4/14/19
4/7/19
Return to My Back 40 (Feet)
Hi, I know it's been a minute, and I feel like some kind of explanation is warranted, but I am not sure what it would be. And I will say it feels surprisingly awkward to attempt blogging after 4.5 years of not blogging. So I am just going to hurdle all that, and jump right in.
We have a new garden!
![IMG_0480](https://live.staticflickr.com/7890/47559710771_efbda79623_z.jpg)
Same yard, new garden.
![IMG_0496](https://live.staticflickr.com/7850/32617104177_7eb8eb4c9a_z.jpg)
![IMG_0482](https://live.staticflickr.com/7902/32617104747_829ae7a5cc_z.jpg)
We had to replace the fence last year, which according to a neighbor, was built in the 1970s. We took the opportunity to give the garden a makeover too...
![IMG_0478](https://live.staticflickr.com/7832/47559711161_5dccb24619_z.jpg)
Out with the chunky, clunky cobblestone beds I built and rebuilt over 12 years...
![IMG_0472](https://live.staticflickr.com/7895/46835960814_5bceffded7_z.jpg)
Out the with the lumpy cobblestone path that had settled unevenly into the earth creating tripping hazards and stubbed toes...
![IMG_0467](https://live.staticflickr.com/7902/47559713651_0867fd2625_z.jpg)
In with decomposed granite and steel construction!
![IMG_0469](https://live.staticflickr.com/7860/46835961744_dd1c1fd183_z.jpg)
Major construction work finished about a month ago (still waiting for installation of steel compost bin) and planting started right afterward. The steel will eventually weather into the usual brown-orange rust color familiar in Corten design. For now, I am digging the plummy phase, and impatiently waiting for new acquisitions to grooow.
![IMG_0476](https://live.staticflickr.com/7926/47559711951_6a02492183_z.jpg)
We kept a few plants in place--the tree fern, the Meyer lemon, two aged grape vines, and anything growing under the stairs (Bartlettina sordida, misc. plectranthus, Clivia miniata, some calla lilies) . I dug up everything I wanted to keep, and the rest got heaved.
![IMG_0462](https://live.staticflickr.com/7875/46835964214_457c4b3db5_z.jpg)
The project started late and dragged on, and encountered rain delays. I was worried we missed all the winter rain, but the spring has been generous this year, showering into April. We might be done, and I guess that would be okay. Some sun and warmth would be nice.
![IMG_0486](https://live.staticflickr.com/7927/32617104647_c82d540a9a_z.jpg)
As gardeners go, I have always been more of a 'collector-type' than a 'designer-type'. I also have a sad, glorious history of indulging flights of fancy and embracing garden folly over formulating practical, reasonable, well-thought out plans. I feel like perhaps I have burned through that phase, and am ready for something more age appropriate. We shall see!
![IMG_0487](https://live.staticflickr.com/7924/32617104557_276e0cd3a5_z.jpg)
I am definitely going for more repetition in this garden. I'll try to say more about that later, as things start to grow, and I get more used to the camera I bought for this phase of my garden life. I thought all these pictures came out a little bland and washed out, and then I remembered, I have to set the camera to "foliage" mode, and I figured out how to do that--too late for this post, but there is always the next post.
We have a new garden!
![IMG_0480](https://live.staticflickr.com/7890/47559710771_efbda79623_z.jpg)
Same yard, new garden.
![IMG_0496](https://live.staticflickr.com/7850/32617104177_7eb8eb4c9a_z.jpg)
![IMG_0482](https://live.staticflickr.com/7902/32617104747_829ae7a5cc_z.jpg)
We had to replace the fence last year, which according to a neighbor, was built in the 1970s. We took the opportunity to give the garden a makeover too...
![IMG_0478](https://live.staticflickr.com/7832/47559711161_5dccb24619_z.jpg)
Out with the chunky, clunky cobblestone beds I built and rebuilt over 12 years...
![IMG_0472](https://live.staticflickr.com/7895/46835960814_5bceffded7_z.jpg)
Out the with the lumpy cobblestone path that had settled unevenly into the earth creating tripping hazards and stubbed toes...
![IMG_0467](https://live.staticflickr.com/7902/47559713651_0867fd2625_z.jpg)
In with decomposed granite and steel construction!
![IMG_0469](https://live.staticflickr.com/7860/46835961744_dd1c1fd183_z.jpg)
Major construction work finished about a month ago (still waiting for installation of steel compost bin) and planting started right afterward. The steel will eventually weather into the usual brown-orange rust color familiar in Corten design. For now, I am digging the plummy phase, and impatiently waiting for new acquisitions to grooow.
![IMG_0476](https://live.staticflickr.com/7926/47559711951_6a02492183_z.jpg)
We kept a few plants in place--the tree fern, the Meyer lemon, two aged grape vines, and anything growing under the stairs (Bartlettina sordida, misc. plectranthus, Clivia miniata, some calla lilies) . I dug up everything I wanted to keep, and the rest got heaved.
![IMG_0462](https://live.staticflickr.com/7875/46835964214_457c4b3db5_z.jpg)
The project started late and dragged on, and encountered rain delays. I was worried we missed all the winter rain, but the spring has been generous this year, showering into April. We might be done, and I guess that would be okay. Some sun and warmth would be nice.
![IMG_0486](https://live.staticflickr.com/7927/32617104647_c82d540a9a_z.jpg)
As gardeners go, I have always been more of a 'collector-type' than a 'designer-type'. I also have a sad, glorious history of indulging flights of fancy and embracing garden folly over formulating practical, reasonable, well-thought out plans. I feel like perhaps I have burned through that phase, and am ready for something more age appropriate. We shall see!
![IMG_0487](https://live.staticflickr.com/7924/32617104557_276e0cd3a5_z.jpg)
I am definitely going for more repetition in this garden. I'll try to say more about that later, as things start to grow, and I get more used to the camera I bought for this phase of my garden life. I thought all these pictures came out a little bland and washed out, and then I remembered, I have to set the camera to "foliage" mode, and I figured out how to do that--too late for this post, but there is always the next post.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)