Little Additions, Big Intruders

I spent some time yesterday adding some small plants to the garden - one annual and three perennials. Unfortunately, when I went out to the garden today three plants had been ripped out of the ground by something rather large - probably not a dear, but definately bigger than a squirrel. I replanted two of the plants, but the third is not looking so good.


Here are the new additions:


Bugleweed (Ajuga reptans, 'Burgundy Glow')

Has nice purple and blue foliage and likes shade. Unfortunately, this is one of the plants that was dug up and needed to be replanted.


Hens & Chicks (Sempervivum, 'Hardy Mix')

I like the rosette of foliage on these - look sort of Buddhist, like a lotus. Although a sun loving succulent, it was not damaged by the intruder. I have some of these elsewhere in the garden wedged into small rock crevasses.


Zinnia (Profusion White)

I like the flowers on Zinnia - especially the white and brown mixture on this particular plant. As a annual it won't last long, but it does add some nice contrast to the north bank of the garden.

Bitterroot (Lewisia x longipetala hybrid, 'Little Plum')

This plant should develop long purplish-pink flowers, but because it is a type of succulent, it might have been target for eating by the garden intruder. It was damaged and may not make it (sorry, picture above is not from my garden).


Bellflower 'White Clips' Campanula

This plant was not new, but planted last week. For some reason, it appealed to the intruder who ripped it out and deposited it lower in the garden. I replanted it and hope it will survive.

Beginning Anew

"On a journey, ill;
my dream goes wandering
over withered fields."
Basho


I planted some new plants yesterday. The task was a bit tiring, since I had health trouble in the form of a heart attack back on July 8. However, yesterday I felt well enough to get out into the garden and start anew. 


I included the Japanese death poem above by Basho because it reflected my almost untimely death. I was traveling by train through Chicago when I had my heart attack and at one point was clinically dead for eleven minutes before being revived. During those minutes I experienced nothing - no "out-of-body experience" or "light at the end of a tunnel." It was just darkness - nothing, like "wandering over withered fields." 


So, now that I have had some time to heal and reflect on that experience, I have realized that this world is the one that counts and we need to take advantage of every moment and see the beauty of what we have. For me that's family, friends, and my garden. With that, I decided to add some color to some of the spots that had been damaged by the slugs. 


Bellflower 'White Clips' Campanula

I liked the large white, cup-chaped flower, and although it likes full sun, it might do well in part shade (being on the north side of the garden should help. 

Rose Campion (Lychnis coronaria)

This plant isn't flowering yet, and may not do so until next summer. I liked the leaf structure - it has silvery, wooly foliage. It should sprout red flowers once established. It too likes sun, but it might take in part shade as well, hence its location on the north edge of the garden.


Ajuga 'Dixie Chip' (Ajuga hybrid)

This plant tolerates sun or shade, so I am giving it a try along the fence on the south side of the garden. I really liked the multicolored small leaves. It is also spouting a purple-blue flower that compliments some of the colors from the nearby host.

Zinnia (Profusion Yellow and Fire)

I have planted these before, only to see them destroyed by slugs. Nevertheless, they are colorful and add some variation to the garden. I especially like the profusion fire.

Zinnia (Swizzle Cherry)

Catherine helped me add the following flowers a few days back - I pointed, she planted. 

The garden is all so beautiful to me, more so now than ever. I am a gardener for life, and with some, hope, it will be a long and fruitful one absent of withered fields.

Bamboo Transplant

"The winds may fell the massive oak, but bamboo, bent even to the ground, will spring upright after the passage of the storm."


I thinned out the four bamboo plants that I had originally planted along side the gazebo. They were never spaced far enough apart and were very crowded, especially after a couple years of growth.

First Planted

On Year Later

Two Years Later

I decided to move two of the plants to the opposite side of the back entry way into the garden (along side the house). There was a grass plant located here that was doing very well. 

I decided to split the grass and move it to the end of the walkway between the house and garage. However, the split did not go well. One side seems to be still alive and may fully recover by next year. The other side (left) looks pretty sad and may not do well enough to keep in that location - only time will tell.

I considered splitting the bamboo, but after splitting the grass with such poor results, I opted not to do so. Instead, I moved two of the four plants. Over the next couple of weeks I made sure they got plenty of water and now they seem to be doing very well. In fact, they now have more room to spread out and both sides of the entry way and now look well balanced.

The White Gravel Ocean

In the spirt of using gravel throughout a Zen garden, I decided to remove the landscape timbers I was using to define the original walkway between the house and garage. I also removed the mulch I placed within the defined beds during last years transplant of the Hosta into the walkway. 

Now gravel extends throughout, making the area seem much larger and spacious. 

I also balanced the plantings - 2 Liriope Grasses and one Hosta on each side in the front, and three Hosta and some grass on each side in the back (The grass was a transplanted and split plant I moved from the backyard - it didn't do well as a result of the split. I may have to wait until next year to see if it needs replacing).

