The north yard has turned into a dog park. The blueberries on this side of the house are doing great considering rocky soil, weeds, and weed barrier. Trixie was eating the bushes prior to me wrapping the cages. Later mosquito netting over the tomato cages will protect the berries from the birds. The red and black raspberries are doing surprisingly well considering the poor quality of the soil. The veggie garden not so much so. The broccoli flowered and were the size of my finger nail. The cauliflower was the size of my thumb nail There are small green peppers but it is early and ??? Peas, tomatoes and leafy greens who knows. Will continue to mulch and give the soil time to develop. The large variety and numbers of mushrooms in the lawn and raised beds has me hopeful. Microorganisms in the soil have been activated. Morels were in some areas where I layered deep cedar mulch. Starting over with poor soil and new raised beds is a learning experience. The large expanse of green fescue, grasses and clover to exercise Trixie is a blessing. After the retaining wall was replaced I created and planted this area. It was the only area that got sun in the winter. This was the first beds and leveling project. It has a fire bowl, sitting area for winter and trellises for my double petal clematis and my Nelly Moser. Am still waiting to see all the colors of clematis that made the move successfully. ‘first summer ‘second summer second summer ‘present time All the peonies were placed here with a variety of perennials. The lower level and fire bowl. ‘The upper level for contemplating and a little memorial area. Like the deck this area has a nice view of Mt. Washington and the Olympics. (As well as the parked rigs) I am just beginning a single narrow bed along the south side of the house. Then I will have made my way around the house.
Jewell you have turned your landscape into a garden ‘Jewell’. Living up to your name. Beautiful landscape , so many varieties of plants and flowers. It really makes a huge difference to surround ourselves with beauty. True happiness. Thank you for the inspiration and tour of your incredible garden and landscape.
That is real progress, Jewell. Gosh, you have done so well there. Agree with Pac. Keep up the good work.
@Pacnorwest and @Sjoerd i am waiting impatiently for the flowers to start blooming. The feral rabbits have left the front beds alone so I should have flowers this summer Thank you for the encouragement
@Jewell Several areas in your garden reminds me of different themed ‘Vignette’s’ . A picture setting using plants and other garden accents in different areas using color and placements that expresses characteristics you enjoy in your personal garden setting. A freelance expression using what you have chosen or collected reflecting your personality. In many ways your photos look a lot like designer rooms designed for gardens. Creative , sophisticated , and inviting. You have an enjoyable unique garden style.
@Pacnorwest I am quite blushing from your comments. I do literally live in my garden and am inspired by the temperate climate that makes it possible to garden almost year round. My garden journey started with vegetables but since I really only enjoy growing things have veered into houseplants, flowering plants, then woodland plants and now a wild collection of new discoveries. ‘Here is my latest inspiration . Maybe not so many roses but the interesting combinations of plants I have but haven’t combined previously. I will be adding calla lilies I’ve despised into some beds with phlox, daylilies and other perennials. Finding evergreen plants and grasses to intersperse with these winter sleepers is fun. Plus I am always up for “saving” plants and bulbs. Even the best garden centers are so limited. Gift plants from old neighbors add much but aren’t easily found. My development of this old garden of unique hardy plants with a slow transition of plants from my other home has given me a plethora of starts. The challenges of improving soil, different microclimates, an inquisitive active minded puppy and my changing abilities adds nicely to the mix. Happy gardening.
Updates on the front border for July 2024. Front boarder has been a slow process of adding enough mulch to kell the grass and filling it with plants in some kind of plan. Admittedly it has been mainly moving plants that were incorrectly placed or saving plants. I like my beds to have year round interest so finding evergreen plants and plant that bloom at different times of the year is important to me. Then there has been the hydrangea already here that has tripled in size. The lower portion was the latest newly mulched area last winter. Have widened it once and will probably widen it more as time and priorities permit. The front street beds have been slowly progressing. I widened the original front of the house bed. Added a few more plants and bulbs. I even left room to park a car. This is the bottom bed. Creating the bed is easy with a thick mulch killing the weeds and grass. Just had to wait a season. Moving plants from the other property or from around around the yard that I planted too close, expanded too fast or were survivors from the back of the property. Looking up the property. And so it is today. Tomorrow???
@Sjoerd The plantings are very serendipitous. One nice coincidence was the Mullen and California poppies colonizing in the miniature iris adding color now also. I wish I had more of a plan but plants are expensive and even buying plants, the selection is very limited. Thank you and @Pacnorwest for following along on this gardening journey
