Patchwork Garden.  It's been slow going...digging the grass out...amending the soil...and then putting in plants.  A lot of the plants are babies....four inch pots.  But, they're beginning to grow.

July, 2008

There have been many changes to this yard, since the day we made an offer on this house.  I posted about some of the step by step progress, a while back.  We put in a fence, to keep the deer out, and the dog in.  Then, we put in The Rio, to help with the drainage problem.

It's not a big fenced area, as gardens go.  But, it's enough for us.  We didn't want the very back of the house fenced, because we like the open view.  And, this will surely be enough to take care of.  Especially, when you add in the areas outside the fence.

July, 2008

There wasn't much definition to this yard, when we first saw it.  In fact, pretty much NO definition.  But, there was some potential.

Now, when I sit down to rest and contemplate, there is a bit more to the view.

I can sit in the shade, and admire all that work.  Soon, I might not be able to see through the fence.  If they do what they're supposed to do, these plants will block the view.

There's always more work to be done.  And, I'm hoping these plants all get enough sun.

I guess, time will tell.  Patience, is not one of my strong suits.

Happy Gardening...
~~Linda...

Making Some Progress...Update #1

I'm making a journal of changes being made here at Patchwork Garden.

We bought this house, in the fall of 2008.  The first six months, were spent remodeling the inside.  I'm pretty much the do-it-yourself type, so a lot of it was just that...do-it-myself.  The outside had to wait.

But, there has been a lot of work, lately.

This front bed, was mostly hedge and ground cover.  Not much interesting, here.

So, we shortened the boxwood hedge, and I started ripping out ground cover.  And, the shape of the bed got changed.

My plan, is for this to be a foliage bed. 

Rocks, that were buried by ground cover, were moved to the front and with an Agave Lophantha.

A line of blue fescue was arranged along the front edge.

Some 'Powis Castle' artemisia, was placed along the back, to soften things, and hopefully hide the gutter drain, that goes through there, all the way to the outside edge.

Palm grass will grow up and do some hiding, too.

A variegated Miscanthus, will add some height and interest to the side back.

A pale terra cotta pot adds interest.

I crammed it full of variegated plants.  I may have to rethink this, but right now I'm pleased with it.

The main focal point of this bed, will be this sago palm.....we hope.  It's not looking too good, right now.  If it doesn't come back to life, we'll be getting another one to replace it.  That'll put a dent in the budget.

It had some green, at the base of the limbs.  Keep your fingers crossed.

We still have these utility boxes to contend with.  Not sure there's anything that can be done.  I'm still thinking.....thinking.

And, there's still the island of ground cover, between the drive and the street.  I'd like to redo that, but it will just have to wait a while.

So, this is not an 'After'....more like a during.  But, it's coming along.

Gardening....the never ending story.

Happy Gardening...

~~Linda...

Did Someone Say Yard Art???

Well, yes, someone did.  Kathleen over at Hill Country Mysteries, challenged us to show her our yard art. 

So, I got out there and took some pictures of our yard art.  Are you ready?

Are you sure?

At our old house, it really felt like we had a lot of this 'art'.  That was a smaller garden.

Here, it doesn't seem so very much.

My late sister-in-law, thought we had too much.  She didn't have much appreciation for fine garden 'art'.

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I have to say....I do appreciate it.  Maybe a bit too much.

I don't discriminate.  There are wooden things....

Birds...

Everyone needs a chainsaw eagle...don't you think?

There is metal.

There is plenty of 'whimsey'....a pot foot...

holding up a vintage copper window box liner.

Ladybug plant stakes...

...that glow in the dark.

There is concrete...

There is glass.

This is our newest piece of art.

The everblooming bottle tree.

A lot of these pieces, are on the porch.  Does that make it 'Porch Art' and not 'Yard Art'?  Does it matter?


There's more.  But, I think I'll stop here.  It doesn't really look like 'Sanford and Son' here.
And, I'm sure there will be additions to the 'collection'.

You just never know, what you'll see next....and, it just might have to go home with you.

I bet you garden is Artful, too.

Happy Gardening...
~~Linda...

Green World...

This month's  Gardening Gone Wild's picture contest is 'Green World'...celebrating all the wonderful colors of green in the garden.

This is my entry.  It says 'Green' to me....loud and clear.  Green now, and green in the future.

Happy Gardening...

~~Linda...