Despite the fact that its going to take me forever to get around to showing you what my efforts will eventually yield, I am making small strides. Below, a progress report. This view is an eastern exposure, with one half being part shade and the other half being part sun. This is the part shade section. To give you an idea of height, the fence is just over 6 feet tall. I know, its the mother of all picket fences. And at the 'path' the depth of the garden is about 10 feet, expanding out on either side. I find it very difficult to capture depth in this garden, I'm not sure why.
Sometime in November 09 when I was raking up Magnolia leaves:
March 21st: A retaining wall and a few stepping stone put in to be able to get back to that section:
And April 2nd: only 11 days later. Look at that Autumn Fern on the left there in front of the little wall (the pics will expand if hard to see). He sure has a way of showing he's verrry happy in his new home. Others pictured are 5 woodland phlox, 3 Creeping Cupflower which I am hoping will fill in between the stones nicely, and the Trailing Lantana I planted a month ago which I accidentally fell on. Despite that, he is at least double his size. In the background my outrageous sized Japanese Holly Ferns, and way over to the left my Persian Shield looking very tiny in his new home. There is also a tiny foxglove in there, can you spot him? He's an infant, but very healthy and seems to be doing a lot better than those getting more sun. He's an experiment.
Progress progress progress. One of these days that trellis will be covered in (something), and the statue will sit at the end of the little path. Behind the holly ferns on either side are baby hydrangea bushes filling up the back space (eventually). They just need to get a move on being taller than 8 inches so they can show up in the pictures.
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Great progress. Your garden is already screaming, "Look at me, I'm pretty." !
ReplyDeleteProgress indeed! This is amazing and wonderful. I have to tell you, I seriously covet your fence. And the woodland phlox. And that retaining wall. And and and..
ReplyDeleteYou're doing great!
You are making a big difference. It looks great! You have such a great backdrop with that fence! The colors you have added are very pretty.
ReplyDeleteIt is looking very pretty :o)
ReplyDeleteJust popped by to wish you a Happy Easter,
RO xxx
It's looking wonderful Jess and I can just imagine just how pretty it is all going to be when everything fills out.
ReplyDeleteJess, Your garden is already looking lovely. I was out this morning looking at my new fence border, mostly planted last fall, and thinking how the plants were miles apart and I needed to add some things to fill in. Then I remembered the old adage about perennials: "The first year they sleep, the second year they creep, and the third year they leap!" I'm always surprised by the third or fourth year at how crowded together the plants are! -Jean
ReplyDeleteI see that you are also happy in your work. it looks wonderful. Love the fence and the path. jim
ReplyDeleteYour garden is coming around really well. Happy Gardening!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful, Jess. I can already envision the whole picture, and love it. You have an eye for composition, with the different heights and the planned statue to draw the eye down the flower-sprinkled path and deeper in and up. :)
ReplyDeleteIt already looks great... but I know what you mean.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the praise all you gardeners who know what you are doing! Every little bit of encouragement helps. I hope all of you had a great Easter. DGG, Meredith, Gippy, RO, Amy, Compost, all of your frequent visits and encouraging comments are so awesome.
ReplyDeleteChandra - thanks for stopping to comment and welcome! I hope you'll visit and see future progress!
Jim - I'm loving this. When I'm out there its the one time of day that my brain actually stops. Just stops. For some reason I actually quit thinking about all the to dos, the going wrongs, the too many plans, etc. All stressed out people should have a garden.
Jean - I know that adage, and I'm about 50% following it. :) Most of my perennials are to their recommended spacing, but some of them, like the coneflowers, are so far apart I can put a lawn chair in there. Its driving me nuts. So I am cheating a little. If it says 18 inches, they are getting 13, etc. I know I'll regret this later but I'm liking it now. I could be hit by a bus later after all!
Jodi - that fence apparently is the most popular thing I've got growing in my garden. Whats funny, though I agree it does look nice now that their are some things growing in it, its really not something I'd have put there myself! Most of the fencing in the city is wrought iron which is what I'd have preferred, but it is growing on me.
Oh, I sure would. Love what you're converting your space into!
ReplyDeleteIn judging success in my garden, I always think about what I have accomplished and not what is yet to be done. You have accomplished a lot, and already your garden is very pretty. The retaining wall looks great!
ReplyDeleteI can see, Jess, that this vignette has good "bones." The fence is wonderful and the stonework offers a sense of permanence if not antiquity, which I love. The tree offers a nice bit of shade which perfectly complements your plantings. The hardy Kiwi vine with the pink/green leaves would look delightful on the trellis... just a thought.
ReplyDeleteNice, nice, nice!!
It's important to take photos as you go, then when you feel you are getting nowhere fast, you can check back and see how well you've done (or in my case, what a big mess you've turned your garden into).
ReplyDeleteI love all those ferns you have! It looks like a very mature and well adjusted garden.
ReplyDelete