A fun day in the garden

Lex couldn't help but snap a picture of our EMPTY driveway.  It is nice to see that the driveway is once again functional. It hasn't looked like this in four years.  Now that this sentimental moment is out of the way...it is time to move on to the walkway to the front yard. 

We started our path... by laying out the stones in an order and size that looked good.  After we had them layed out, we used some spray paint to outline around where each rock will sit.  After the outline was created, it was time to cut out the "circle" and dig out the sod.  After the holes were dug, Lex turned the soil with our mantis so that we could make the rocks lie flat.

 We then went back through and leveled out each rock and backfilled the hole around the stone.  This space around the stone will eventually fill in with grass.    We opted to leave the grass in between to maintain some of our lawn.  You could rip out a larger area/strip of grass, lay down stones and plant a ground cover in between them.  But for us, we felt it would be easier to maintain our yard if we could mow right over them.

This is what the finished project looked like today.

 

 

 

The pathway extends all the way to the clean drive.

We also did some fun & quick finishing touch projects today.  I put this old barnwood bench in one of the front gardens.  It has a few stones leading up to it.  I figure I can put a pot of flowers on top of it.

 Remember last weekend when I mentioned that I had scored some cool items from Big Johns in Joliet...

We hung the windows today, and will get the doors in place tomorrow.  It should give the entryway an instant face lift 

On a side note, a complete stranger drove past our house today and stopped to compliment us.  She said that she drives past our house everyday and just wanted to tell us how nice it looked.  

 It is NICE to hear this, as we have never been that  house.  

For the past four years, we had the dirt mound and broken down suburban in our driveway.  

Tomorrow we will finish off the tree rings in the front, and hang the "side lights" on either side of our front door.

But for today, I will end this entry with a very cute picture of one of our resident birds.

When she got off their nest today, I couldn't help but sneak a peek.    There are at least 2 bright blue eggs in the nest.

Rain, rain GO AWAY.

Well doesn't that just stink.  It has rained all day.  We were not able to get out and play today; however, tomorrow is certainly looking more promising for us.

Since there are no fun pictures of plants or landscaping today, let's take this opportunity to discuss a much overlooked staple that every gardener...scratch that... every HOUSEHOLD should have.  

RAIN BARRELS.

It is always wise to plan ahead for the hot, dry months and conserve as much water as you can now.  Spring is the perfect time of year to fill your barrels!  Rain water can be collected by diverting house or garage gutters into rain barrels.  There are many types of rain barrels available from plastic to honest-to-god wooden barrels.  Wooden barrels are gorgeous in a garden setting, especially when combined with the use of a rain chain.  But beauty has a price.  Prices that I found online range from about $50 - $500.

Most towns, in an effort to "go green", offer rain barrels to residents at discounted prices.  Check with your city/town hall to see if they participate in any such programs.  A few years ago Plainfield started a similar program at which time we purchased two rain barrels. They sit at the back corner of our house, both near garden areas.  They are very useful come July/August when mother nature gives you thirsty plants and very little rain. 

Rain barrel set up is simple.  After you have your barrel in place (and have diverted water into the barrel), simply attach a hose to the bottom spigot or you can use a watering can.  They also make pressurized systems now so that the water actually has some "oomph" coming out of the hose.

We built a trellis in front of our air conditioning unit (and rain barrel) for aesthetic purposes.  During the summer/fall months, it is covered with sweet autumn clematis.  TIP:  Have you run out of gutters or only have room for one barrel?  Try connecting them.  Our two barrels are connected so that the lower barrel will collect any overflow from the top barrel. 

REMEMBER:  during the hot, dry summer months when most towns have water restrictions in place, you will still have a thriving garden when you use rain barrels.

Walkways

After an exhausting work week, tomorrow brings a chance to "play" in our garden.  This weekend we will be installing a stone walkway from our driveway to our front door.

A key element in installing an attractive walkways is using materials that will blend with your yards existing decor.  In our case we will be using the large flagstones that we have rescued from the side of the road.

We will be using more of these flat flagstones to extend the walkway from this area to our driveway.  Eventually this will be filled in by creeping thyme.

