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.

New Plantings - 2012

I worked on the garden most of last weekend (5/5-5/6). I started by reworking the north-east section of the garden. Originally, it was a long-steep slope of small to medium stones. I was constantly having to rake stones back up the slope. So, I decided to add a second, lower bed and added more supporting rocks.

Original Layout (looking west)

New Layout (looking west)

New Layout (looking east)

I also added an additional layer to the top section just east of the stairs - it sloped to much causing mulch and always drain off with each rain storm. Adding an additional layer of rocks as a retainer should keep he mulch, and water, where it belongs.

Here is a full view - its hard to see these changes, but they are an improvement:

I then moved on to installing a variety of new plants and filled in some of the unused space with Marigolds. Here is a list of the new landings:


Assorted Marigolds

Shade Fanfare Plantain Lily (Hosta 'Shade Fanfare')

I planted two of these zone 3 Hostas in the garden - one just below the Maple, and the other in the newly created bed in the north-east section of the garden. Hosta do great in the garden, so I expect little problems, other than chipmunks.

Winky Red & White Columbine (Aguilegia 'Winky Red & White')

I attempted a set of similar plants last year, only to watch them be eaten by slugs. I am trying again with these Zone 3 plants. They should get to 18" x 18" provided the slugs stay away. If they make it, I'm hoping they attract hummingbirds.

Heavenly Blue Lithodora (Lithodora diffusa 'Heavenly Blue')

I planted two of these creeping perennials - I had one during the first year of the garden and the blue flowers were spectacular. That planted didn't last more than a year, but I am willing to try again. As a zone 6 plant it should do well and grow to about 3-6" in height and spread as much as 6' - no doubt I will trim them back as the grow, an easy task since they grow slowly.

Stonecrop (Sedum 'Rock Garden Blend')

This blend of different sedum should make a nice ground cover along the narrow top edge of the north-west side of the garden. I planted four, but each plant should grow to about 4-6" and fill in this edge. Thy like sun and dry, well-drained soil, so I am hoping these plants will do well.

Rock Cress (Arabis caucasia 'Snowfix')

This zone 4-8 perenial likes full sun, so I planted them on the north side of the garden. I still have one small plant from last year that survived, so I am hoping these will do well, although blooming season is currently in full swing for this plant. I might have to wait until next year to get a nice flowing.

Irish Moss (Sagina subulata)

Most of the moss that had been planted along the stone staircase didn't make it through the dry winter. Last year I had to add some more, but this year I replaced it all. It will look strange for a while until it spreads out.

Melting Fire Coral Bells (Heuchera 'Melting Fire')

This zone 4 plant should grow to about 15" x15" in size. I planted two, one each on either side of the Buddha. As annuals, they should bloom each spring and the red color should add some variety to the mostly green garden.

Dahlia

I planted one of the these annuals directly into the garden (red), but the other two (both white) were potted. I had a couple of potted plants last year and they did well - the potted plants I can move around as need to ensure the get enough light.

Bacopa 

I'm not sure how these will do - I planted three at the foot of the Buddha in the Black stone area. They need at least 2-3 hours of sunlight but will do much better with more. It is an annual, so I am just tying it out to see what happens.

Additional Hosta

I also added a large number of Hosta behind and to the right of Buddha. I am moving the day lilies and grasses that had been there - they just were not getting enough light this time around. I will transplant them to other places. Instead, I installed Hosta that were given to me by a relative - they are different then most of the Hosta currently in the garden - they have broad, green leaves. They should do well in this increasingly shady corner.

Mulching the Dragon

A put down new mulch today along the Dragon's Spine. It was really getting thin and needed a nice thick layer. Looks good, but the lack of a fence seems odd.

I would like to add a different style fence along the back edge, but for now, the Tiger Lilies I planted on the property line will have to do.

They were given to me by a friend (Joe V.) and they like shade. They should produce some nice orange flowers this year. I also don't mind that they spread - with luck they might eventual fill in the area just off property. I will mulch up the Zen Garden after installing some new plant purchases I picked up last Sunday.

Spring Cleanup

I worked on cleaning up the garden today. The weather as been so unpredictable, that I kept putting it off.

Because of the lack of snow, and little to no rain in April, the soil is very dry. This process started back when we were having 80 degree days in March. At the time, it didn't occur to me to start watering the garden in March, and as a result, I lost some plants. Here is a list of the now departed:

Brunnera (m. 'Emerald mist' Bugloss)

Rock Cress (Arabis caucasica)

The lower plant didn't make it, but the upper one did. I moved it to the lower spot because it was being taken over by creeping Jenny.

Montana Sandwort (Arenaria montana)

Irish Moss (Sagina subulata)

I will replace this moss in clumps again, and let it spead. This seems to be an annual event.

Before

After

False Cyprus Cumulus (Chamaecyparis pisifera 'Cumulus')

These were two on my favorite (and most expensive) plants. Unfortunately, they really require a lot of moister and with the winter being so dry, they just didn't make it - especially with 80 degree temperatures in March. I trimmed one back, just to see what happens, but the other is 100% dead.

Before

Before

After

After

I also transplanted two Hostas from where the Entry Gate is going in, to the two spots where critters ate Hosta last summer (near the Buddha).

Maybe this year they won't eat them. If they do, it will be war!

Guanyin

"A flower unfolds to the best of its ability due to the conditions around it... and so do you - you unfold to the best of your ability." - Guanyin


I purchased a new statue for the garden - a Guanyin statute.  Guanyin is the Buddhist goddess of mercy/compassion. I found it at an antique shop while visiting Salam, Massachusetts. The shop had an unusually large collection of Buddhist statuary with several sizes of Guanyin statues and a wide variety (size and design) of Buddha statues.

I haven't decided where I will place her yet. I am thinking along the back side of the garage. That area will get a some transplanted grass or bamboo this summer and I still need to work on the rock pile for the rain chain and small bridge. So, it could be a while before Guanyin gets a permanent home.