Garden Evolution

As it starts to really feel like fall, it seems like a good time to update the garden plan progress.  As a reminder, this is a 5 year plan, so don't expect that it get completed all at once!!!  I would love to spend many, many hours in the garden everyday, but the main house is our primary focus at the moment (because we really would like to move in one of these days!).  However, I did manage to squeeze in a little time to get the garden plan started.

The border around the stone wall got started last fall with some end-of-season perennial bargains I found.  They sprang to life this year and in general, I'm pretty pleased with how it's coming together.  Lots of spring color was replaced with summer blooms and then a bit of fall color.  (I'd like to add some more spring bulbs this fall, to give us an early pop of color!) 

I spent weeks clearing the grass from the lower garden, to start creating the border on that side of the yard.   The border is taking shape.  The centerpiece is this pink blooming crabapple, which is replaced with bronze/green leaves for the rest of the summer.  I also planted a nine bark that's the development from O'Donals - a local nursery.  They've named it Gorham's Gold and I love the pop of color. 

I've tried to include a lot of native plants in this garden design.  I'm still new to the world of natives, but I love the Wentworth Cherry Viburnum and these Rudbeckia that are super tall behind some daylillies I've planted.  

Another key to the garden - we installed a drip irrigation system for the trees and shrubs.  We first experienced drip irrigation when we lived in Phoenix, where they value every drop of water.  It directs water to where it's needed - next to a plant - and doesn't waste it anywhere else. 

The folks from Thirsty Turf installed it in a day and we can control it from our phones or a control panel in the basement.    We did not irrigate the grass.  As long as we have something green growing (weeds are okay) that is grass-like, we're happy.  If it turns brown in mid-summer, that's fine with us.  We don't want to use all the chemicals that typically go with a manicured lawn.

While we were working on the garden plan, we also discovered that the large oak tree in the yard was blocking our water view through the new windows.  We really didn't want to cut down the tree - it's a great anchor for the entire yard and provides some nice shade on a sunny summer day.  So we had it pruned back so we can still see the water, but retain the tree's canopy.

So if this is year one of the 5 year plan - just wait for next year!  So much more to do!

It's cruise ship season..... I keep trying to catch a good photo!

5 year landscape plan

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