You can see the use of similar rock in other landscape features on our property.  When possible use local stone/rock, it will give a more natural appearance.

This is the area that our pathway will go down toward our driveway on the left. 

 When using stone: Keep in mind that it will seldom crack when properly installed, but can shift so that your pathway becomes a tripping hazard to pedestrians.  So many homeowners enjoy using this natural material for pathways because of its good looks.  Let's face it...rock is beautiful.

Time to reflect in your garden

DESIGN TIP:  When used correctly, mirrors can visually extend a small area.  They can be framed with climbing plants or taller shrubs to soften their harsh edges.  Just make sure to use tempered glass so that is safe against the elements.  You can also coat the back of a mirror with varnish to help protect it.  Consider mounting it on a fence or wall to make your space seem larger, this is especially useful in shadier areas of your landscape/garden.

Dirt

What is soil?
 Imagine this...think of a stony outcrop.  Watch those rocks for several thousand years.  During this time they are effected by elements (rain & snow).  They freeze, they thaw and the wind will blow.  They begin to break down into smaller pieces of various sizes and textures.  As more time passes, plants begins to grow on these fine particles.  The plants lose their leaves in this pile.  Earthworms crawl through it, leaving organic matter behind.  The elements continue.  During this cycle, the rocks have broken down and turned into soil.  Pretty cool isn't it?  I learned this in school.

By definition, soil is the combination of weathered rocks and decaying plants.  There are four components of soil.  Mineral matter, organic matter, air and water.  About 45% of soil is sand, silt and clay.  There are equal parts of air and water... composed of about 25% each.  The remaining 5% is organic matter.

Plants need both air and water near their roots to survive.  This amount of pore space changes constantly.  Actual amounts of air and water will vary depending on how much water has been added to the soil by irrigation or rain.

Mineral matter can be further broken down by size.  Sand is the largest, silt is the next largest and clay is the smallest.  Soil texture refers to the amounts of each of the three particle sizes in soil samples.  This is important because particle sizes affect how much water your soil can hold, and how often you need to water or add fertilizers.

Why am I busting out this wealth of knowledge you ask?
First let me say that today... all I thought about, looked at and touched was dirt.
Second... I'd prefer to show you.

My momma helped me shovel everything into the big ol' dumpster today.

After an exhausting day of shoveling... we can finally say:

THE DIRT PILE IS GONE.

Landscape Lighting

Yesterday my mom and I went to Big Johns Flea Market (http://bigjohnsfleamarket.com) and scored some pretty awesome treasures.  I found some old windows that i plan on hanging from my front porch, an old mirrored door that I plan on using as sidelights/shutters on my front door and last but not least a old hanging light for our front porch.

One of my treasures I found yesterday.  It looks GREAT at night!

Outdoor lighting serves many purposes.  It increases safety as well as illuminates some key landscaping features.  When installing lighting, the first step is to go outside at night and look at what you see (and don't see).  Look at the areas where darkness creates unsafe conditions, as well as areas that you would like to highlight during the evening hours.

If your ultimate goal is to use landscape lighting to beautify your yard, here are some handy tips:

1. Try placing a spot light mounted in a tree facing downward.  It will bathe the ground in soft light while creating shadows through tree limbs.  
2. Use small spotlights to uplight features such as garden statues and trees.  Uplighting creates a certain drama.  If you have a pond or water feature, try illuminating the a nearby tree or shrub.  This light will reflect on the waters surface.
3. You can use low area lights to highlight walkways.  Hide the fixtures from view with large leafed plants but don't block the light.  Hostas are great for this purpose (I've already stated how much I love these valuable plants).  
4. Make sure the light is never shining in your eyes.  Angle them up or down so that they are adequately filtered through your foliage.
5. Strings of lights installed in trees or shrubs can be used in conversation areas for added nighttime interest.  

The Empress is on her way

The Empress is on her way home.  Today we purchased an empress wu hosta from better homes and gardens garden store (http://www.bhg.com/garden-store/).  She should be arriving in the next few weeks.  I have waited for her for about 6 months now.  We are so excited for her arrival!

Compliments of www.besthostas.com

HOSTAS.              

