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Seeds for Change Wellness
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Elemental Garden Retreat Project Also See Project Blue Sky
The Adventure Continues...
At the Second Walnut Tree...
To the left is part of the huge section that my husband Scott tilled for me... originally I
decided to mulch the entire outer garden area, but thought as the weeds start popping up it
would be harder to maintain...so here's the plan...
The bench area will be mulched to create an separation from the beds...quarry
tile was laid on both sides of the bench as a walkway to the compost pile..
Along the back of the fence in this section are transplanted sections of Day Lilies
and Cone Flowers...also I dug up some wild violet and planted then randomly
around...these will spread and fill in...
Am still working on hand cultivating the soil which is full of sticks, stones, plant debris,
and thousands of small pebble-like pieces of dry soil...trying to get it nice and fluffly...figured
if I don't mulch this but once most of the hard work is done, I can just hoe the weeds as they
begin popping up.
To create a border of this section, White Alyssum was planted... other plants, both
annuals and perennials were added to this bed to add color and fill in the space...in this
part of the photo are: Pink Carnation, a few small Azaleas, Bridal Veil..
On each side of the bench are 2 Dusty Millers, and peeking up from behind are some
pink Dianthus
To the left is part of the huge section that my husband Scott tilled for me... originally I
decided to mulch the entire outer garden area, but thought as the weeds start popping up it
would be harder to maintain...so here's the plan...
The bench area will be mulched to create an separation from the beds...quarry
tile was laid on both sides of the bench as a walkway to the compost pile..
Along the back of the fence in this section are transplanted sections of Day Lilies
and Cone Flowers...also I dug up some wild violet and planted then randomly
around...these will spread and fill in...
Am still working on hand cultivating the soil which is full of sticks, stones, plant debris,
and thousands of small pebble-like pieces of dry soil...trying to get it nice and fluffly...figured
if I don't mulch this but once most of the hard work is done, I can just hoe the weeds as they
begin popping up.
To create a border of this section, White Alyssum was planted... other plants, both
annuals and perennials were added to this bed to add color and fill in the space...in this
part of the photo are: Pink Carnation, a few small Azaleas, Bridal Veil..
On each side of the bench are 2 Dusty Millers, and peeking up from behind are some
pink Dianthus
Back to my first section...originally Portulaca was planted in front of the Day Lilies but
they were not too happy 'cause the area was too shaded for them...transplanted them to a
sunnier location, replacing them with Coleus Plants...
The walkway on this side of the bench is laid but not put in place yet..
they were not too happy 'cause the area was too shaded for them...transplanted them to a
sunnier location, replacing them with Coleus Plants...
The walkway on this side of the bench is laid but not put in place yet..
Expanded View of the
Above Bed...
Decided to place an old
bird bath we had growing
among the weeds in another
part of the yard into this
section of the garden...
Did some reading on
setting up bird baths...it's a
science in itself...there
appears to be alot that
needs to be done to attract
birds to the bath...so we'll
give it a try and if nothing
else, it becomes another
focal point...
Little yellow plants were
placed all around the bath..
Along the top fence area
the Day Lillies were thinned
out a bit...at the corner of
the fence a Cone Flower
was transplanted and along
the fence where the tree is
Cleome were planted...
Above Bed...
Decided to place an old
bird bath we had growing
among the weeds in another
part of the yard into this
section of the garden...
Did some reading on
setting up bird baths...it's a
science in itself...there
appears to be alot that
needs to be done to attract
birds to the bath...so we'll
give it a try and if nothing
else, it becomes another
focal point...
Little yellow plants were
placed all around the bath..
Along the top fence area
the Day Lillies were thinned
out a bit...at the corner of
the fence a Cone Flower
was transplanted and along
the fence where the tree is
Cleome were planted...
Same Bed...Different Angle
To the left of the bird bath a Lavender Plant...in front of that a small Azalea Bush..
To the left of the bird bath a Lavender Plant...in front of that a small Azalea Bush..
Pink Dianthus Plants in front of the compost area...behind the fencing...Morning Glory
seeds were planted and Hollyhock seeds behind the shoe rack..
seeds were planted and Hollyhock seeds behind the shoe rack..
Still in the Same Bed Area...this is to the left of the bird bath...made another trellis using a
section of branch from the scrap pile with bamboo and twine...Edible Pod Peas are planted
around it...
Along the fence more Edible Pod Peas were planted and in front of them Blue Salvia.
section of branch from the scrap pile with bamboo and twine...Edible Pod Peas are planted
around it...
Along the fence more Edible Pod Peas were planted and in front of them Blue Salvia.
The idea is to create a walkway around the original circle beds that I started with, partial picture
to the left...and from the walkway create other beds on the perimeter of the garden...this works
out ok for the most part...
Until you get to the front of the garden and we run out of space...so the bed on the side of
the bench and bird bath sections is curved to end at the front of the fence...this leaves a wide
enough space for a walkway....
