Progress ....

15 years ago

Don't want to be a post hog but thought it might be helpful to see the last years of the Park's main bed. The first shot was taken in September, 2005.

We started with 10' long junipers encroaching on a crab grass "lawn" with buckled brick walkway that was 3/4 buried extending approximately from the middle of the parking area in front of the garage to the patio steps.

We set a goal of spending no more than $500 per year including everything, and we've pretty much stuck to that. It certainly could've happened faster with a bigger budget, but in a few more years when the seed-sowns are mature and our "stick with roots" shrubs are full-grown, I think I'll appreciate it even more knowing it was truly "from scratch."

So we yanked a lot of half dead stuff in 2004 with the help of a Bobcat, took stock of what was left, and pulled out the graph paper.

2005 - From the garage door - no Rugosa yet. No plants at all to speak of :-) This was year 2 that involved amending the solid clay soil and putting in copious amounts of mulch and compost:

2006: Standing in what is now the middle of the bed -- no paths, no anything except a plan

{{gwi:156944}}

2007: Year 2.5 and to my eye it was beginning to take shape with the main walk and pathways in

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2008: What a little perseverance will do :-)

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Martie

Comments (6)

saucydog
15 years ago
I love seeing the progression, Martie!

Sometimes I am terribly overwhelmed at the cost or size of my monumental gardening ideas, and you are an inspiration! I will think of you as I slowly tackle my own big ideas :)

Thank you for sharing. I'm not very good at identifying plants via photos - could you name the woody plant materials for me? Is that a yellow lilac I see? LOL! I'm a goof, I know :)

Saucy
gardenbug
15 years ago
Progress photos! You just can't have "Before and After" because there is no after with a garden. Slow and steady is the way to go. It is so satisfying seeing things come together!
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ctlavluvr
Original Author
15 years ago
Your yellow lilac, Saucy, is really Chionanthus retusus that smells something like heaven. Behind that with the big white balls is Viburnum carlesii that was started with a cutting from my "old" garden. Big bush just to the right of the BB is a Rugosa rose. Beyond that standing upright is a Malus 'Louisa'. To the left and out of the pic is Clethra and the infamous Jap Maple.

I've used woodies in all my garden spaces as insurance that I'll still have a garden when I'm old(er) :-)

Marie -- Thank You! Satisfaction at its finest.
prairiemoon2 z6b MA
15 years ago
Martie...I love before and after photos. What a change since you started. You can start to see how it will look when it is more mature. Very nicely done. I would like another now photo, from the angle that photo #2 was taken. Did you have bulbs in this area then take them out? Planning some hanging baskets for the shepherd's hook?

pm2
deanneart
15 years ago
Wonderful progression photos Martie! I love seeing a plan come together. I can't wait to see what future years will bring to this garden. Thanks for sharing.

Deanne
michelle_zone4
15 years ago
This really is the fun of gardening, seeing it develop. As we all know its never done. Its looking great!

Michelle