I was out weeding in my front garden yesterday afternoon. I've decided to pull the weeds, put down that gardening mesh thing to keep the weeds at bay, and put bark mulch over it. I'm doing away with flowers in this area and keeping the rhodos, a cone tree, the roses, lavendar, hen and chicks, another unknown tree. I had a dickens of a time with these nasty bulb plants that multiply and take over the whole area in the spring that may be either Hyacinthus orientalis var. albulus or muscari or both. I have one area where I'm pulling out a bush that's not doing well. My husband accidentally took some of it when he used a chain to pull out a gigantic, diseased juniper last year. Once that comes out I'll transplant a rhodo there. I just can't keep up with the weeding. Partly thanks to my husband who brought in dirt from the farm so all the weeds that grow at the farm are now in the garden. Also previous owners who planted just about everything that can pop up again unexpectedly. I just want to get this area neat and tidy. Maybe keep flowers in pots and boxes, but right now not in the flower beds. Except for some poppies. I'll leave that area clear of the gardening mesh. I'm pulling out clovers and weeds and then I see something move. I jump back and then I go over and kick the grass it ran into and it ran out and under the step to the workshop. Don't know if it was a mole, a mouse, or a small rat. Doesn't matter either way. That ended my day's weeding!
Gardening and weeding do seem to go together.:-? It does seem never ending. Sounds like you are getting a handle on things this year though. Are you going to post pictures? Would love to see how the beds are doing. I too keep a lot of things in pots. Seems the best way until beds are ready, and then there are some plants that never make it to the ground (all my grasses for one :twisted: ) and some I wish never made it to the ground. Someone PM me for your bulbs. They were trying to find a place to buy some. Maybe you should havest for sale or trade. Happy gardening
Here are some photos My monkey puzzle tree bit me today. That tree doesn't like anybody! Here's what the front garden looked like in June 2007, then in May this year, and today. It was very crowded and overgrown due to someone planting lots and lots many years ago and then several years of renters not doing a thing and then me trying to get it under control. Sometimes I think we should have just left it alone. It looks so bare now. I can't save the bulbs. I found a few when I was weeding an tossed them in the garden recycle bin. Too bad because I did spend some time chasing down tulips and digging up the bulbs and replanting them. I think once I get it down to a few bushes and trees and get it manageable I'll put more pots with flowers into the garden. This photo was taken in June 2007. We took out the junipers and anything else that looked diseased to thin it out. Overgrown front garden June 2007 ( photo / image / picture from whistler's Garden ) After a couple of years I can't get the weeds under control. Photo taken in May 2009. May 2009 garden thinned but lots of weeds ( photo / image / picture from whistler's Garden ) Starting to make headway on the weeds in October 2009. That bush to the left of the cone tree is getting dug out and we'll transplant the rhodo in its place. Front garden Oct 2009 less weeds ( photo / image / picture from whistler's Garden ) Several plants crowded together. See I still have some roses! The rose stays. The big plant has yellow flowers and it stays. The rhodo peeking out on the right side is being transplanted around the side, halfway between the cone tree and the mystery tree. The plant to the left of the bush gets white flowers in the spring, but sadly that one is not being saved. Plants too close together ( photo / image / picture from whistler's Garden )
While weeding this summer, I encountered a snake...turned out not to be poisonous (I looked it up on the I), but it still put an end to my weeding that day!
Wow! You've really gotten that big bed into shape. Glad you are taking your time to figure out what you want and don't want. Can't wait to see what it looks like in the spring.
What! Are you throwing out the Helleborus? You must be near to mad. They bloom early, the leaves are ever-green and they're the so easy to grow too. I wish you'll reconsider your decision there.
I'll bet the weed barrier cloth will make things easier on you. You'll have it pulled together in no time. Once when I was setting up a new bed, I saw the moving thing as you described, only under the dirt. After I calmed my pounding heart, I investigated and found a teeny little turtle, no bigger than an Oreo cookie. He was so cute. I kept him safe in a bowl until I was finished digging and then put him back. I believe he still lives in there.
I saw the little fellow again tonight running along the sidewalk between the front garden and the house. Definitely a mouse. This time my husband saw him too - ran over his foot when he moved the board where I told him I'd seen the mouse run. I wouldn't find finding a turtle in my garden. Unlikely because the nearest stream and river is about a mile away. That would be really cute though. That plant is a Helleborus? I have no clue. I have considered transplanting around the side where it'll get more room but when I discussed it with my husband yesterday he doesn't want it anywhere in the garden.
