And......We're Off!

Can you believe it's almost spring already! Well, if you ask the garden, it's been spring for a few weeks, as there is a plethora of fresh, new growth appearing at every corner. The past few weekends have been both relatively warm and dry...which are all the reasons I need to get out in the garden!

While Norm has been continuing work on the shed, I've started cutting back last year's growth on the grasses and perennials...and started digging up the front (east) parking strip. The winter rains have made the digging far easier than it was last summer when I dug up the north parking strip for some impulse purchases.


While the digging went quickly, the lifting and tossing of the sod was not super-fun. The heavy, wet soil weighs a ton...and after two tipped-over wheelbarrow loads, I finally figured out the amount of sod I could safely move in the wheelbarrow without it tipping over! Here you can see I've removed about 2/3 of the sod already...I figure in one more weekend I can remove the rest. Oh yeah...that's my sloppy, messy garden in the background...not exactly the picture of loveliness in mid-February, is it...deep sigh ;-)


While I'm really excited by the prospect of planting this parcel of land, it's somewhat bittersweet, as it's the LAST bit of free space I have on my property...eeeeeekkkk! I'm torn with wanting to cram in as many plants as I can...or having a somewhat coherent design.


Here's the plan I've come up with so far (the top side is the street side, the bottom faces the sidewalk). I'm debating putting a 1' wide gravel border on the street side, to allow for people opening and closing car doors. Without it, people actually wouldn't even be able to open their doors...let alone squeeze past the garden. It's a bit of a compromise...and I'm sure won't do away with careless drivers bashing the plants on occasion, but I'm hoping it will at least mitigate the damage that seems inevitable.


Here's a legend for deciphering what those colorful blobs in the plan actually are. Nothing is set in stone yet (as I've not yet purchased any of the plants). I am growing some of the plants from seed (mostly the Knautia), while others I'm growing from cuttings or division of already established plants. I change the plan pretty much every other day as I think of a better way to arrange the plants, realize one of the plants would look better in a certain spot, or find a new plant I MUST have...so have to re-work the design to accomodate it!

As is typical for me these days, grasses will serve as the structure of the design, with various perennials filling in around them.

Of course, until it's planted (and even after than) everything is subject to change...as are most gardens! How about all of you...do you have any big plans/projects planned for this year?