Grunt Work

My biggest project this past month was creating a new 8' x 12' flowerbed in our backyard. I use the word "our" loosely, as I've mentioned before that all of the grass/yard in our neighborhood is considered common area...no fences. Not so nice if your children are wanderers, but nice because we don't have to mow. Not so nice if you have ugly utilities right behind you, but nice if your association will let you make a pretty flowerbed to disguise said ugly utilities. (AND agree to pay for the topsoil, edging materials, and mushroom soil mulch!)


First I needed a plan. (Those of you who know me well won't be surprised that this was my favorite part. Any excuse to draw a diagram and make a list--I'm a happy girl!)


Now, I'm a novice gardener. So I also needed a good resource to help me figure out the kind of plants that would do well in full morning sun, partial/full afternoon shade, heat zone 5/6.



A couple of weeks ago I was perusing online and found this.




PERENNIALS FOR EVERY PURPOSE by Larry Hodgson



I can't say enough about this book. I found it in the used books section on amazon.com, in new condition, and I think I paid $12 with S&H. It had the information I needed, was straighforward and organized, and the author didn't shy away from saying things like, "this plant is commonly pushed in your box stores, and it has some merits, but it'll completely invade your space, so just beware." And at 502 pages this book will be something I pull out often, especially during those long winter months when I need some inspiration.



Because this project was my baby and not my hubby's, I was the "grunt". (He has had plenty else on his plate.) This meant using the claw of a hammer to remove the grass (no digging because of buried lines), corraling my youngest in a playyard when he wasn't napping, keeping my 4 yr. old from digging up everyone else's grass, muscling 50 (40 lb.) bags of topsoil, and attempting to keep the sweat out of my eyes. It was...an undertaking.



In keeping with my thrifty heritage I was delighted by friends and neighbors who shared plants with me, and by the wonderfully low prices at a local plant sale Memorial weekend. After reimbursement I will have only paid for the plants--a whoppin' $35. Not too shabby!



BEFORE:


AFTER:

(I planted: Echinacea, Shasta Daisies, Rudbeckia, Russian Sage, Liriope, Old-fashioned Primrose, Coral Bells, Karl Foerster Feather Reed Grass, Maiden Grass, and 2 kinds of Hosta.)




I still need to haul some small river rocks from our neighbor's creek to put around the outside edge.

I'm looking forward to seeing everything fill in and bloom.

Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to prop up my feet and enjoy a glass of iced coffee.