Friday, September 3, 2010

Before and After: What Can Happen in Just 6 Months!

A couple of posts ago I took a shot of the palm tree corner of my garden, commenting on the overgrown quality of a few plants, and it got me to thinking.  I have lots of pictures of this corner, having started it from scratch in March.

I love posts from others where I can see time march on, though because I see this little corner every single day I sort of forgot what it used to look like.    Many say that it takes years to fill in a garden, and perhaps it does, yet Mother Nature has done quite a bit here, no?

March 4th

March 21
April 2

April 22

June 11

September 2

September 2


This last one has nothing to do with this post... just the Brugmansia is blooming again...despite that I went on vacation for a week and it didn't get watered and lost 75% of its leaves.  It doesn't seem to care, at least for now.  Have a great holiday weekend everyone!

22 comments:

  1. What a tropical looking escape, especially for SC! I love the purple foliage of the persian shield and wandering jew!

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  2. Good to hear from you on here. Looks great, but if that is English ivy growing on that palmetto tree, or palm, better take it out, it's too happy in general. Really pretty there, take care, Gina

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  3. Jess, That looks gorgeous! I'm trying to get my head around having a garden area that's at its best in September. (I congratulate myself if I have a few isolated blooms in September.) -Jean

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  4. Fabulous Jess, just beautiful! It's amazing how our gardens can be transformed, and you've done a lovely job! Before and after pictures are so much fun, if only to remind us periodically that we are indeed making progress! Can't wait to see that spot again in spring...

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  5. I enjoyed seeing the transformation. The progression of the plantings is fabulous. Everything is truly beautiful!

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  6. WOW, what a great spot and how quickly it filled in! If I were you I would walk to that spot every day and pat myself on the back!

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  7. Beautiful, Jess :D I love everything that has filled that spot in, it's very eye-catching!

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  8. Wow...looks great! You did a great job with the pretty combinations.

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  9. Rainforest Gardener - Thanks so much...its not a planned thing, more like I put my houseplants outside on the ground and they got away from themselves. I'd never seen a persian shield before I moved down here - but they grow like wildfire here.

    Gina - Hey, I hope you are doing well. You are spot on, it is a combo of english ivy and virginia creeper, and it is a hassle...not so much in the tree, but my entire house would be gone if I didn't continually pull it off the ground. It is unstoppable. To the tune of 2 trashbags full a month. Hate that stuff.

    Jean - If it makes you feel better, the other 3/4s of my garden looks like a sun scorched mess, this is my one shady spot. It is awaiting an abatement of 90 degree days, then they bloom again. My favorite time is Charleston to be outside is Oct and Nov, where we have temps sort of like yours in July :)

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  10. You have created a wonderful paradise here! I can't say I am not jealous at all. I sometimes miss when we lived in Nebraska with all the humidity and hot weather for growing veggies. But then I remember having to shower three times a day.

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  11. Rosey - haha, yes, it pays to remember how freakin' miserable it is here during July and Aug. After an hour in the sun you need a shower and a 4 hour nap.

    Amy, Kyna, Marguerite, Deb - Thanks so much. Its primarily accident, not me. I just add water.

    Clare - I wish we had a before and after picture day, once a year for all the garden blogs. It is so nice knowing no matter what mistakes people make, it generally turns out green in the end.

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  12. Jess, Before and After Day is a great idea. Do you want to start one? :) Your garden looks pretty. Love that tall purple plant...Persian shield? Cheerful jumble of textures.

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  13. Hi Jess, I love the B & A concept. I was just looking back at some of my photos and you're so right about how looking at something everyday causes you to miss the progress. Your garden looks lovely.

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  14. You have done a fantastic job with that spot. Congrats!!

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  15. Yowza! Gorgeous. Just gorgeous. And almost alarming. Make sure the household pets keep moving when they're in the vicinity.

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  16. Looks fabulous, dahling!! Well done, well done!!

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  17. Its not easy to put areas in the shade of big trees to good use - but it has turned out nicely for you - what a wonderful transformation :)

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  18. Great work Jess! I love your use of different foliage plants - it looks fantastic. It motivates me to be more adventurous :-) Great to see the timeline on how the garden has come along too - it makes you realise how much you've achieved! Well done.

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  19. I loved seeing the transformation! Isn't Mother Nature amazing? And coupled with a creative and not-afraid-to-work gardener, it produces great beauty.

    All joys,

    Sharon Lovejoy Writes from Sunflower House and a Little Green Island

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  20. Amazing how quickly things grow.

    Why dont you join in my end of month meme. The last day of the month you post photos of particular area(s) of your garden and then you post photos of the same area each month. It is fun, as you say, to see how an area develops especially other peoples gardens.

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  21. Hi Everyone, again thanks for the many pats on the back here. I ought to post what it looks like now :). I have to remind myself that it will grow itself back.

    And as for the 'garden design' I have here, its called "THIS ended up being the only really shady spot in the back so everything that was getting killed by the sun got put here and this is what happened."

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