Garden is coming along...Oh Spring :)

I have been lurking around the Stew enjoying everyones postings. Thought I'd share a little of my just awakening garden. Last week I had tried to show what was happening in the garden, but couldn't get it all together. Here are some photos of what was happening at that moment. It is all about the same except for a few more blooming dandelions. I have spring fever as well so just had to share.

All last week I had been weeding nightly after work trying to catch-up with the weeds. Was planning a nice weekend finishing up, but Mother Nature decided to hand we a cold/fever for what turned out to be an outstandingly nice week-end outdoors. I was in no shape to even notice until today.

The term "the spring that wasn't" has been spouted by one local garden columnist. With freezing night temperatures and this week-end the first time it has gotten up above the 50's I have lots of time. Won't be able to plant out seeds or tender plants for a while yet. Oh well, I will recuperate one more day and then get back into the swing of crawling around pulling baby unwanted sprouts after work.


( photo / image / picture from Jewell's Garden )


Woodland gardens ( photo / image / picture from Jewell's Garden )


Pacific trilliums ( photo / image / picture from Jewell's Garden )


Expanding woodland bed next to garden area ( photo / image / picture from Jewell's Garden )


same bed last year at the same time and about 2 feet narrower ( photo / image / picture from Jewell's Garden )


Creating a 2 new beds August 09 ( photo / image / picture from Jewell's Garden )

Here I laid cardboard and then put ivy clippings over the top to prep the soil so I didn't have to do any digging. I really love this method.


Same bed this spring with foxglove, strawberries and lots of leftover plants ( photo / image / picture from Jewell's Garden )

I put the fir branches from windfall into this bed this winter. It will take some organizing this summer after I see what does the best in this very shaded bed. Can't wait to see how the strawberries and canterbury bluebells do.


back bed now filling in with raspberries, ferns, sweet woodruff ( photo / image / picture from Jewell's Garden )

I didn't realize that the raspberries would go three feet in either direction. They were free plants from friends so had to find a place for them. Guess they like it here, but not sure there is enough room for raspberries in this area.


A place to sit out of the rain or sun...needed in the Pacific coastal areas ( photo / image / picture from Jewell's Garden )


Weeds for flowers: foxglove, Pacific bleeding heart and pink mullien ( photo / image / picture from Jewell's Garden )

My favorite "weeds". These sprout up all over the garden and between the pavers. They are all such a easy wonderful self-planting/growing flowers.


Another view of the vegie garden area ( photo / image / picture from Jewell's Garden )


Vegie Garden area...a lot of perennial flowers this year ( photo / image / picture from Jewell's Garden )

My vegie garden has 50% or more claimed for periennial flowers this year. Never know how things will change. Still have places for green beans, sugar snap peas and some summer squash and tomatoes.

The "white" covering is old cardboard that is almost completely deteriated. It is a wonderful soil protector and eliminates much of my weeding (as does all the other mulches I use on other beds).


Weeds in the walkway. Cardboard on the beds ( photo / image / picture from Jewell's Garden )

The buttercups are a terrible weed and will take over in short order. Also very hard to dig if not in mulch. My garden area is turning to shady and they have found a comfortable home (except that I pull them).


preweeded herb garden ( photo / image / picture from Jewell's Garden )

My herb garden is on the south side of the house alone a very narrow strip. The heat from the foundation has made it possible for the rosemary to survive two very cold winters (9F this winter). Some hardy lavendar on the west side of the house was not so lucky.


weeded and trimmed herb garden ( photo / image / picture from Jewell's Garden )

Things are slowly coming along. Since I planted a lot of "sale" bulbs last week-end and have already half forgotten where I put them. I will be having lots of surprises by the time summer comes along. Just like these little beauties from last year.


Rosy Cloud Narcissus just beginning to open ( photo / image / picture from Jewell's Garden )

 

Garden awakenings are fun and work at the same time. It's fun to see what has survived the winter, it's like finding an old friend. Your garden has lots of old friends. Thank you for sharing it with us Jewell. Looking forward to seeing more pictures. No dandelions.

Jerry

 

Thanks for the tour, I love woodland gardens. When we lived in VA I had a very nice wooded garden with paths and places to sit and enjoy. The emergence of spring is my favorite of year. Thanks for sharing.

 

Really like your home and all the paths going between all the different growth. Looks like you have a nice private spot set up there. I bet your place keeps you busy!

 

Nothing like Springtime gardening... wow, your hard work is evident and paying off, Jewell. You have really got a little bit of everything there.

In picture of the trillium, what is growing inbetween? With the feathery leaves? I think I have that growing in a bed of iris -- never blooms but comes back every time I pull it out.

Hope you are feeling 100% today.

 

Jerry, I wish I had no dandelions. I have some big enough to provide a salad for an entire family. Just don't want to show off my talents for growing them.

Frank, I started using cardboard when we bought a couple of plastic storage sheds and then my husband got his flat screen TV. It was perfect for covering the garden for the winter. That was 07-08.


fugus that forms on cardboard/dead wood ( photo / image / picture from Jewell's Garden )

I was surprised with the fugus I got from the decomposed cardboard. I have been experimenting with cardboard in the garden since then.

gfreiherr I am glad you enjoyed the rough tour. Hopefully the plants will fill in for more photos later. Do you have any old photos of your place in VA?

Toni with your green thumb I am sure your new beds will be wonderful. With making more beds there is less and less mowing and more and more weeding along the edges. It is nice that the beds pretty much take care of themselves.

Green_Numb glad you enjoyed the tour. Gardening keeps me out of trouble....for the most part.

MaryAnn the feathery plant is Pacific bleeding heart. Since you say yours doesn't bloom it might be a wild geranium (does it have a pungent odor and the stems all come from a central part attached to the root?)Late in the summer it has very small pink flowers and tons of seeds. It looks similar and I pull it too. The Pacific bleeding hearts have a more "watery" stem and grow from rhizomes and seeds. Flowers in the spring. And yep! I'm feeling much better today. Will return to work tomorrow

 

Thanks for the garden tour Jewell, I really enjoyed it!
I love the Rosy Cloud Narcissus

 

Excellent and fun tour Jewell! So much to look at.
Looks like a lot of work and love with into every square inch.

 

I really, really like your layout there, Jewell. You have done so many nice thigs.
I especially like your covered patio. Every garden needs one (if possible). I like sitting out among the flowers.

I must look at these pics and commentary more closely this evening.

Great post!

 

Nice tour Jewell,..some lovely nooks and shapes,..i enjoyed that thank you.

 

Everything is "pafekt" please read with Bridget's british accent.
I always love to see pics and I always find nice ideas.