Category: Uncategorized

Keeping it real

Published on by lisa

Thanks to Steve and his little worms at Good Sweet Earth, my lawn and flower beds have never looked better! It is the third summer, and in addition to his spraying organic worm ‘tea’ on my landscape, I also mow high, mulch clippings, and have only had to water three times this year– granted, it would look much greener if I watered more, but it looks good to me, and it is so nice not to have to cut the grass so often! My dog Boots likes the fact that he can roll around on my grass and there are no chemicals whatsoever. #organiclawncare

What about those hydrangeas??

Published on by lisa

One of the most common questions I am asked is, “when is the best time to prune my hydrangeas”?  My answer is– it depends.

It takes a bit of work on your end to pay attention to your plants and watch when they bloom –and  whether they bloom on ‘old wood’ (the stems from the previous year) or new wood (new growth from bottom of the plant).  So, if you don’t know for sure that your plant blooms exclusively on NEW wood, DON’T cut them back until you know.

Patience is a virtue here– just wait.  Sometimes the branches that truly look dead will surprise you from producing buds–often starting at the bottom of the branch.  And some hydrangeas now bloom on both old AND new wood– as if we weren’t confused enough already! 😉

Click on this link from fine gardening magazine for more info.

 

 

 

All I can say is WOW!

Published on by lisa

The strip between driveways has been a show stopper on my street this summer!  I am so happy that the plants are thriving and it has created a bouquet of wonderful fragrance and beauty for many to enjoy.  #flowercoachholland

#sustainable gardening

#hollandinbloom

#waterconservation

#droughttolerantplants

 

 

 

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My little garden shed

Published on by lisa

In 2014 I started collecting old wood from torn down fences.  I said it would be a project when I retired…and what a project it turned out to be!

Rotten wood around door needed to be replaced– Dave and Mike, my carpenter guys, took the door off the track and rebuilt the whole thing and also replaced the two windows which were rotten!  The roof was really bad, and when the roofer came they discovered active carpenter ants and a lot of rotten wood.  So, the pest guy came and sprayed around all my buildings, the roof was redone, and the siding guy covered all the bare wood–so the only thing left uncovered is the door, which is the coolest feature of the shed.  It slides around to open up completely!  I started my ‘paneling’ work, but soon found out I needed to get help, so I had another guy help with that.  A little organizing, cleaning and voila!

 

 

bad roof and window
shed when I moved in 2011
Dave hard and work
Mike too

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Second year creep…

Published on by lisa

side w babys

East side of house by driveway…sprinkles of baby’s breath really make the garden sparkle!  Lamium surrounds small dwarf lilac in the back, other perennials are beginning to grow.

 

rt front may  Colorful ‘Georgia Peach’ Heuchera with grape hyacinth, creeping jenny, corydalis, hostas.

 

rt front april

How same area looked right after spring clean up!

sedum and euphorbia  WOW this is the middle area I just planted last year!  Euphorbia in foreground with allium (not blooming yet) and some lavender…lots of ground cover sedums.

 

Time for a change

Published on by lisa

My project this spring!!

bed by driveway 2014
Last year before tree removal

strip between drive
After tree removal

drive strip w stump
Stump before they removed it

2018 strip by drive cleared
After sod removed..a ‘clean slate’

With great sadness, I had to have a huge diseased maple tree taken down. This left a thin strip between driveways (70′ x 8 1/2′ w). With some outside help, I had the sod removed and grade lowered a bit, as the water was always collecting on my driveway in large pools. My goal is to have water (rain) run-off go into the garden. Next step is getting in some soil and pea pebbles to make it well drained for the drought tolerant plants that will be making their home there. Stay tuned!

Pollinator Garden in the making

Published on by lisa

My project this spring is to convert an area that was lawn to an area filled with native and drought tolerant plants.

With great sadness, I had to have a huge maple tree taken down. This left a thin strip between driveways (70′ L x 8 1/2′ w).

Last year before tree removal
After tree removal

This strip was always difficult to water as I have no irrigation system,  and I had been wanting to convert more grass to other plant materials to benefit wildlife.  I had the sod removed and grade lowered, so water (rain) run-off will go into the garden instead of the storm drain.

2018 strip by drive cleared
After sod removed

The next step is adding some soil and pea pebbles to make it well drained for the drought tolerant plants that will be making their home there. Stay tuned!

#wildlifegardens  #nativeplants  #convertinglawn  #pollinatorgarden  #butterflygarden  #droughttolerant  #perennials