Check out our major garden renovations underway!!!

17 years ago

OK, Scott and I started some major garden renovations this weekend. Too bad the cold snap is putting a damper on our progress..I just had to share some photos!!

Here's a link to my photo album on webshots. I've included some shots of the gardens from last year so you can get an idea of what we're adding.

http://community.webshots.com/album/549236573YKxmHt

We started with a sod cutter this weekend and ripped out all the grass. As you can see from the pics, we are in the process of removing that right now. Then we'll fill with dirt and mulch. And then the fun part...PLANTING!!! :) So the after pics are actually more "under construction pics".

I got a nifty new wagon from Home Depot with a dump box. I just love it. It even hooks up to the garden tractor so I don't have to pull it! :) That'll make moving all the dirt and mulch a snap!

Thanks for sharing in my excitement!!

Tara

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Comments (9)

mulchy
17 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
Hi Tara,
I enjoyed all your pictures. I guess you two have been busy!!!! I have one of those dump trailers for the back of our lawnmower, I love it!!! It sure beats a wheelbarrow. I'm anxious to see your progress!! See you at the plant swap. MULCHY
penny1947
17 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
Tara,
Y'all have really been working. We won't recognize the place when we come out this summer. It is going to look awsome!

Penny
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Interesting! As a nickname, angel or devil trumpets, I wouldn't disagree. I'm sorry that my comment sounded like it was the nickname that I was discussing. The Park Seeds website says they are D. metel. https://parkseed.com/blackcurrant-swirl-angels-trumpet-seeds/p/00385-PK-P1/ Whatever you're calling them, they're gorgeous! If you have a still pic of that/those, I would enjoy seeing it. I think I have gotten these seeds a couple of times but they didn't sprout for me. One of those plants it seems like karma has predetermined that I just can't have but you remind me, it's worth trying again! Do you have any plants that seem like that - that elude your attempts to have them? The critters you are seeing sound like hummingbird moths, clearwing moths, &/or hawk moths. I have invited all of these to visit my garden but none have yet, at least when I was out there looking around. I did see some visiting pansies @ a WM a few yrs ago. Totally agree, the flowering plants are a great renovation to the spot! I look forward to seeing more from your garden in the future. :)
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dirthappy
17 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
I can't wait to see the pictures after you plant. You've done some amazing work. Nice house by the way.
Robin
husky004_
17 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
Tara-Looks great, can't wait to see it at the swap! Kathy
remy_gw
17 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
You've really removed a lot of sod. It is going to look great. That's lots more room for Irises!
Remy
faltered
17 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
Looks great, you guys have been busy!

Tracy
garden_frog
Original Author
17 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
Ok, so I worked on some bubble diagrams for some of the new areas last night.

As you look at the picture of the house, you'll see there are several cone shaped shrubs next to the foundation of the house. Some have boxy yews in between them, some don't. I am getting rid of all the boxy yews and replacing them with flowers. THose are the box diagrams I worked on last night. Those gardens will have delphinums, foxgloves, platycodon, phlox, catanache caerulea alba, cransebill geraniums, and campanula. Also, the one in front of the garage is larger, so that one will also have a Rose (probably 'Peace' variety).

So I've got those all planned. But here's my dillema. Or actually, I have several dilemmas that I need input on.

1) Since those gardens are mostly blues/purples/whites/pinks will they look ok with my burgandy shutters? I would love to change the color of the shutters, but my roof is red, so I really can't. And I tend to pick flowers in those color families because I don't really care for reds. I do pick yellows too though. Just not in those foundation gardens.

2) As you look at the front you will see there are the three areas next to the foundation. The sidwalk goes alongside two of them and ends at the third. I plan to continue the pathway along the remaining front and wind it around to the back in the Northeast corner of the house. I'm planning on using flagstone to make the pathway. That leaves two large bump out areas in the front with a narrow strip along the sidewalk connecting the two. The narrow strip will probably contain angelonias. What should I do with the bump outs? I want to make sure they look good from the road and from the side walk. I'm going to have a dogwood planted in the bump out in front of the garage and as you can see in the pics, i just planted a multistem crab apple in the other bump out. I'm also thinking of putting a mountain laurel in each of the bump outs, but from there, I can't decide. I also want to make sure that they don't block the foundation gardens from view completely although with the tall flowers I've selected that should be fairly easy to accomplish.

3) As you go around the NE corner of the house following the pathway I'm going to put in there are more shrubs. I'm going to remove those and I am thinking of putting in some sort of large perennial like Nepeta Six Hills Giant or a larger lavendar or something. Not sure though. I've also got a lilac there that's small right now, but as we all know will grow and get larger. Should I put anything else in there or just keep it minimal?

4) If you look at the photo titled NW gardens around pool aerial view...I have started a peastone pathway which will go all the way out to the grass. Also, coming from the front of the house will be a flagstone pathway that will follow the line of the house until the deck then follow the curve of the garden and go around the pool (I think?). I can't figure out how to merge the two pathways where they come together?

5) Any other suggestions for other areas would also be greatly appreciated!!

Thanks!!

Tara
garden_frog
Original Author
17 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
OK, I've made a bit of progress, so I'm attaching a link to my album again with updated photos at the end!

PLEASE GIVE SOME SUGGESTIONS????? I can't believe not a soul has had any ideas for me??? :)

Here is a link that might be useful: Updated photos of the garden renovation
von1
17 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
Looks like you're making a lot of progress. Lots of hard work there. What kind of plants are you putting in?

Check out our major garden renovations underway!!!

Comments (9)

mulchy

penny1947

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Check out our major garden renovations underway!!!

Comments (9)

mulchy

penny1947

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