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.

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

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!

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

After a few hours of work...  Ta Da!

 

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.

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