Monday, May 11, 2009

A garden is always changing, always evolving.

My garden has evolved throughout the 18-plus years I have lived in this house. One would think that with such a small garden I would have completed the main look by now but there is always much more to do as I attempt to transform my new ideas on to the landscape. This year, for the first time, I have put all my spring/summer, 2009, projects on paper but with no strict deadlines other than finishing by the end of the year. The plans are:

1 - Build a trellis along the back wall of my house to support my purple passion vine. I don't know what I was thinking when I attempted to grow this vine along a thin length twine; healthy flowering vines need stronger support to grow fully.

2 - This corner of the garden definitely needs a face-lift. The giant white bird of paradise is overgrown and the bench needs a paint job (my wife wants a new one but that is NOT going to happen since it's not in the budget). I want to make this corner a more inviting place for tranquility and meditation. I have an extra Water feature in the garage that would be perfect for this corner but I would need to buy a solar water pump to power it (and my wife says THAT is not in the budget!).

3 - Expand my vegetable garden for the fall growing season. I need to take out some of the grass and add enriched soil (maybe from my compost).

(old picture)

4 - Finally, the biggest project is for the front garden. I get a lot of nice comments from my neighbors and visitors about my front garden and as a gardener it is satisfying to see other people enjoy the work I put into my garden. Since it's the most visible, the front garden is definitely always a work in progress. My plan is to expand the front garden, reducing the amount of grass and adding more sun-loving and drought-resistant plants. I am also thinking about enclosing the garden with a small iron fence--not to keep people out but to make the area cozy and inviting. This project would be the most expensive of the four and we will have to see whether the budget will allow it at the end of the year!

11 comments:

vuejardin said...

Very nice landscaping stones, I see some vertical gardening in your garden, a great way to use the wall space.

CanadianGardenJoy said...

Rusty .. I have come to think that a true gardener is always evolving .. we never stop no matter the size of the garden .. We always have new ideas to try and create an even more glorious garden : ) Joy

Unknown said...

It's so interesting to see other people's gardens and read what they are thinking. We gardeners always see things to be improved on. I think your yard looks great!

Prospero said...

Hi Rusty. Thanks for the comprehensive tour. Those dang budgets! Do you plan to trim your giant bird of paradise? It's such a great focal point. Your front garden looks magnificent. No wonder people stop to admire it.

Jennifer AKA keewee said...

Rusty, you are right, the garden is ALWAYS a work in progress. I have lost count of the times I have changed things around. I am wanting a solar powered fountain and $200+ is not in my budget right now,for the one I have my eye on. sighhhh!

Dirt Princess said...

Its a work in progress preiod. Always will be. I don't think we will ever walk out into our gardens and say "well now I'm done"....

HelloPame said...

I've been visiting your lovely blog for weeks now...so I figured it was time to say hello! ☺

It usually takes quite a bit to make me comment on someone else's blog, but the fact that you are getting rid of more of your grass made me smile so I HAD to write! Imagine how many more butterflies, birds and wildlife your garden will invite! And, even better, imagine the day when you don't ever have to mow the lawn again!

We have no grass at all. I took all of it out by hand. Took me about three months total. Quite a job, I tell ya. But now I would not trade it for anything!

If you want to put some fragant, pollinator attractant, drought tolerant (I don't think I have ever watered ours), and just plain beautiful shrubs check out the Sweet Almond Bush. You can shape it like a bush or a tree. It is an evergreen and it flowers about 9 monhs out of the year for us in Central Florida (Orlando).

Good luck with the projects, they all sound great!

Brenda Kula said...

I love the views of your house. And it's so Florida tropical! I have a bank going in right across the street, so I'm thinking about putting up a big stone fence or something for privacy. I may not even put in a gate! Your yard looks so tranquil.
Brenda

Louise @ Buddy Garden said...

Hi, I stumbled upon your blog while searching for Fairy Rose. I love your front garden and the way you arrange the containers with the flower beds.

ChrisC said...

I sooo have soooo many plans,too.But life always seems to get in the way of our gardening,doesn't it?Just doesn't seem fair.

GISELE said...

I LOVED YOUR GARDEN, I AM BRAZILIAN, I DON'T SPEAK ENGLISH, BUT I SEE BEAUTIFUL IN YOUR BLOG GARDEN