Wednesday, October 13, 2010

Slow and Steady

The new garden is slowly coming along. I took out the screens in the guest bedroom so I could look over the garden. There are two windows in that room and one overlooks the backyard and one overlooks the side yard. Part of the roof blocks some of the side yard. I might use the hallway window next spring for overhead shots. It has a better view.

View of the side yard on Tuesday morning. Over the weekend my husband filled up the first bed as I made the other one and a half beds and loosened the soil underneath. The soil was amazingly compacted for just having been put there. But not nearly as compacted as the spot we are stealing the soil from (the part of the garden near the driveway). That soil is acting like clay it is so compacted, but in reality this soil is very sandy. It will be a real change from having heavy clay.

View of the back yard on Tuesday morning. On Monday evening my husband came home and told me I hadn't gotten much done that day. Then he looked out back. I filled the back beds and planted the measly four plants I had taken from my old garden. I really wanted to take more cuttings, but I didn't have time as the closing was moved up by a couple of weeks. Ah well. I took my chives, both garlic and regular and put them in the circular bed opposite of one another. I'll fill the rest of that circle with kitchen herbs since it is right outside by kitchen door.

Also I took the only plant that has been with me through all my houses. I grew these dianthus from seed decades ago. The seedlings all came up very different. Some more red then pink. Some tall, some short. Over the years they all succumbed except this one. It thrived. It thrived in the wet years. It thrived in the dry years. It slowly spreads out into a nice mat and has the prettiest pink flowers. I'm hoping I haven't planted it too late as I would hate to lose it. I planted two of them one on each edge. I took two from sections from the old garden because I figured I had a better chance of them living it I had more than one. I'm hoping they thrive and trail down the sides of the wall. In the spring when they bloom they scent the air so beautifully and I'd love them right outside my door.

View out my back door on Wednesday late morning. I always do the work in the morning if I can. That way I can take my shower after and be clean for the rest of the day. Yesterday morning I filled up bed number two. Today I filled up bed number three. Tomorrow hopefully I'll have time to build two more beds. I've ordered five cubic yards of soil to be delivered tomorrow morning. I will probably need a total of 7 cubic yards, but the big truck probably can't turn around and dump it where I want it so I ordered just enough to fill up their smallest truck. This might cost me an extra $35 but it will save me a lot of time since otherwise it would have to be dumped in the farthest corner of the yard from the garden.

So the garden is coming along slowly. I'm almost halfway done. Earlier this week I was feeling very worn down from the work. It isn't just this job. It was all the other things on my plate too. I seemed never to get any rest. I also was getting a lot of exercise that I wasn't getting before. This summer I did almost nothing except bike to the store and unpack. I was about as out of shape as I've been for quite some time. Now I'm back to my schedule of dancing, walking, biking and digging in the garden. It was a shock to the system, but I'm slowly getting used to it again. And one of my classes ended last night so I will have more time to just relax and be with my husband at night.

15 comments:

  1. It's looking very nice. I like the compost bins!

    -Mary

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  2. Well, now I'm not only jealous of your gardens, I'm jealous of your upstairs windows. What a great view! You have accomplished a lot, Daphne. When winter comes, you can rest and look back at all you've accomplished. I've taken on some big jobs at our AZ place the last few years (building rock walls, patios, walkways, etc.), and I feel so proud when I see what a difference it all makes.

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  3. You've done a lot in a short time, the yard look very nice.

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  4. You are doing an amazing job! It is going to be so pretty and neat when you're done. I'm very jealous! You'll have so much time to yourself when this is done, you won't know what to do with yourself.

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  5. Wow Daphne, what progress! Your backyard is really coming along. I can't wait to see it with plants growing!

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  6. It seems to be really hard to find dianthus and especially carnations. The latter are my favorite flower. I still try from time to time to find plants or seeds for Knights Hybrid carnations that I had in California. They lasted for quite a few years, but now I can't even find a clue to them web searching.

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  7. Your new garden is really coming together. A lot of work this year, but it'll be a joy in the coming year!

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  8. You're not wasting any time, that's for sure! Oh, it's gonna be gorgeous next spring!!

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  9. Wow, Daphne, I am amazed at how much you are accomplishing. WAY TO GO!! Thanks for allowing us to watch your new garden come together.

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  10. Mary, thanks. I hope to have at least one more bin and maybe two more. I think one might be enough though. It is hard for me to tell right now if I can find the materials to fill that many up. In the fall they will be filled with leaves, leaving one empty for the compost and as I use the leaves up I'll have more room for compostable things.

    Granny, I do like the overhead views. The attic room would be the best for photos, but I don't have a ladder that can reach up there. Nor do I want to leave one there just for photos. Its too bad though. It would make a great over view photo of the side yard.

    mac, thanks

    The Mom, I think that will be true. But I still have a lot of work to get done. I'll have to research what varieties to plant.

    meemsnyc, me either.

    Karen Anne, Maybe you should save seed next time you find some. That way you can keep growing them whenever you want. I've always loved dianthus though it seems to not be a very popular plant.

    biblioden, I can't wait for it to all be up and started.

    EG, I hope so. That corner doesn't get much sun in the fall, but in the spring all the leaves are off the trees so it isn't too bad. Fall growing will be a challenge though.

    debiclegg, It is fun for me too. I like having a record of it all.

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  11. Very pretty layout. I look forward to seeing it in a multitude of greens/yellows and other leafy colours next year.

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  12. Holy Moly you are just a house a fire with all the work you have completed already! Your garden next year is going to be awesome.

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  13. I've nominated you to participate in the same meme that started this blog post. It would be wonderful if you joined in.

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  14. What a beautiful design! I love the paver paths around the beds. That will keep things nice and tidy. My garden is built in the equivalent of pasture weeds, so I am constantly battling the grass/weeds that grow between my beds.

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  15. Your new garden is going to be lovely. I love the aesthetics of the design. Well done.

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