A Fun Challenge

Directly behind my house is a shady area that lacked any visual interest... for me to create any gardens there I had to keep in mind that snow from the slate roof will come crashing down on the ground, no bushes could be planted in that area. Plowing builds up a rather high mound of snow...again, any plant that is 'above ground' in the winter will be destroyed. The soil is not in the best of shape... and, there is a lot of shade. Plus, I needed to keep the project very low budget...

Morning Glories - September 2008

I took photos of my gardens last year so I wouldn't forget what "worked" and what didn't! I loved how the Morning Glories softened the look of the vegetable garden's fence!

You can see the pond to the left of the garden. Hey, perhaps I will find time to actually sit and relax on my Adirondack chairs this year! (at least they give the 'look' of relaxing!)

Spring 2009

Two years since my last post... a lot has been accomplished in my yard and I am so excited that it is finally springtime once more! This photo is of the wonderful pond that is behind my house. Soon the 'spring peepers' will arrive!

Spring 2007

Last fall we asked my grand-daughter (she was only 18 months old at the time) to select her favorite tulip from the Breck's catalog... well, she picked the Rembrandt Mix. I am so happy that she did since it was not something that I would have picked myself and I absolutely love how vibrant and 'crazy' they look! The colors are varied and bright! I had purchased other bulbs in that same order and am extremely pleased with the quality of their bulbs.

The East Garden (or... dreams of a garden!)

This past winter I purchased the land to the east and south of my house, giving me a grand total of well over 4 acres.... plenty of space to garden to my heart's content! This sping I planted some apple trees. I purchased 2 from Whitneys' Farm in Cheshire and 4 from Wal-Mart. I have one apple (on one of the trees from Whitneys) which is one more than I had hoped for! This spring I had transplanted these two trees from my previous land border, having purchased them last year. From what I have read it usually takes a few years before one can expect to see any apples growing. I look forward to having my little grand-daughter pick the apple this fall!!!!
The top photo was taken mid-June. My son put in the split-rail fence. I planted orange daylilies near the fence and dug up three birch trees that were growing in the field behind the house and placed them in the inner corner area near the fence. Landscape fabiric will go on the ground underneath the fence (on the outside perimeter), then black mulch over that. I do a lot of business with Bryanna's Bark Mulch in Cheshire and they have black mulch available this year for the first time. Black goes so much better with my house colors than brown mulch! The other photo shows the black mulch. This was taken in my 'ShadyGarden' to the west of my house.

Front Walkway & Garden

These are two pictures from the front porch looking out to the river stone walkway and gardens. I am pleased with how well the stones remained in place over the winter months. Since this is the first stone path that I have 'put together' I had been concerned about frost heaves, etc. I am encouraging moss to grow between the stones and have even transplanted some little clumps from other areas of the yard. I am trying to make the path look aged so that it will match the house! Some of the flowers have re-seeded themselves amongst the stones in the path and I will gently pull up the tiny seedlings this weekend and add them to my other gardens. I have noted that the Hysop plant's color is less vivid and deep this year compared to last year. Perhaps it requires more plant food so that will be added to my growing 'to-do' list for the weekend.
(photo taken:.June 2006)

Notes on this season...

I have fallen in love with Hostas! They seem to thrive in all settings! This weekend I hope to add a few more to my collection... perhaps some blue-tinted ones!

A new vegetable garden

I have just started working on a vegetable garden. The size is approx. 22' x 28' and there will be a smaller garden for herbs to the north of it, approx. 9' x 8'. I will plant "a little of a lot"; pumpkins, squash, lettuce, tomates, zucchine; etc. and in the herb garden I will plant basil; sage; thyme; camomile; dill and more.

Summer 2005

This photo and the 3 others preceeding it shows the progression of work that my son and I accomplished over the span of 2 years.

This pictue shows the path completed, flowers and bushes planted, etc.

Fall 2004

In the photo you can see that the front of the house has been painted, much of the roof has been completed and the narrow, straight, cement path has been removed. The width and curve of the front path is being worked on....

Fall 2004

Spring 2004

This picture was taken during the Spring of 2004

Fall 2003

This picture of the front of my house was taken the same month that I had purchased it, September 2003.

The roof was badly rotted and my son had just started removing the old shingles.