I also added a yard of gravel to the original pathway - it sloped considerably. I then toped it off with a thin layer of pea stone (just under a yard). It is now level and solid to walk upon. In the future, I plan on placing some sort of large stepping stones down the center of the path, but for now I plan to leave it just pea stone.

I still need to build doors for the gate, but I won't be able to get to that project until mid to late August (or maybe next year).

Finished Gate

"Fortune will call at the smiling gate"

The gate frame is finally finished - well sort of. The basic frame is up and stained, bamboo panels installed and stained as well. I also added copper caps to the support posts and attached flashing to the top posts to protect them from water build up (out of sight, but still need to be painted).

Seeing it in place has made me decide to rework the hardscape of this entire area. My plan is to remove the wooden guides along this path, remove the mulch and replace it with wall-to-wall pea stone. Doing so will make the area seem more spacious. First, I have to add a couple of inches of gravel to the center span of the walkway - it dips and has needed leveling for some time - might as well get it done now.

I am also going to rework the plants - two Hosta in front and six in back. Also some grasses at both ends (to be moved from elsewhere).

Long term I would like to add some stepping stones, but I am not sure what type or pattern - more reading at the public library for next year will help me decide. I also plan on removing the trellises and planters from the garage wall - looks too busy and I never had any luck growing flowing plants there due to the lack of light. The Hosta will do just fine.

I also have to consider doors for the gate. This could be a problem - the gate is not actually straight. I was too cheap to buy a laser guide and paid the price by making some miscalculations. Its not too noticeable but may become more so when I attempt to attach a door. Also the width is too large for a single door. I'm thinking of a 3/4 and 1/4 double door with the smaller section on the left side. It may be a while before I get to this - I need to read up on door construction.

Falling Waters - Next Year

After acquiring a couple more loads of rocks, I started working on a plan for the future rain-chain/water-fall/bridge project. I know I won't get to it this season, but I wanted to lay out a preliminary plan for the location of the chain termination point, path of the water, and bridge span.

The layout looks pretty good, and most of the larger stones will stay in place once I begin. I tossed many of the rocks in back against the wall just to make it look clean. I also planted some Day Lilies and Hosta in the trench as a temporary improvement. I didn't want it to look too barren throughout the year. These plants will be transferred elsewhere when I begin digging the permanent trench next summer.

I also planted a lone 'Lemon Lime' Hosta (small leaf) just outside the rock formation. I acquired this plan from The Fells in Vermont. I am interested in seeing how it grows.

The Back Bed and More

Over the last couple of weeks I have added and moved plants to the garden. In particular, I began to transform the area immediately behind the garage. I began by moving one of the clumping bamboo plants from its original location near the back gate (too cramped) to just at the termination point of the back bed before the back grange door.

I also moved a plant from the front of the house and placed it next to the bamboo (Rheingold Arborvitea, Thuja occidentals 'Rheingold'). This plant was half dead from lack of moisture this winter. I decided to trim off the dead material and then place it with the dead side facing the garage. It is almost unnoticeable and the plant seem to to be doing well - only time will tell.

I also planted an orange Dahlia in the space between for this season. It fills the void and adds some temporary color.

In the original location of the Bamboo, I planted an Irish Diamond Hosta Hosta x 'Allen P. McConnell'. Over time, this plant will fill in this awkward area next to the back gate.

Further along this bed I added a Mossy Rockfoil Saxifraga x arendsii 'Purple Robe' (foreground) and a Pulmonaria (hybrid) dark blue lungwart (background). I acquired the lung wart from The Fells in Vermont in their garden "store" at the main entrance.

Immediately behind them I place the statue of Guanyin, who now faces Buddha and is nestled just behind the Mugo Pine I planted here last year.

All together, the bed looks nice and should fill in over time.

Slugs have also been a major issue this year. I go out every morning with chopsticks and pick them off plants. To help, I purchased two soap stone mushroom ornaments - the removable lids give access to a chamber I fill with beer. Slugs go, but they don't come out. They "mushrooms" also look nice in the garden.

 

I also added some Salvia farinacea (Cathedral deep blue and sky blue) that my daughter wanted in the garden - she liked the bluish colors.

In addition, I am trying some 'Spring Beauty' Hen and Chicks Sempervivum x hybrid - these like rock gardens and I have plenty of rocks. If they take, I may plant more next year to fill other voids in the garden.

On the opposite side of the back garage door I planted two English Daisy 'Habanera Rose' bellis perennis. These six inch perennials should fill in the box nicely.

Finally, I am trying something different this year with the red planters - Yellow African Daisy. 

Gate Progress

I was able to get the gate frame stained and the arbor sections installed during this last week, despite the constant gloomy weather and rain.

I still need to add the top rails, bamboo panels, cooper caps for the support posts, and flashing for the top of the main posts. I also have to start thinking about door design.