another day
I have been hard at work building new beds and redoing old ones. My muscles and back are killing me, so I have decided I have to slow down a little. Grrrrrrrrrrr! I hate getting old! But! on the bright side--I made a new friend!
Can you see him in the picture above? I'm sure I disturbed him when I was re-doing a bed. He was so slow moving, and seemed more curious as to what I was doing than anything. He watched me for the longest time, his tiny little tongue flicking every few seconds. Eventually he slithered off into the lavender and left me alone to my work. I should have taken a before picture, but I would be embarrassed to post it! It was a hot mess because I didn't touch it all summer. I had chocolate mint growing in an adjacent bed, and of course, you know what mint does! I pulled it up, cleaned up the bed, added some compost, planted some more lavender, and topped it with mulch. I now have 10 lavender plants. I just love it! Here's what the bed looked like when I finished.
Here's a closer look:
If you are wondering why I circle all my new plants with rock, it is because of Bocephus. As soon as I turn my back, he will dig it up unless I protect them with rock. After it gets established, and he figures out it really does belong there, I can remove the rocks--but it will be a few weeks before I can do it. Below is a Mountain Laurel that I put in before I got the bed finished. I need more rock and more mulch. 
Below is a bed that I have lengthened to encompass some morning glories growing on the fence row. Just since I have worked up the soil, I have morning glories sprouting up in the mulch. Unfortunately, they will have to go! I have put in three Xylosma shrubs. I am putting them and vines in along the fence row to hopefully "lose" the fence.
Chrissy is showing you the next bed. It has Daffs, Esparanza, Cilantro, Oregano, Rhubarb, Gerbera Daisies, Mums, Daylillies and an experimental peony down on the right hand corner where the rock is by itself.
Let's see, below is the Alamo Vine, Copper Canyon Daisies, Mums, Daylillies, Dafs, Verbena. I'm sure I've forgotten something! I have soooooooo much to do this fall. The next thing is to dig up the Iris in the front and divide it. A gardeners work is never done!
21 comments:
Sure idea to "mulch" around your new plants! Even though it's because of the dog, it is excellent because it acts as mulch to keep the weeds down surrounding the new plant, plus it gives some visual interest to the space! I love it and plant to borrow the idea when (and if) I ever get rock to border my beds!
I will send you enough hummingbird vine seed to cover that fence! In a few days, I'll try to post before and after photos of my yard, and you'll be amazed when you see how the vines took off!
Nola, I am sooooo excited to get some of your precious Hummingbird Vine seeds. I can't wait! :-)
Oh, I see you have the same friends as me, too! I, too, did so much heavy lifting while building and creating garden spaces, now I'm paying for it dearly a few years later...take many breaks! Your gardens will look so beautiful next year when they start filling in!
Hi Spooky Dragonfly. Can I call you Spooky for short? My friend was much smaller than yours--I don't think I would have been quite so close to it, had it been the size of your snake! I am a chicken when it comes to snakes--we have so many copperheads and rattlers, I pretty much stay away from them. I was worried the dogs would try to kill it, but they could have cared less. If they can't chase it, it's just no fun!
That looks nice with the rocks adding interest while the plants fill in. The fence will be lovely with the vines in bloom. Can't wait to see photos.
Marnie
Okay, your trying to show me uparen't you!? :) Doing all that work while I get my kids to do mine. Looks great though and I know you will be happy when all take root and grow. I love the rocks around the new plants. How ingenious of you to figure out that solution. Good job, even if you are out working me!
Thanks Marnie. Only another gardener can see the vision!
Dear Beckie,
Groan, creek, SNAP! Maybe I could talk you into coming down and building beds and planting for me? Oh well, it was worth a try. LOL!
I wondered about those circles of rocks, but that is a great idea! Our dog doesn't bother the garden, but two outdoor cats do. I place plastic forks around new plants to deter them from digging the dirt--I get some strange looks from visitors to my garden:)
Glad you got some much-needed rain! Gardening work is pretty much done for the year here, not because I finished everything, but because it's too darned cold to work outside.
Rose, kind of gives new meaning to the term "rock garden". I do feel as though I am cultivating rocks, as every turn of the hoe or spade brings up more rock. I can't tell you how many shovels I have broken!
We are supposed to get a light freeze this weekend, so I have some more plants I want to repot to bring in...a gardeners work is never done!
I love your new beds. Thanks for the plant list. I'll look up the ones I'm not familiar with.
I can't help but be envious of your gardening - rocks and all. Even though it's only November, I already antsy to get out in the garden.
Now I'm supposed to put all my energy into cleaning the house. What a horrible thought!
Marie, with the holidays fast approaching, we will all have to spend more time inside cleaning, decorating, and baking. Sigh...
I'm with Marie. My gardens are finished too. I'd love to come over and help with yours.
Chocolate mint! Sounds absolutely devine! Do you make tea with it?
Loved your gardens.
Wendy, I would LOVE to have you come help with the gardening. Bet we could get into lots of trouble doing other things too--like shopping--Hee,hee! I use the chocolate mint in cooking a lot. If you like mint tea, you would love chocolate mint. It has a very strong peppermint flavor with just a hint of chocolate in the background.
I love your new area! I am in zone 5b, so it is too cold to do much here. I did make it out to take pics for GBBD. I did not use my mints as much as usual this year. They are in pots in the carport. Chocolate mint is one of my favorites for ice tea. Some of my mints are still green. I need to get out there and make use of them before it's too late!
I hope you get some more rain. We have garter snakes here. GS and I had one stay put while we were outside looking at it, then when we went in for the camera, it went somewhere and hid. It's good you had your camera with you!
Whoa, I'm sure you back's crying badly. So much of work I understand. Is the Mountain-laurel you have is the one with pinkish blooms? I asked ppl around about it here and they looked at me strangely (LOL!) Too bad I don't know what they're called here regionally and even if it does exists. I looked it up online and the blooms are soo beautiful that the mome I saw it, I though I gotta have it. Hopefully I get it someday.
You have an awesome collection planted there. Good luck with them all treating you soon!
Hi Sue! I'm glad you dropped by. Here in zone 8b my mint just hangs on during the summer, but goes to town in the Fall and Winter. It will be lush and beautiful and bloom for me in the spring.
The funny thing about the snake was I didn't have my camera there. I went in to get it, fully expecting my little friend to have disappeared. But he was still there when I got back out with the camera. I set up the shot, and tried to take it, and the camera battery was dead. I went back in, put in a new battery (thank goodness I had an extra), and he was still out checking out the construction work going on. He was moving very s-l-o-w, and I think he was very curious!
Hi Chandramouli. The Mountain Laurel I planted is a native Texas plant. It doesn't get too big, and the blossoms in spring are deep purple that smell like grape bubble gum!
The pink plant I had in one of the new beds was a Salvia--a native here also. I can't remember it's name.
Thanks for the compliment on my collection of plants. I try to stick with natives, but like you, always fall in love with something else, and work to make it survive and thrive here.
MG, what kind of snake is that? I used to have garter snakes in my yard when I first moved in, but I've not seen them since (it's been six years). I thought they were pretty cute!
~ Monica
I was hoping someone could tell me, Monica! I am calling it a garden snake until I find out differently. :-)
I love your rock garden and stone wall.... I dream of one day having a stone wall in my garden; they make every little flower and bush prettier, as they add such a sense of mistery, and romance to a garden....
Have a lovely day and enjoy the rain, it does good for the earth ;)
cielo
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