For those of you not familiar with this anchor of most gardens, please take a few moments to acquaint yourself.  Hostas are some of the most forgiving plants that you can invest in.  They are easy to grow, vigorous, and thrive in shade.   In fact, no shady garden is complete without hostas.  Hostas are primarily grown for their foliage, however some varieties do have fragrant flowers.

Hostas grow in zones 3-9, which means chances are YOU can grow this plant.  If you are not sure what your zone is... look at the bottom of our blog.  Most hosta are shade plants, however some types of hosta can tolerate part sun.  Hostas will thrive in just about any soil type that you have, provided it is well drained.  As a matter of fact, just a few years back we dug up a hosta from our yard and carelessly discarded it on our dirt mound.  It was spring, so it was just starting to grow, its leaves were just emerging from the soil.  It sat there on the mound uncovered for about 3 weeks; let me clarify.. NO DIRT COVERED ITS ROOTS.  Still, despite the neglect this little plant had the will to live... and grew.  Its leaves came in nicely! After seeing that this plant was a fighter, we found a home for it in our garden.  It was this little trooper that made me discover that I had a soft spot for hosta.

 Hostas require very little care.  They are relatively drought tolerant, however make sure that you keep any newbies watered.  Because they live in the shade, the ground stays pretty damp.  They do get hungry in the spring so make sure to fertilize; BUT NEVER FEED THEM AFTER MIDNIGHT.  My bad, I was thinking about gremlins not hosta.  Seriously, never fertilize hosta after midsummer or you can compromise their winter hardiness.

Slugs and snails are primarily the only pests that affect hosta.  They feed at night, leaving smooth-edged holes in the leaves.  If you find that they are a problem, you can collect them in shallow containers baited with beer.  Place these containers in the mulch between the plants, buried almost up to the rims.  The pests will go after the golden goodness, fall in (get drunk) and drown.  Ahhh, the power of beer.

April showers bring May flowers...

It's 35 degrees right now.
It snowed today, there were actual flurries.  I watched them from the windows at work and wanted to cry.

Rain, snow and cold wind... that's what Chicago experienced today.  By now most people are saying they are done with winter.  And we (like everyone else) agree.  But, love it or hate it... this weather is great for our plants. 

With the ground being consistently wet this time of year, you want to avoid walking on it  to prevent compaction to your soil.  This is where the wind will help.  The wind helps to dry out our soil from winter snows and the recent rains. With all the rain we've had, make sure that you get out there and clean up your beds.  I cannot stress this enough.  You don't want to lose your plants to root and crown rot.  These two brutes occur when there is excess soil moisture.  Clay soil and low areas are especially prone to holding too much moisture.  You can help to improve your soil texture by adding plenty of organic material when you plant your perennials.  Remember, peat is your friend.  If you have a low area that is holding moisture, consider installing a raised bed for improved drainage.  When you mulch, do not pile mulch right up to the plant.  Give it some "personal space" to avoid crown rot. 

Overall, our temperatures are steadily rising and our days are getting longer each week.  Spring is here.  The bulbs that we planted last fall are blooming.  Later season plants are beginning to grow.  Summer is just around the corner.  

But don't be fooled just yet.  Nighttime frosts are still a possibility this month.  Keep some newspapers or sheets of plastic handy in the event you have to cover vulnerable plants if temperatures drop.

Enjoy the weather when you can, but don't risk putting out too much, too early.

What should you do in your garden today?

FERTILIZE:  If you haven't yet fertilized, definitely now is the time to do so.  Clean up your beds by pulling back mulch, fluffing up soil with a rake and apply your fertilizer.  Make sure to replace your mulch.  Now is also the time to fertilize your trees and shrubs.  Areas that need the attention the most are your vegetable and fruit gardens, annual borders and your plants in containers.  These plants take the most nutrients out of the soil, so feed them to keep them in a healthy state. Also make sure to fertilize your lawn, it's hungry too.

If you're planning to plant any trees or shrubs, today is the day to do it!  Spring and fall are the best times to plant trees and shrubs.  Make sure that your tree/shrub is watered thoroughly before putting it in the ground.  While you are in the planting mood, now is the time to plant your summer bulbs like gladioli and lilies.

