It's that time again... well... actually I meant to post this over the holidays, but just didn't have the time. But now that winter weather has me trapped inside, what better way to pass the time than to stroll back in time through the garden. Here's my "Year One Review" http://www.gardenstew.com/about24104.html And "Year Two" http://www.gardenstew.com/about27698.html So... here's how things looked in 2013. The "Cosmos Bed" went through a total transformation. I did manage to weed out all the orange ones and re-establish the pinks & purples... but only on one half. I used the other half for some other things... mostly in containers. Garage Bed 2013 ( photo / image / picture from cherylad's Garden ) And then I converted the area into my "winterhouse". A place to store/protect my container plants during the winter. Winterhouse ( photo / image / picture from cherylad's Garden ) It worked really when we had light freezes, but not so much when our temps dipped into the teens for a long period of time. I'll have to add more lights/heat next winter. The bed by front porch got a slight overhaul. Mostly I relocated the Cannas and added a few more things. front bed ( photo / image / picture from cherylad's Garden ) The bed by the water meter and adjoining fence filled in nicely. Water meter and fence area ( photo / image / picture from cherylad's Garden ) Bed by water meter ( photo / image / picture from cherylad's Garden ) And while we're still in the front of the house... I continued on my quest to make my mowing job less work... I was having to mow and weed-eat between several things. So I made one long bed. Driveway Bed "before" ( photo / image / picture from cherylad's Garden ) Driveway Bed "after" ( photo / image / picture from cherylad's Garden ) Now around to the back yard. The succulent bed is filling in nicely with a few extra plants added. I really need to get in there and lay more cardboard and mulch, it's getting hard to keep the weeds down again. Succulent bed ( photo / image / picture from cherylad's Garden ) The "ugly fence" is started to look like I want it too... especially with the vine covering the arch. Ugly fence & archway ( photo / image / picture from cherylad's Garden ) No real changes to the bed under the Sassafras tree. Except I did have to move the Clematis since it wasn't getting enough sun. But it was replaced with a Passion Vine that seemed to like it there. Sassafras tree bed ( photo / image / picture from cherylad's Garden ) My "butterfly/pole bed" did really well. I just need to secure the Passion Vine better... it gets so heavy and just slides down. Pole bed ( photo / image / picture from cherylad's Garden ) I continued to add to that strip of space by the bird bath/fountain. I moved the Hyacinth Bean Vine there. Again... there is too much mowing in-between and around things, so I've started to lay down cardboard/mulch to make it one big bed. (noticing a theme with me? LOL) Back of fence 2013 ( photo / image / picture from cherylad's Garden ) I'm loving all the colors in the Daylily beds. And can't wait until they fill in more. I've relocated that big container and will be planting even more lilies this spring. Daylily Beds ( photo / image / picture from cherylad's Garden ) I had so much fun planting in the "big bed". I put in a lot of natives and hibiscus and anything else I ran across. I even did a little expansion on the south side of it making join up with another bed. Big Bed 2013 ( photo / image / picture from cherylad's Garden ) Big Bed 2013 ( photo / image / picture from cherylad's Garden ) The beds along the fence are just about how I want them to look.. I just want more more more Coneflowers. Fence Bed 2013 ( photo / image / picture from cherylad's Garden ) One of my favorite sections is still the "water corner" where I have the water lilies, old pump fountain and stuff. Water Corner - looking down ( photo / image / picture from cherylad's Garden ) Water Corner ( photo / image / picture from cherylad's Garden ) The Berry Patch came together as I had hoped. The strawberries did pretty good. The banana tree grew nicely, but no fruit. Not too many blackberries this year, but I have high hopes for them in 2014 since they've gotten established. I'm contemplating on growing some blueberries. Or maybe give growing some cataloupes vertically a try out there? Berry Patch ( photo / image / picture from cherylad's Garden ) So... here's how things are looking after "year three"... View from swing ( photo / image / picture from cherylad's Garden ) Overview - facing West ( photo / image / picture from cherylad's Garden ) Overview - facing South ( photo / image / picture from cherylad's Garden ) "After" 2013 ( photo / image / picture from cherylad's Garden ) Overview - facing East ( photo / image / picture from cherylad's Garden ) Overview - facing East ( photo / image / picture from cherylad's Garden ) Fence Bed 2013 ( photo / image / picture from cherylad's Garden ) Just have to show my "before" from 2011 again and the new "after" photo from 2013. ( photo / image / picture from cherylad's Garden ) Overview - facing East-north ( photo / image / picture from cherylad's Garden ) Thanks again to everyone here for all the advice and help. Here's looking to a great 2014 gardening year!
Cheryl your gardens are just lovely. When I looked back at all your photographs and then at 2013 I can see just how much effort went into creating what you have now. I think you've done a terrific job and I hope you'll show us your 2014 pictures later on. Creating a garden isn't easy but you achieved far more than many people in such a short time. I take my hat off to you.
Wow,what a transformation! It looks like it'll be a riot of colour later in the year.A good idea to cut down on mowing IMO especially if it means more flowers
A lot of great work and a lot of enjoyment Cheryl. I love the before and after pictures. Even different satellite pictures show how much progress has been made. Lots of ideas to copy. Did I say that too loud? shhhh Jerry
It looks fantastic Cherylad! I love looking at before and after photos, what a difference! You should be proud of all your hard work! I am suddenly itching to get out into my garden as I have an expansion to finish...
Thank you, Cheryl, for the lovely guided tour through your gardens and their history.. I enjoyed the walk very much and have great admiration for your accomplishments.. Hank
Donna...thank you! But it isn't alot of work... it's alot of PLAY! Karen... I enjoy mowing, it's one of my favorite chores. But... I don't need to kill myself doing it, right? Jerry... I hadn't thought about looking at satellite photos. Netty... I'm hoping the weekend will be nice so I can finish the expansion I've been working on. I need that grass to be dying so I can plant in a couple of months. Thanks everyone for the kind words!
Chapeau! What you have done is nothing short of remarkable. I mean it. Remarkable.. When one looks back to the very beginning... Everything is looking quite pleasing, you must be enormously pleased with yourself and the results thus far. It just keeps evolving, doesn't it. BTW--what is that encroaching into your berry and banana bed from the fence? Well-done miss.
Thank you Sjoerd! The vines on the fence are Honeysuckle and Confederate Star Jasmine. I would love it if my neighbors would clear that land behind the fence, but in the meantime, I try to keep the weeds from coming over.
