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)