But rather than have just walkway, I transplanted some Cone Flowers along the fence line and
between them placed the transplanted Portulaca, which will receive full sun...
to the left...and from the walkway create other beds on the perimeter of the garden...this works
out ok for the most part...
Until you get to the front of the garden and we run out of space...so the bed on the side of
the bench and bird bath sections is curved to end at the front of the fence...this leaves a wide
enough space for a walkway....
But rather than have just walkway, I transplanted some Cone Flowers along the fence line and
between them placed the transplanted Portulaca, which will receive full sun...
Close Up of Cone Flower Plantings
A Delightful Unexpected Guest....May 16, 2007
Today I began my work by hand cultivating the soil...it is sort of like trying to get the lumps
out of mashed potatoes...only a heck of a lot more work! As I was working, this one bird kept
visiting me and finding materials for the nest she was building in a neighboring tree...
This part of the garden with all its debris in the soil provided some good pickings for
her..for about an hour she flew back and forth getting her supplies...and surprisingly she would
get pretty close to where I was working...
After a bit I took a break by sitting on the bench...and she delighted me with an
unexpected showing at the bird bath...first she sat on the rim and walked around a bit...then
she took a drink, followed by getting into the birdbath and splashing around...when she was
done she plopped on the rock to I guess dry off. I asked her if I could take a picture and was
amazed that she allowed me to come so close to get this photo...
She definitely made my day! And all that worrying about attracting birds to get into the
birdbath, she made it seem so simple...Also today I noticed that in addition to my new
friend here, there were a number of other birds checking out the garden, stopping in for
a bit before flying off...but this little one, I think has found a new favorite place to hang out.
out of mashed potatoes...only a heck of a lot more work! As I was working, this one bird kept
visiting me and finding materials for the nest she was building in a neighboring tree...
This part of the garden with all its debris in the soil provided some good pickings for
her..for about an hour she flew back and forth getting her supplies...and surprisingly she would
get pretty close to where I was working...
After a bit I took a break by sitting on the bench...and she delighted me with an
unexpected showing at the bird bath...first she sat on the rim and walked around a bit...then
she took a drink, followed by getting into the birdbath and splashing around...when she was
done she plopped on the rock to I guess dry off. I asked her if I could take a picture and was
amazed that she allowed me to come so close to get this photo...
She definitely made my day! And all that worrying about attracting birds to get into the
birdbath, she made it seem so simple...Also today I noticed that in addition to my new
friend here, there were a number of other birds checking out the garden, stopping in for
a bit before flying off...but this little one, I think has found a new favorite place to hang out.
Since at this point, I'm not planning on mulching the beds I planted a ground cover (Ivy) to
help with the weeds that will want to make the garden their home...
help with the weeds that will want to make the garden their home...
Am having some trouble getting this entire bed into one photo...this shows on the right the
bed and how it curves along toward the front...More White Alyssum was planted along the
curve to help define the border.
bed and how it curves along toward the front...More White Alyssum was planted along the
curve to help define the border.
Another Scrap Branch Creation
In back corner behind the
birdbath..I placed another branch
design...took a branch, bent it to
curve in a circular shape attaching it
with garden twine...hung a purple
twirlything that twists and turns with
a slight breeze...
In front of it a wild violet is
planted,behind it are two compact
cucumber plants that can be trained
to grow up onto the trellis...
To provide some additional color,
marigolds were planted in front of
the Day Lilies...they are a mixture
of yellow and orange petals, which
will nicely compliment the orange
flowers of the Day Liliy when in
bloom.
In back corner behind the
birdbath..I placed another branch
design...took a branch, bent it to
curve in a circular shape attaching it
with garden twine...hung a purple
twirlything that twists and turns with
a slight breeze...
In front of it a wild violet is
planted,behind it are two compact
cucumber plants that can be trained
to grow up onto the trellis...
To provide some additional color,
marigolds were planted in front of
the Day Lilies...they are a mixture
of yellow and orange petals, which
will nicely compliment the orange
flowers of the Day Liliy when in
bloom.
| Suet Feeder |
| With my new found bird friend and the possibility of enticing more feathered friends to the garden, I thought I should have some food available...a suet feeder was hung from a branch of the Walnut tree that was hanging outside of the garden fence... I am not a birder, so this is all a new experience for me...so it will take a little bit of time to discover what I should or should not be doing... |
Extended View
Marigolds in front of
Day Lilies
Other Information:
Bird Bath Basics
Tips on Bird Baths
Birdbaths and Wildlife
Feeders
Garden Birds
Feeding Garden Birds
Marigolds in front of
Day Lilies
Other Information:
Bird Bath Basics
Tips on Bird Baths
Birdbaths and Wildlife
Feeders
Garden Birds
Feeding Garden Birds
