Five New Things

Dave, over at The Home Garden: Gardening in the Home Landscape, has asked us to list five new things for the garden this year. Like him, some of my projects are already underway. Coming up with only five was the hard part.

1) Fruit. This past year, I planted or rearranged a few trees. I installed a Morris Plum and moved the Thundercloud Plum to a better location.



I planted a Belle of Georgia peach in the spring of 2009. It's budding now, so I hope it blooms. It may be too young to produce yet, and there's always the chance of a late freeze killing the tender blossoms once they break.



There will, of course, be figs. There might even be grapes if the vines can produce this year. I've got blueberries and blackberries, too. Strawberries have been planted and moved three times since I put them here in the spring of 2008. The critters have left me two. They were quite tasty. I've got a cherry tree too, but something tells me it's not going to make it. All the branches are brittle and show no signs of life. I'm going to give it a while to prove me wrong. Fresh fruit from my own yard would be a very welcome change from the stuff I buy at the grocery store.

2) Vines. Flowering vines would be more precise. I've installed a couple new items that can become the supports. At the end of the driveway, there's a new fence and walk through trellis with concrete wire spanning the top. I plan to grow Confederate Jasmine and morning glories here. The jasmine was rooted last summer and has survived the winter so far. Morning glories will be sown closer to our last frost.



I'm also looking forward to the Carolina Jasmine putting out some new growth on the perennial bed trellis. I planted it last spring. The cardinal climber that was growing here last summer twined itself around the jasmine. I broke a lot of new growth trying to undo what I had allowed to happen. I knew it would, I just didn't care at the time.

Other vines will be planted and used to screen things like the dead oak tree. I scattered the cardinal climber and morning glory vines back there in December. I'm sure there will be some sprouts that grow quickly in the hot summer weather.

In the basement, I have a rooted cutting of Bleeding Heart Vine (Clerodendrum thomsoniae). I'm going to allow it to grow on the perennial trellis this year. It's not cold hardy here, so if I like it, I'll take cuttings next fall. My cuttings from the passionvine I grew in a pot by the garage door are doing well too. They don't have a home yet.

On the swing in the backyard, I've got a rambling rose on one side. I'm going to plant moonvine on the other side. Along with the datura that should reseed back there, it'll make a nice spot to sit quietly after dark when the mosquitoes have gone to bed.

3) The meadow. This is my most ambitious project. I'm really looking forward to it.



After my injury with the lawnmower this summer, I decided to take out as much grass as I can. I started preparing the area this past summer, spraying the "grass" with RoundUp. I've left the leaves on the area all winter, having just raked them clear today. Poppies, larkspur, red clover, and queen Anne's lace have all germinated. Other summer bloomers should germinate when the weather warms up. The area receives hot sun almost all day and has very little soil for plants to grow into. Large stones have been uncovered and some were removed over the past couple of years.

The space itself is about 50' long and 15' wide. It's not a large space, but it does take up most of the backyard that was grass last year. Reseeding annuals and drought tolerant perennials will form the backbone of this garden. I found the inspiration at another blog. Brian over at Green Mansions Compost posted about his wildflowers going to seed in September. I really liked the look of a simple path mowed through a field of wildflowers. I'm hoping by scattering seeds and some of my wintersown black eyed susans, I can do the same. I've got different flowers than his image shows, but the concept is what I like.

I expect the meadow to bring in more wildlife. Birds will eat the seeds of some of my plants throughout the year. Butterflies will sip nectar from lantana, cosmos, and milkweed. I'd really like to see some Monarchs this year. And though I'm not crazy about the idea, I know that I will be inviting slithering creatures into the yard too. Maybe the hawk or owls eat snake.

4) Shade bed. It's been an ongoing project since I moved into this house. It's not a large bed. The area between my property line and the wall is accessible from the kitchen and rarely gets any direct sun. It's a fairly ugly space.



I've been wintersowing plants this year to add more variety. Blue cohosh and red astilbe should make very nice additions. I also have some myrrh. Sounds patriotic, doesn't it? As soon as I see new growth on the hostas, I plan to de-align the solid green varieties. I don't know why I did that. I'm looking for a more natural flow to the space undulating in and out. Along the wall, Carolina cherry laurels have been planted. They can get huge, but they can also be sheared into formal hedges. I'm thinking a 10' tall evergreen wall would be lovely. That's just slightly shorter than the height of the kitchen window.

5) More sitting. Yes, there are big plans. Yes, there is a lot of work to be done. Yes, I have a hard time sitting still and enjoying the yard and all that I've done. But in 2010, I plan to spend a few hours each week just sitting and watching. I might be making plans in my head, but that's where they will stay for as long as I am parked in a spot. I can't make things grow faster than nature allows. I can't do everything in one day. Ultimately, the reason for doing all this is to enjoy it. I even have the perfect spot.



What are 5 new things you plan to add to your garden this year? Post about them and link them back to Dave's blog.

It's 37 degrees this morning. Rain should be moving in shortly for a few hours. It will continue to warm throughout the day. We'll be back in the 20s tonight. Normal weather is on the way. Come on Friday.

Daffodils and muscari

I spent most of the day planting bulbs. It's currently 69 degrees and, um...breezy. It feels like spring. I had 400 daffodils to plant and 150 muscari, or so I thought. Here's the final tally, so I can be disappointed in the spring when nothing comes up.

Daffodils:

* 200 on the front slope
* 100 scattered in the shrub island, rose garden, and around the lilac.
* 35 in the shady corner where a frost killed brugmansia still stands.
* 33 around the legs of the swing.
* 35 behind the upper potager/hoophouse.
* 6 in the neighbor's corner.

That's more than 400, right?

