It is fun in the middle of snowy January to look back at a picture from last fall and remember the decisions that went into this little garden. It all started with the rock pile on the left of the picture. Over the years my brother and I had collected rocks to use in the various gardens we had created on his two acre property. After the 300 foot long rain garden project that lined his concrete driveway, the entire length of it had rocks, big and little, I was tired of hauling rocks so Jim stacked the leftovers in a pile.
In the spring last year Jim said that he thought as he looked out his kitchen window that he might like a garden at the end of his driveway, by the walking path with a bench or two. When Jim and I walked over to discuss the site of the proposed garden he noticed that I was admiring this rock pile and he said, I hope you don't mind that I stacked these rocks, I think that they look better this way. I recall laughing and saying, No, I think the rock pile is great! Let's repeat the rock theme in this little garden. We cleared out the weeds, brought in some more rocks, the two mossy logs, shrubs, and flowering plants. I noticed that after we installed the rocks that the sound changed, it had a bit of an echo that was not there earlier. Another interesting thing that happened was that as I planted the Catch Fly and Veronica, which were both blooming, suddenly there were 15 to 20 butterflies flitting around the flowers! Now all that is needed here is the bench, which is to go on the far side of the little Burr Oak with the five trunks.
My yard too had new projects. My wonderful husband began to take down the cyclone fence in the backyard and replaced it with a wood fence. Not only that but I also had him and a hired man, Beau, construct a very tall arbor with planter boxes for three Kiwi Vines that were under planted with Blueberries. Hopefully these will all make it through the winter and survive the rabbits munching them. I cannot figure out where the rabbits came in. Since their tracks do not seem to go under the fence anywhere they must have come through the door. This arbor and the wood fence provides a better view than the one afforded by our neighbors. The guys also incorporated two small windows into my arbor, this gives the appearance of an interior wall of a room. I just love how it dresses up my vegetable garden.
This spring we intend to find a spot outdoors for our four goldfish. Four years ago our friend Terry was giving away fish from her pond and we adopted five inch long Goldfish, one did not make it. We bought them a bowl which they out grew in no time, then a thirty gallon tank. We have had them in two thirty gallon tanks for two years, we have a filter on the tanks for a fifty gallon tank and still we have to keep changing the water, so outside they will go. Sounds simple. As soon as it is warm enough to transplant I will have to find new homes for my Hardy Begonia, some cool looking Hosta, whatever that little blue flowering thing is, (the name starts with Br...). Then dig the hole for the lower pond, block in the outside of the upper pond, and have Bruce run electrical to the pump. Yes, we will have to find a heater for the winter but I am so done with having goldfish in a tank in the house. The fish went from one inch to about eight inches in four years. I imagine that with the sound of the pond, and a few wind chimes clinking away that perhaps listening to the neighbors yelling at their dogs or revving their cars will not be so intense when we are outside in our yard. Hmmm, smell that BBQ already!
In the spring last year Jim said that he thought as he looked out his kitchen window that he might like a garden at the end of his driveway, by the walking path with a bench or two. When Jim and I walked over to discuss the site of the proposed garden he noticed that I was admiring this rock pile and he said, I hope you don't mind that I stacked these rocks, I think that they look better this way. I recall laughing and saying, No, I think the rock pile is great! Let's repeat the rock theme in this little garden. We cleared out the weeds, brought in some more rocks, the two mossy logs, shrubs, and flowering plants. I noticed that after we installed the rocks that the sound changed, it had a bit of an echo that was not there earlier. Another interesting thing that happened was that as I planted the Catch Fly and Veronica, which were both blooming, suddenly there were 15 to 20 butterflies flitting around the flowers! Now all that is needed here is the bench, which is to go on the far side of the little Burr Oak with the five trunks.
My yard too had new projects. My wonderful husband began to take down the cyclone fence in the backyard and replaced it with a wood fence. Not only that but I also had him and a hired man, Beau, construct a very tall arbor with planter boxes for three Kiwi Vines that were under planted with Blueberries. Hopefully these will all make it through the winter and survive the rabbits munching them. I cannot figure out where the rabbits came in. Since their tracks do not seem to go under the fence anywhere they must have come through the door. This arbor and the wood fence provides a better view than the one afforded by our neighbors. The guys also incorporated two small windows into my arbor, this gives the appearance of an interior wall of a room. I just love how it dresses up my vegetable garden.
This spring we intend to find a spot outdoors for our four goldfish. Four years ago our friend Terry was giving away fish from her pond and we adopted five inch long Goldfish, one did not make it. We bought them a bowl which they out grew in no time, then a thirty gallon tank. We have had them in two thirty gallon tanks for two years, we have a filter on the tanks for a fifty gallon tank and still we have to keep changing the water, so outside they will go. Sounds simple. As soon as it is warm enough to transplant I will have to find new homes for my Hardy Begonia, some cool looking Hosta, whatever that little blue flowering thing is, (the name starts with Br...). Then dig the hole for the lower pond, block in the outside of the upper pond, and have Bruce run electrical to the pump. Yes, we will have to find a heater for the winter but I am so done with having goldfish in a tank in the house. The fish went from one inch to about eight inches in four years. I imagine that with the sound of the pond, and a few wind chimes clinking away that perhaps listening to the neighbors yelling at their dogs or revving their cars will not be so intense when we are outside in our yard. Hmmm, smell that BBQ already!