It's that time again... Here's my “Year One Review” http://www.gardenstew.com/about24104.html Well... year two has been pretty good for me. No drought this summer! Woohoo! I went back through “year one” to see if I actually did the things I was thinking about back then: Deepen the beds along the fence... check! Expand Daylily Bed and Add Oriental Lilies... check! Corner where Bouganvillea was planted - updated.... check! Planter Box around pecan tree... still contemplated this Pathway(s)... still in the plans So... on to year two: The Cosmos Bed hasn't changed much, but I did dig out and give away the 2 rose bushes that were in there. They just weren't producing, so they found new homes. I wish I hadn't planted the yellow/gold/orange cosmos. I like them, but not as much as the white, purple & pink ones. I'm going to try see if I can “weed them out” over the next year and reestablish the pinks. ( photo / image / picture from cherylad's Garden ) And around to the front yard... the flower bed is filling in nicely... almost too nicely! I'll be thinning out alot of the Cannas over the winter. ( photo / image / picture from cherylad's Garden ) No real changes in the Succulent Bed just a couple more plants added and everything is growing okay there. One of the things on my list for next year is to start adding some other types of succulents. ( photo / image / picture from cherylad's Garden ) The “ugly” fence is a little less ugly with more plants lined up against it. ( photo / image / picture from cherylad's Garden ) I've recently added a vine on the archway, can't wait to get a photo of it covered in blooms. I expanded the bed that's under the Sassafras tree and planted some Callas there to go with the “old” Daylilies. They didn't do well there at all, so they have been moved and I put the Shrimp Plant there instead. And I planted a Clematis there as well. Can't wait for it to take over that pole holding the hummingbird feeder. ( photo / image / picture from cherylad's Garden ) One of the first beds I made was around this light pole... everything there was going to be specifically for butterflies. So I started with a Passion Flower Vine and have been adding to it. ( photo / image / picture from cherylad's Garden ) And I'm slowly “stealing” that strip of yard where the solar-powered bird bath/fountain is. But I have to make it “dragon proof”. Basically I just need to keep him or anyone else from mowing over there because if you don't pay close enough attention, the grass clippings fly into the bath/fountain. So I planted another Passion Vine to block it so the mower won't fit through there. I've got plans for a better trellis for it. Plus there's that space between the bath/fountain and the succulent garden... so I moved a palm there. ( photo / image / picture from cherylad's Garden ) There's a couple of bird feeders in the tree just out of the picture to the right. I think I may concentrate on adding more “bird stuff” to this area. Maybe another bath? More feeding stations? And as I mentioned earlier, I expanded my Daylily Bed and have added some Orientals to the mix. Come on Springtime... I can hardly wait to see these beds filled with colors! ( photo / image / picture from cherylad's Garden ) One main project was fixing up the back step area. http://www.gardenstew.com/viewtopic.php?t=25565 ( photo / image / picture from cherylad's Garden ) And Hubby painted the back deck/steps. This project “spilled over” to the potting stand. ( photo / image / picture from cherylad's Garden ) Probably the biggest change in the garden is when I decided to make one huge bed and combined other beds to cut down on my mowing and trimming chore. http://www.gardenstew.com/viewtopic.php?t=27039 ( photo / image / picture from cherylad's Garden ) I can't wait to do some filling in! I also deepened the beds along the fence (you can see the difference by the color of the mulch)... gave me a little more room for some more plants. And added rock border instead of the brick. ( photo / image / picture from cherylad's Garden ) I also now have a new Berry Area! I had Kiowa Blackberries in a huge container. They did okay and I had enough to make a couple of cobblers which my brother “the dragon” just loved... he said “More berries!” So I convinced him that in order for them to maximize their production they needed to be in the ground so I could tend to them properly. He agreed (and that gave me even more room in my “big bed”). So he and Hubby prepared an area and got them all set up. I made sure they put them close enough to my garden area so I could tend to them easier. ( photo / image / picture from cherylad's Garden ) My aunt wanted to get rid of this banana tree, so they dug it up and planted it that area too. I'm also going to set up some raised beds in that area for Strawberries. Little did they know that I've been wanting to “claim” that part of the pasture anyhow! Hehehe And I recently added a new tumbling compost bin to that area. ( photo / image / picture from cherylad's Garden ) So... here's how things are looking after “year two”... ( photo / image / picture from cherylad's Garden ) ( photo / image / picture from cherylad's Garden ) ( photo / image / picture from cherylad's Garden ) and finally, my “before & after”... ( photo / image / picture from cherylad's Garden ) So... some things did good...other's not so good... others completely failed. Live and learn.. and adapt! Right? Oh yeah... and most importantly... EXPAND! Thanks again to everyone here for all your advice, ideas, encouragement and enabling! Y'all are the best gardening buddies anyone could ask for!
Everything looks fantastic. Sometimes stealing is a good thing, especially when it ends up looking as good as your garden does. And I bet in the end 'the dragon' is happy that you did it since he gets to enjoy the fruit of your labor too.
cherylad, You are doing beautifully. I don't care about the failures. they are for your learning. Think of them as schooling. I just love what you are doing. Keep it up. I also love the pictures. Very well done. Snapshots are the best, non perfect but tell a good story. Wish I could be as aggressive as you in garden work. I move like a slug in my gardening.
I really enjoy photographs like yours Cheryl. Not everything goes to plan but that's OK when the end result looks as good as yours. :-D
Cheryl, that looks like a beloved garden! I'm so glad you posted these pictures. Not only are they inspirational, but I can also steal some of your great ideas. 2013, here you come!
Cheryl, It all looks so nice! Wish I could come on down to Texas and stroll around with you! You have certainly put a lot of work into your gardens and grounds. I really like the "big bed" expansion.
Thanks Toni. He's already asking why I haven't planted the strawberries. Silly dragon. Thanks Barb. I take alot of "overview" photos to send to my sister so she can see how things are looking. Thanks Eileen. Plan? What plan? I do have an image in my mind how I want my garden to look. It'll probably never happen, but you can bet I'll have fun trying. Thanks Donna. I sure hope everything pops up nicely in the Spring. This is the first time for me growing some of these plants and I just don't know how they will overwinter. Thanks Jane. Steal away... that's what I do when looking at everyone else's gardens! Thanks Kay. I'm already loving the "big bed". It really has cut my mowing/trimming time down. I have hopes of having it completely filled with plants (except for a little trail or two). Thanks Netty!
Cheryl, I have no idea how I missed this, but I did! This is a fantastic amount of new in such a short period of time. You have done very well.
Hi Cheryl,I just looked at all your garden pictures.Actually seen some at another group,too.You have made amazing progress.It has taken me(us) many years. It will never be finished. I think that is the way gardening is.A work in progress. sNs
Thank you SnS! You're absolutely right... a work in progress. The only time it will be "completed" is when I can no longer get out there and play in the dirt.
What a super posting, Cheryl. It was a really good idea to show us the progress made over the course of 1½ years or so. You mentioned things that did now work...but I have to tell you that everything that I saw looks terrific to me. I like how you encroach....like a very sly land baron(ess). Well done, you!
Thank you very much Sjoerd! I had to giggle at your statement about me "encroaching". I really thought I'd have plenty of room in the space I claimed. I figured I'd expand one of these years... but some things just needed their own area.... NOW! :-o I'm so lucky to have this opportunity to "play".... and I'm totally thrilled that my siblings are okay with it.
