Friday, October 16, 2009

The Development of My Friends' Garden Bed

You can click on any of these photos. Nearly every one will enlarge for better detail.

This is a photo of my friends' yard October 31, 2008.

The tilling and planting of a new flower bed inspired (click here) This Post.

My friends and I have had a great time this summer!

May 21, 2009
J did his tilling and it's ready to plant!

Look at this! Plants...

...and more plants!

This photo was taken June 8, 2009, after a few days'
deluge of rainfall! (Looking from the back to the front)
This photo was taken June 10... look what J did (trenches all around)!

In August S and one of her friends
and all four children and I made stepping stones.
(Click Here)

After everything was planted, J added a nice thick layer of shredded mulch.

And I just kept checking in all Summer and Fall!
(photo taken June 1, 2009)There's a blank spot behind the peony in the foreground.
Daughter E planted Shasta Daisy seeds.
(planted June 25, 2009)
Notice that the seeds are growing (behind her stepping stone).
(photo taken October 9, 2009)
A close-up of the Shasta Daisies.
They grew! :-)
Do you remember the post about Summer Projects?
One of those projects was the birdbath with the Sum & Substance leaf (click here)
that now resides in this garden!
A close-up of the middle of the bed... Nan Ondra should see this!
One of her favorite three plants was once Persicaria,
which I ordered and planted in this bed.

October 7, 2009
(Photos from the southwest corner back to the front.)

From the road... in June
July 8, 2009
October 3, 2009


Won't it be fun to see this garden next Spring? Just think how much more mature and developed the plants should be? :-)

17 comments:

Chloe m said...

I love to see the progression of gardens. Looks good and you worked so hard...can't wait to see it later too.
Rosey
P.S. Not a dandelion to be seen in that grass. :)

Northern Shade said...

It's such fun to watch and see how a garden you planned and planted turns out. I love observing over time, to see if it develops as you imagined, or surprises you. Half the fun of this project would have been the company. :)

Nutty Gnome said...

I'm loving seeing how that bed is developing. It's great now, so next year it should have some real 'wow' factor! :)

Shady Gardener said...

Rosey, I love the planning of new garden beds! And it's fun when someone else lends a hand (like a LOT of work)! :-) And you're right... pretty clean lawn.

Hi Northern Shade! You're right on all counts. Every time I drive in, the kids wonder what's happening, and what I have in my trunk! ha.

Nutty Gnome, I'm glad you'll be watching with me. I cannot drive by their yard (which I do at least once daily) and not crane my neck to see how things are doing. :-) I am ALWAYS intrigued by what's happening at your place!!

Rebecca @ In The Garden said...

Wonderful project, it dresses up the yard so nicely. It looks like it's growing very well, and I'm sure will have a much more filled in look next year. Looking forward to the update pictures. :)

Lisa at Greenbow said...

What fun to be able to help someone develop their garden. A good job too.

Catherine@AGardenerinProgress said...

It's looking great. It must be fun watching it grow. I love the leaf bird bath.

Pat said...

Way to go !!
I have to admit I envy all that empty land... :)

Shady Gardener said...

Rebecca, Thanks! The whole planning/planting experience for someone else is lots of fun... but a little intimidating, because you only Hope they like what you do! ;-)

Thank you, Lisa! It was fun - and I know any of you would love it, too. :-) (Wait 'til you see what we're going to do next Spring! I've already given them some ideas...)

Catherine, It is fun. I feel a little "motherly," if that makes sense...

Thanks, Patsi!! :-) I understand the envy. One of the greatest parts was its being a complete Blank Slate! Also, because it's so flat, there is sometimes a water problem. So, that's why you see deep-rooted prairie plants such as grass, cone flower, rudbeckia, etc.

joey said...

What a great neighbor to keep this photo journal, Shady. He must love you as much as we do :)

Ellie Mae's Cottage said...

I loved seeing each phase of the garden and how it was developed. Something like this is always so much more fun when you can do it with a friend. Thanks for sharing! -Jackie

Anonymous said...

Hi SG~~ I love this. Well, I hate digging sod but I LOVE fresh soil, rife with possiblity. It looks like you've made good use of it. I'm a huge fan of Persicaria too. This plant looks very healthy. Hope we can see more next summer. This is the cool thing about gardening. Unlike so many endeavors garden designs just get better and better.

Gail said...

Hi Shady! What a fun time with a friend! It looks wonderful and the first thing I thought of after admiring the hard work and the good looking plantings~~was "I bet Shady is admiring all the sun!" That's what I've been drooling over lately...full sun plants! I look forward to seeing the bed next spring and summer. gail

Shady Gardener said...

Hi Joey, It's a mutual admiration society! ;-) Like all of us!

Jackie, Isn't that the beauty of photography? Just keep taking photos and you'll see a progression somewhere along the line! :-)

:-) Grace! Do you know what else was wonderful about this? Not having to worry about the sod! J sprayed the grass and we waited a couple of weeks for it to die. Then he used the tiller. Finally it was the plant and add newspapers (a lot of them!) trick to keep down the weeds until the mulch was added. Not one bit of sod was spaded! yea! :-)

Hi Gail! You caught it! I was really enjoying planting a bed that sees Mostly Sun all the time! It's fun to work outside your own reality from time-to-time. :-)

Nan Ondra said...

Love the persiaria, Shady - and the grasses, and everything else, too. How fun for you and your friend to be able to work together on a project like this. It's truly a labor of love!

Karen - An Artist's Garden said...

I did enjoy seeing this through all the developments - and it will be great to see how it looks next year - Don't forget to keep us posted
K

Shady Gardener said...

Nan, I really like it, too! I'll have to keep it in mind when or if ever I have a sunny space of my own again someday! It has been a lot of fun... and I think they have more they'd like to do next year! :-)

Hi Karen, Thanks! I'm sure you'll be seeing more updates next Spring! :-)