Even though it has been some time since my last garden update, we have been making progress however slowly.
The North Garden, 2012
Formerly known as "That Ridiculous 8-Foot-Wide Shaded Wind Tunnel Between the House and the Fence." The previous landscaping used mulch over weed-barrier on the paths, but as the mulch decomposed I spent more time weeding it than anything else. Gravel isn't perhaps the greenest option, but it sure is a time saver once in place. Planted here are several azaleas, two camellias, hakonechloa "Aureola" (Japanese forest grass), Virginia sweetspire and spirea "Goldflame," along with bulbs and other ornamentals.
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| July 2012 |
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| July 2012 |
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| Sept. 2012 |
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| April 2015 |
The West Garden, 2013-2015
This is what became of about half the lawn on the western-most edge of the yard. Beginning in June 2013, this section was turned into one big compost pile and covered with cardboard and tarps. In the early spring of 2014, any surviving grass and weeds were pulled out and the soil was amended. After installing the original plantings, a combination of straw, cardboard and mulch was put in place to suppress weeds or grass. These plantings are fairly well established now and it is quite low-maintenance. The centerpiece is a Yoshino cherry tree and a beautiful rock from Florence, Oregon.
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| June 2013 |
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| June 2013 |
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| March 2014 |
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| March 2014 |
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| April 2014 |
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| April 2015 |
The Blueberry Bed, 2015
A path was excavated from the lawn between this bed and the "West Garden" bed, and the remains were composted here. Amended and planted this spring, it features a small rock wall, blueberries and a mix of edibles and ornamentals.
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| April 2015 |
