Tuesday, September 23, 2008

Shade Garden Before & After

We FINALLY tackled the one clean-up project that for some reason or other we've been putting off all summer long. Oh, there's a whole list of clean-up projects we haven't gotten to, but this one really got out of hand.

Earlier this season we decided we wanted to expand the shade garden. Nothing major, just reclaim a few more feet of lawn over to the shady side.  We scavenged some very large cardboard boxes and laid them down over the grass we wanted to remove. We bought some mulch but never got around to spreading it out. So we just piled the bags of mulch on top of the cardboard. As the summer went on we scavenged some cinder blocks and bricks--and they piled up around the bags of mulch. Then at some point this area became the impromptu potting shed--pots, dirt, plants waiting to be transplanted all ended up piled on top of the bags of mulch. This is what greeted anyone who came down the hill.

P1010455

Here's another view of our incomplete project. Not very inviting, is it?

P1010454rev

Because of the mess, and the acrobatics required to get to the chairs, we didn't spend much time sitting in the shade garden this summer.

When we finally started moving things around, we found some interesting things. Hello there!

P1010457rev

There are lots of HUGE worms burrowing in the cardboard. And a mushroom growing inside one of the cinder blocks.

P1010458

After a few hours of work...  Ta Da!

P1010462 

P1010459rev

The chairs are together now, which feels much better. Also, we no longer have to beware of stepping on plants while sitting in the chairs. Curmudgeon noted that we now have space for a few more plants. I think a few more hellebores and perhaps a daphne may join the garden soon.

Here's a view of the planters all nicely tidied and lined up under the lilac.

P1010461rev

So now that the shade garden is beautiful, of course we've having cooler temps and heavy rains.  Sigh...  So much for sitting out there now.

--Curmudgeon & Wing Nut

Saturday, September 20, 2008

Soleil

It's dreary and wet and cold. And we're due to stay this way for a few more days. I didn't do a Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day post this month because about all that we have blooming right now are the sunflowers. Who wants to see a post with nothing but sunflowers??? Well, today, that's EXACTLY what we want to see. We're in desperate need of sun--soleil.

P1010424rev2

P1010427

P1010429

P1010430rev  P1010452rev

P1010442

If you want to see more GBBD posts for the month of September, head on over to May Dreams Garden where each month on the 15th--ehem, not the 20th--Carol hosts Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day.

 

--Curmudgeon

Sunday, September 7, 2008

Where in the world are the Wenches?

P1010419 rev 2

P1010345

P1010406

Any guesses?

Here are a few hints...

We visited the longest island on the Pacific Coast in the lower 48 states.

We crossed the most photographed bridge in Washington.

We ate amazing shellfish.

Monday, September 1, 2008

Garden Bloggers' Muse Day -- September 2008

P1010429 
LATE SEPTEMBER

Tang of fruitage in the air;
Red boughs bursting everywhere;
Shimmering of seeded grass;
Hooded gentians all a'mass.

Warmth of earth, and cloudless wind
Tearing off the husky rind,
Blowing feathered seeds to fall
By the sun-baked, sheltering wall.

Beech trees in a golden haze;
Hardy sumachs all ablaze,
Glowing through the silver birches.
How that pine tree shouts and lurches!

From the sunny door-jamb high,
Swings the shell of a butterfly.
Scrape of insect violins
Through the stubble shrilly dins.

Every blade's a minaret
Where a small muezzin's set,
Loudly calling us to pray
At the miracle of day.

Then the purple-lidded night
Westering comes, her footsteps light
Guided by the radiant boon
Of a sickle-shaped new moon.

--Amy Lowell, Sword Blades and Poppy Seeds, 1915

P1010437rev

For more Garden Bloggers' Muse Day posts visit Carolyn Gail at Sweet Home and Garden Chicago.