Muscari:

* 90 on the front slope.
* 10 along the backyard fence
* 60 in the crape myrtle bed.

Yes, I can add. Along with the bulbs I planted last year in the perennial bed, the bulbs that pop up here and there, planted by someone else years ago, and whatever spring flower plants I may or may not have, it should be a colorful time in the yard in just a few months. Christmas is just around the corner. Then there's New Years Day. I'll be busy all through January sowing and planting out early sprouts from my wintersowing. In February, it'll be really cold for a couple of weeks. Then there's my birthday. Peas will be planted in the lower potager about that time. Next thing you know, it'll be spring. It's like 2 weeks, tops.

I also spent an hour moving pavers from the driveway to the hoophouse. I laid down cardboard then three 16' long rows of pavers. These will heat up a little during the day and radiate heat back at night. At least that's the plan. They might not be thick enough to really warm up. Still, the roots of tender perennials not yet sown should be okay once it's closed up.



I've got a few left. The ones in the hoophouse will be stacked to create a couple of resting spots in the backyard when the hoophouse comes down. I'll reuse them again later. The patio idea is on hold indefinitely for now.



The front slope area where periwinkle was killed. Here's where I planted the majority of the bulbs.



I found a few sprouting daffs in a spot I thought would be perfect for some spring flowers. Guess I was right.



I collected moonvine seeds from the back of the house. I was surprised to find 8 seed pods. I don't recall seeing but a couple blooms all summer. Must have been while I was laid up with my leg.



Mr. Lincoln.



The "orange" rose.



Sunny Knockout.



After all this, it was time to have a sit...



and watch the clouds race by.



It's still 69 degrees. A gorgeous day.

I guess someone will be expecting me in Atlanta soon, and a bit further Southwest after that. I'm not sure my back can handle another 200+ bulbs.

A good day.

Today was my second day in a row off from work. When I have two days off, I always feel compelled to make the most of it. Yesterday, with the rain, I spent my day in the basement up to my elbows in dirt and cuttings. Today, I was outside.

I got the swing leveled by digging holes for the front support posts. I cut off the extra chain that annoyed me when it *tink tink tink'd* against itself. I did collect some leaves and mulched them for one of the lower potager beds. I drilled more holes in the timbers and hammered some rebar. I took more cuttings and stuck them in the cloner. (I know, right?) I cut down some of the frost damaged annuals, pulled others and tossed them, seeds and all into the gully. I sorted and packaged another trade envelope that arrived this morning. I paid the power bill. I took the stovepipe down in the basement and cleaned it out. I cussed a lot trying to get it back in place. I spent some time online doing research for the plants I haven't grown yet, but have seeds for. I drank some coffee. And some sweet tea. By 3pm, I figured the gully had dried out enough to split some wood. Forty-five minutes later, I had split three logs. I was out of gas. The splitter was not.



I spent the next 30 minutes watching the sun travel low across the sky. It was a pretty nice way to end the day. I tried not to make notes of all the things I plan to do this winter and next spring. I can't even sit still without considering what I could do to make it better. Click to embiggen.



I got up to check on the fire I had built in the heater when I came inside to grab the camera. I couldn't help but notice all the things I did like.

Little bluestem glows in the late evening sun.



Mr. Lincoln might just open again before the cold, wet weather arrives on Saturday.



A single pink rose was pointing straight up.



Passing through the gate, the redtwig dogwood begged for attention.



A lady bug was sunning itself on the other side of the fence.



Another camellia bloom has opened. Lots more to come.



The neighbors drove past while I was bent down to examine something in the perennial bed. I'm not sure they know what my face looks like. I decided it was time to head inside. It's 71 degrees in the basement, 68 upstairs, and 61 outside. Last night, as the temperature dropped to 37 outside, it was nice and warm upstairs with just the central air fan circulating warm air from the basement. I'm hoping when the cold weather arrives that I won't need to run the electric heat except as a backup. I need my money for more dirt, seeds, and plants.

It was a perfect day. You're gonna reap just what you sow.



It's time for dinner, a shower, and some laundry.

Lazy Sunday Morning.

I slept in this morning. I went to bed around 10pm. I woke up this morning about 7, like I normally do. I watched the clouds move across the sky. The colors were pink, orange, a little yellow, lots of blues and some gray. I closed my eyes and opened them again shortly after 8:45am. I'm having coffee. It's completely sunny now at 36 degrees.

The 10 day forecast. 70 is our high for the day.



After work, I moved the swing in the previous post and finished my Christmas decorations. Through the trees, I can see others in the neighborhood are decorating too.



I have to be at work in less than 2 hours. I'll finish my coffee, shower, and maybe pull a few frost killed annuals from the perennial bed. If not, there's plenty of time next week.

New Furniture

I added something to the garden Thanksgiving Day. I'm not sure how my sister came to have this piece, but she was more than happy to let me have it. Her husband was tired of mowing around it. They had moved it to the backyard where no one ever went. It was destined to slowly rot into the ground.

It needs a little work. The chains are rusty. The wood needs a sealant. I'm considering colors. Like most things, I want to live with it a while before I paint it my first consideration, Haint Blue. I'm afraid it might be too much color. I wouldn't want to detract from the flowers that will surround it come next summer.



This is the rose that lived for about two months by the front door. I found it in the woods just behind the dead oak tree. I have no idea what it is. I'm hoping for more blooms next year. It's had a rough life with me so far.



I'd like to use plantings to enclose this area a bit. I've certainly got to find a new home for the pampas grass and pine currently sharing the same space. I'm determined to do something about that oak stump behind it. Even if it means covering it with an aggressive vine. I've already scattered morning glory and red cardinal climber seeds around it.