How does your garden grow (week of July 6th)

So how is your garden faring? Are the rains keeping things green, or are you experiencing dry conditions? Do you garden for your climate, or are you one to push the boundaries?

This week's post is 'show and tell' about my new gardens! DH and I got the keys to our new home July 2 and moved in on the 3rd. We have mostly been unpacking boxes and getting utilities hooked up, but yesterday while DH took a break to play golf with a friend (!!) I went to the farmers market, then made a trip to the garden centre in hopes of still finding some herb plants that I might pot up. DS#2 did the heavy lifting and positioning of pots for me. I recycled styrofoam blocks to fill the bottoms of the larger pots then topped off with the plants. The pots look a little straggly, but they will fill out in no time.

The property is hillside and backs onto a ravine. The far view is of Lake Ontario. The existing gardens are in good shape, but there is some winter kill that needs attention, a little weeding, and the soil seems due for amending.

I'm not a fan of water features, but DH is charmed! We will care for it this summer and make a decision about it next year. (Is it high maintenance? Is it economical?)

Thanks for looking, and please post your garden stories and pics.

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11 years ago

Anonymous

I wondered If we would be treated to photos of your new garden! It's beautiful. I love the different levels and little paths and rocky areas. The plants look fab. I bet your herbs will do really well too.

I spent over three hours in our front garden today. I cut the lawn and trimmed all of the edges back to sharpen the edges. I then did a little weeding and trimming back. We have a variegated ivy that still needs taming a little though and sadly only one of my Geraniums is doing well with flowers at the moment.

The back garden still needs a lot of work but I've included some photos of random bits that are more presentable. We have some ornamental pots of white Geraniums that look lovely and some of my bedding plants are taking hold nicely now. Our big cream Astilbe is fading a bit now, but the smaller varieties near our big fern are still to flower and the Fuchsia's are just starting to bloom. I can't believe how much work has built up since last year, but it's mostly due to the fact I was out of action a lot last year because of my back problems. Still, progress is being made

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deb

Veteran

Carla, the new property is beautiful! I see so much fun ahead for you.

Diane, your garden is looking good, also.

It has been very hot here and some plants are stressed. 106 F is too hot for quite a few. I added a new water pot by the front entry. Now if I can only stop the squirrels from stealing my water hyacinth. I have ah to replace it already. I am also slowly replacing the lawn. I have a plan, talked hubster into it, and started working on it last week. I work very slow. Dig a little, rest dig a little rest. You get the picture. I have also added a few shots from my chair.

New water garden
First corner done where lawn once was.
My favorite chair on the deck
Where favorite chair sits.
- 9. View from favorite chair, right to left.

Favorite chair is good for drinking tea in the morning, wine in the evening. I sit during summer thunderstorms and winter rains. I love this chair.

cheryle (Dianthus)

(website)

Carla, your new yard looks lovely. The view shown in #6 is spectacular and looks very inviting.

Diane, is that astilbe in #5? It is huge. I really like how you used pots to soften the line along the stone.

Deb, I am totally on board with reducing lawn. There is none at all in our new backyard. Your yard has so many layers of hardscape and places for the eye to stop. Lovely design. Did you do it all yourself?

We are almost finished the back yard. It is a small yard and that is perfect since we intend this to be our retirement home. I had a plan for the trees/shrubs but not always the specific plant.

I bought two of the rain barrels. The soldier row of stones on the patio is charcoal so I thought it would work even though it is medium grey. The opening to the left of the circle has three Black Tower Elderberry. They have a really nice green/black leaf. The corner has three toba hawthorn trees. The one of the left has three monet weigela - two left and one right and one invincibelle hydrangea to the left of the middle hawthorn. The hawthorn on the right has a birds nest spruce to the left and a climbing hydrangea on the right.
The next grouping has a prairie splendor norway maple in the center. There is a virginia creeper on either side to cover the fence since it is pruned high. On the left is a tamarisk and on the right three golden elders. There are three dakota pinnacle birch in the corner. Between the center grouping and the corner birch trees, I planted two charisma lilacs.

We bought a black framed metal roofed 10'x12' gazebo to go in the back corner of the patio where the birch are. The BBQ will be on a pad adjacent to the patio so it is easily accessible from the house or gazebo.

I thought the golder elders with their ferny texure and bright yellow foliage would offset the large dark leaves of the maple nicely. The birch are a upright shape and should be ab out 25' tall and 8' wide at maturity.

I am pooped. It was about 35C and very humid yesterday and today and we planted 4 trees, 9 shrubs and 2 vines.

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Yes Dianthus. It is an Astilbe. I just looked it up and it's called 'Professor van der Wielen' and is suited to shady spots. It sends up the flowery spikes in June/July. Your garden is coming along in leaps and bounds isn't it?

Deb, your pot for water plants is a great idea. It never occurred to me to have a mini water garden like that. It's lovely!

Claudia

Some of the container gardens I made this past week at the garden center. I feel so lucky that I get paid to paint with flowers.

As you can see, my home garden's perennial beds are not contained at all.

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