evolving landscape

I decided to share with you some before and after pictures of my various landscape projects. I will continue to take pictures as the seasons change to highlight different plants. Please note that the top picture was taken in winter while the bottom was taken in spring. The Redbud tree has been removed due to its size and proximity to the house. I have taken the Japanese privet at the corner of the house from a shrub to a "standard" or tree form. The ivy that was choking the light pole is now gone and has been replaced by grasses and sedum. The circular bed in the front yard has been turned into a hummingbird/butterfly garden and the scalloped edging is much improved. Finally, the 30 year old half blooming azaleas have been replaced by euonymous, barberry, nandina and loropetulum. I did keep the clematis as when in bloom it has the most spectacular white flowers. I have also have almost finished the other side of the front and pictures will soon follow.

privacy screen

I love my house with the exception of some annoying neighbors way behind me. They seem more interested in what is going on in my back yard then minding their own business. Oh the joys of urban living! I originally thought about doing a bamboo forest-but upon further research and speaking to someone who was trying to contain 15 foot tall stalks-I've shifted to some Formosa azaleas. They explode with tiny lavender blooms in the spring, are evergreen, thrive in dappled light, and the best part is that they mature to 8x6. That's just large enough to help me forget the neighbors behind me and also help to add some color to the other side of the creek. I'm going to containerize the shrubs this year for ease of movement and placement. I can't wait for my 8x18 living screen. When they burst with color in a couple of months, I'll add pictures.

snow in Charlotte!

Just an note to vent...I moved away from Ohio because of snow and I don't like that it followed me here! The difference is that an inch or two is business as usual in Ohio but here it shuts everything down. The kids climb dirt (or clay) mounds in attempt to sled and it's pretty much gone by evening. Anyway here's the pictures to prove that it did, in fact, snow.

crawl space gardening

Who knew? In the north you either have a basement or you don't. Down here you get a little of both. In addition to general storage, your crawl space can become a great place to store frost tender plants-a few feet of warm air between the ground and the first floor. The crawl space is not only humid, but has characteristics that most plants thrive in: stable, warm air, and no drastic fluctuation between day and night time temperatures. Crawl spaces are great for bulb storage and to create an environment for continued growth. By adding a fluorescent shop light and an inexpensive timer set at 12 hour intervals you can continue to grow cool season plants like begonias or succulents. Use your crawl space all year to maintain your lettuce garden in the hottest part of summer.

a spoonful of sugar...

It's a catchy phrase that sticks in your head and offers some good advice. In the world of gardening "a shovelful of shit" offers similar benefit. What I'm referring to is composted cow manure-or if you are of the vegetarian/vegan persuasion mushroom compost. Compost is a "green" alternative to fertilizer. By amending your soil you increase the organic matter content, improve the physical properties of the soil, and supply some essential nutrients. Compost can also be applied to the soil surface to conserve moisture, control weeds, reduce erosion, improve appearance, and keep the soil from gaining or losing heat too rapidly. So whether you embark on your own backyard composting or buy it bagged at a garden center- compost is essential for healthy plant growth.

meet my new neighbor(s)

The other night when my husband was coming home from work he claimed to see a white goose just sitting to the right of our house. He was relieved that he wasn't hallucinating when I told him the goose was back, this time in our backyard. I named him Liberace. The name fits as he has a knack for not moving for hours on end, much like a wax figure. While trying to capture him on film, my other neighbor came over for a peek. He's a very large and illusive blue heron who is not fond of having his picture taken-hence, I wasn't able to get them both in one shot. He's the one hiding behind the lilac bush.

it's a new year...

and I promise to blog on a more regular basis. Sorry for taking the month of December off, but I had the opportunity to visit my In-laws at their home in San Miguel Mexico. While this trip involved horse-back riding in the Sierra Madre mountains (something I will NEVER do again!) it did provide me with the opportunity to view some of the most spectacular arid landscape I had ever seen. Being up 7000 feet opened up a lifestyle beyond that of prickly pear and mesquite trees. The Mexicans have a wonderful view of life and what is truly important. Family and the land take precedent and have inspired me to create more livable space outside. I vow to fully develop my courtyard and screened in porch to there full potential as well as continue to expand my landscape. It's good to experience new things.