Amy in the Garden

A Faithful Reader asked for photos of my actual field illustrated in the sketch posted in my last entry. As you wish!

(Please note that you can click on these photos to bring up a larger image, where the detail is clearer.)

Here is another photo of the garden sketch, a little closer:

This shows the main flower garden, with three tiny circles marked with X’s, the shady area to the right, and the rock ledges in the back of the sketch. At the bottom right is the curved area at the front of the garden. I will match these areas with photos. The area to the left that is destined for sunflowers and herbs is not in any photos, because I only recently decided to plant this area as well. It is hard to exercise restraint when the subject is gardening.

First, this is the area that forms the flower garden. A rock wall in front, a large cleared field, and a rock wall in the back. The Plan calls for 9 flower beds to go here:

Next, the reality behind the three circled X’s: These are iron spikes anchored in rocks, that were part of the horse farm, once upon a time. This view looks back at our house, with the barn and the screened porch, and Gordon the Gentlemanly Mutt on patrol:

Finally, this is the shady area of the garden, where I plan to plant forget-me-not, bleeding heart, coral bells, astilbe, and other shade-tolerant plants. On the sketch, this area is to the right, under the poofy circles that represent trees:

I just ordered a “soiless” mix from Johnny’s Selected Seeds to start my seedlings indoors, so the 2014 Gardening Season has started. I will photograph the Great Soil-Cube And Seed Planting event very soon.

I will be posting more detailed photos as the snow clears, and I get my hands dirty once again. Now that I know what the Plan is, I can better illustrate the steps and share the triumphs and defeats with you!

WORDS FROM OTHERS
“In garden arrangement, as in all other kinds of decorative work, one has not only to acquire a knowledge of what to do, but also to gain some wisdom in perceiving what it is well to let alone.”

— Gertrude Jekyll, British horticulturalist, garden designer (1843-1932)