Photo courtesy of Clare Bloomfield

WEED AND DIVIDE PERENNIALS:  while you are out there tidying up your beds, take the time to pull out any weeds that you see.  Any plants that are taking up too much space can be pruned and divided at this time. Remember, any shrubs that you prune need to be fertilized at this time.  Make sure that you are dead-heading any spring bulbs that have bloomed.  KEEP THE GREEN FOLIAGE, remove only the spent flower!  If you haven't trimmed down your ornamental grass... get out there and do it today. 

REMEMBER:

A little work now... will go a long way in a few months!

Stroke of genius!!!!

It worked!  I have successfully made a trellis on the picket fence that you CANNOT see at all.
On the flip side, I also realized that I am completely unable to work with fishing line and tie knots.  It took forever to create two small areas on the fence.  I don't know how people work with this stuff.  I am either an idiot or this stuff is really slippery.  WHATEVER.  either way, it worked.

Please don't pay attention to the bottom of the pickets... they are in desperate need of paint.  Just add it to the TO-DOs.

Poltergeist?

Put on your helmet Carol Anne... THEY'RE HERE.
I let the dogs out and thought I'd take a quick photo of what I saw.

This is what happens every time Lex cuts the grass.  :)
Everything gets stacked on top of the fire pit as if we were about to have a huge bonfire, or as if we have spooks in the backyard.  Hence, the poltergeist reference.  It looks just like when the chairs were stacked in the movie.

We also have some new tenants in the purple martin house.  It looks like the starlings have been evicted, I haven't seen them in a few days.

I'm headed out to create my trellis.  First, I have to head downstairs and find Lex's fishing line.
I'm sure he'll be thrilled when he comes home to find that I have used his expensive fishing line to make a trellis.  I put some thought into this and figured that if I used chicken wire, it would show. I didn't want that so I thought about it some more and...fishing line woven into a net/trellis will blend right in with the fence.  After all it's meant to be invisible, right?  You don't want fish to see it... so based on this logic, I am off to build a trellis. HA.  I got it.  I'm keeping my fingers crossed that this works out the way I hope it will.
-- Lisa

Tree ring... check

This morning my project was to create a "tree ring".  I dug up the bricks from the backyard around the tree near our pond.  Now... that whole area has to be re-done.  See what me mean?  Always, more projects to be done.  I loaded the bricks in the wheelbarrow... rolled them to the front yard and put them in place.   Yeah, yeah I know what you're thinking.  I should have dug a trench first so they don't "go ugly". BUT we have these massive tree roots just below the surface and I didn't want to try to dig through them or injure them; so I decided to gamble a bit.  It turned out nice.  I'm pleased. how it looks.

Note:  the cobble stones to the right of the fence.

A few days since the last entry...

In the past few days, we've done quite a bit of "maintenance and clean-up" around our property. 

Lex has worked on making the dirt pile smaller and I have completed spring bed clean-up on two sides of our house.  It's amazing how great things look when you turn your mulch.  It looks brand new.  It's almost like a whole new flower bed... but better because the plants are established!  Our grass should look much better in a few weeks.  It was re-seeded yesterday.  Yes sir-re.  Things are looking up at 13831.

The dirt pile is shrinking.  Lex was so pleased with himself, somehow he managed to create a tunnel right through the middle of the dirt pile.  It was like he was a 6 year old boy all over again. 

We pulled our our Japanese Maple yesterday.  It wasn't a surprise that It didn't come back.  When we put it in last summer... it was already in bad shape.  At least we have a 1 year guarantee on all plants.  So with that in mind we put in a ornamental plum, which is at least the same basic color as the maple was.  I was VERY pleased with the different shape of the tree in the shrub bed.  I realized that all things happen for a reason, and that I didn't really care much for the look of the maple at all.  So with me being as pleased as I was... I was motivated to finish off the shrub garden with a decorative rock border. 

My second revelation yesterday was that during the winter months, i need to start exercising/training for gardening in the spring.  I am using muscles that have not been used in months, and boy are they sore.  But, the yard looks great and when it comes to my aching arms...as John Cougar Mellencamp says... it hurts so good.

