I recounted my dream to Mr. Goodneedle. We decided last fall that this was, definitely, a dream that we could work on together to make a reality! I began watching every episode of "Big Dreams, Small Spaces" on Netflix and convinced myself that I, too, could achieve the garden of my dreams if I learned everything that I could about a perennial garden and committed to it! When I arrived home from Mid-Atlantic at the beginning of this month there was a huge pile of rich, black garden soil awaiting me; it had been delivered by truck while I was gone. It was time to get to work. Thanks to my husband and the tractor in the basement, the big equipment was pressed into service; hard, red clay was scooped out and removed, the garden soil replaced it and was smoothed and leveled. We were ready to begin. I drew up plans and ordered the plants that I had seen so vividly in my dream months earlier. The lines were drawn in the space, there will be three sections with stepping stones delineating the sections. The bed had been prepared, the mulch was spread, and, right on time, the plants arrived on Friday.
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| The garden of my dreams will include Russian Sage, Hummingbird mint, Goldfinch Baptisia and lavender. |
Working with my plan as a road map, the plants were arranged and spaced accordingly.
By dinnertime on Saturday evening everything was in place, with identifying stakes, and planted. A garden hose is laid (out in the photo above) to mark where the walkways will be located.
After church yesterday we finished dividing and transplanting Stella D'Oro daylilies around the borders, fertilized and began watering in all of the new plant babies. And now, we wait.
I did set in this newly-purchased Lenten Rose near the base of the birdbath. It is the first plant to be flowering in my new garden space! It is exciting to wait for this garden to start, take shape, and bloom! Yes, it all came to me in a dream, a space filled with color, fragrance, birds and butterflies. There is still much work to be done. The bird feeders and bluebird houses have yet to be installed and we have great plans for making our own stepping stones. Stay tuned, there'll be more as we move along!
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Happy Spring!
Life is Good!
9 comments:
What a beautiful forerunner for your new bloomers to follow! I’m sure it will bring you, and the wildlife, many hours of enjoyment!!
oooh think of birds and bees and butterflies to follow!
I am sure it will be a fantastic oasis of color - I can hardly wait to see it in all its glory.. It is wonderful to have one's dreams become a reality. Happy Spring to you!
Warmest regards, Anna
Kudos to you - that's going to be a glorious perennial garden! (and DH has made most of our stepping stones - there's a product called mold release that makes it much easier to pop the new stones out of their molds after they're set -- just a word of experience).
Won't this be delightful! I am impressed with your follow through on your dream. Can't wait to see it in bloom!
Lenten Rose is one of my favorites- having perennials is like having dear friends who return year after year
I love the Lenten Rose. I didn’t know that was what it was called. Cousin to the Christmas Rose? I love gardens but maybe not gardening so much...
Major undertaking but it will be so wonderful. Please share pictures as it comes to life.
Many years ago at the coast, there was a little fish market on a corner and one whole side of the building was a wild, crazy English garden. Some of the perennials were gigantic. There was a walking path thru the garden and oh, the riot of color and scent! Turns out the owner of the fish market as a displaced Englishman. That has been my dream, to have a garden such as that.
Russian Sage, I have several in my yard. They do well in our hot, dry climate. But they can also get large and unwieldy if not kept pruned -- ask me how I know.
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