The shrub garden... FINISHED.  We added the rock border and ornamental plum tree yesterday.

The shrubs along our backyard walkway are coming in nicely.  I will be making a mowing strip along the outside edge of this garden.

Not sure if our paperbark maple is coming back...

Awww... aren't mini daffodils cute?

 -- Lisa

It was like meeting a rock star.

There is a house in our neighborhood that I have always admired (ok, envied) since we moved in.  They have the MOST perfect landscaping.  It was actually their house that inspired me to create our berm.  Today, after the 3rd plant run... after i had just planted the 28th plant... the woman, the legend, the owner of my favorite house came walking by with her dog.  I didn't know it was her at first.  After the initial hellos and pleasant conversation about how beautiful our berm looked, she introduced herself as the owner of none other than my favorite house.  I could have passed out.  She then went on to invite me over any time so that I could see her BACK YARD.  I could have died just then and there.  I do think I'll take her up on it.  I've always wondered what fabulous things they have in the backyard.
     PS - did I mention she works at Sids which is my favorite store during the spring and summer months.  Hmmm... wonder if my new friend can get me a job... :)
-- Lisa

I added some yarrow and salvia to the berm. 

It's filling in nicely!

I found lavender today... mark the pathway garden DONE!

a close up of the yarrow.  I really played up the yellow hues on the berm with the yarrow, yucca and euonymus.

I had to add a few rocks behind the hens-and-chicks.  I feared they were going to get too much run off from the sea thrift and silberlocke korean fir.

I put in a few more hosta, they really seem to light up the shade area on the northeastern side of the pine.  That big bare space on the right is being saved for the biggest mamma jamma hosta of them all... the empress wu.  I just have to buy her first.  hopefully she'll be in within the month.

Another day, another garden planted.

This morning I planted meadow sage, lithodora, and stella d'orro day lilies.  The trellis in the upper garden will (hopefully) be home to a climbing rose (red).  It was planted  yesterday. 

The empty spots the the left of each of the meadow sage plants will be filled by lavender.

eventually, there will be a stone walkway from our driveway to our front door.

Spring is officially here!  With two gardens installed and several plants already in, the front yard is looking great.  As you walk around the property, all our hard work this past fall is paying off.  We have spring bulbs EVERYWHERE.  Thanks to shotgun brand REPELS ALL...the bunnies have found somewhere else to live For the past 4 years I have had tulip stems with no bloom. The bunnies ate them as soon as they popped up.  

A picture of our daffodils.  In just a few weeks, the creeping phlox will be in bloom (spilling out of the barrel).

some pictures of our newest residents

Sparrows have decided to move into our backyard.  This birdhouse has been on the market for two years.  We finally got some buyers in.  The economy is looking up!   :)   

Two robins have made a nest on our garden bench.  Looks like I won't be cutting back the sweet autumn clematis just yet.

A picture of one of our resident Robins, Barry.

Thanks to my mothers vigilance in keeping our birds well fed this year, we have several more birds that have decided to move into our backyard.  We also have starlings living in our purple martin house, but they weren't active this morning for me to get good photos.  My mom has decided to name the robins Barry and Sunflower.   -- Lisa

Another day of work on the berm

Planting some hosta, coral bells and dead nettle.

Still many more plants needed to fill in this area.  You can see that 8 plants made very little difference here... now.  Give it a few years and it should fill in nicely.

Thanks to Connor and Cait the dirt pile is half the size it used to be.  THANK YOU GUYS!!

Isn't it nice... you can almost see the driveway. 

After I got off work today, we went to Meijers to get some "picnic" food and i (just happened) to pick up some more plants.   We still need many more plants to fill in the berm area (big sigh), which means more digging.  We are still sore and exhausted from yesterday.  We almost need a full day back at work to get away from the landscaping.  Thanks to Connor and Cait, our dirt pile is significantly smaller.  About another week and it will be gone!  Tomorrow, I will work on doing some planting in the pathway garden.  That's all for now, I have to make a Menards run to buy some salvia, stella d'orro, and lavender. -- Lisa