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Kay
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Kay's Blog




Bed expansion complete

Category: Working in the yard | Posted: Tue May 29, 2012 12:25 am

Finally got the bed expansion project done! I had to get all that mulch that was plied up there out of the way.(See previous blog) I put another layer on all the beds in back, and there is still quite a lot left. It is now piled up on a tarp on the flagstone patio. It's nice to have so much extra mulch.
So, now that the mulch was removed, the tarp underneath had done a great job of killing off the grass. We did some deep digging, and amended with compost.
Today I planted the very patient Fothergilla that was dug up weeks ago and has been waiting in a nursery pot for its new home. The soil was "like butter", so nice to sink my shovel into.
In addition, I added yet another Heuchera to my obsessive collection. This one is "Creole Nights" I also added a "Dream Queen" Hosta, and some white Impatiens that were leftovers from work.


bed expansion completed ( photo / image / picture from Kay's Garden )






Mt. Airy Fothergilla ( photo / image / picture from Kay's Garden )






Heuchera "Creole Nights" ( photo / image / picture from Kay's Garden )



Bob wants to plant an Azaelea that will bloom orange back here.I have my eye on a "Fireball" for him. It will go where the wood dome is. He is thinking of adding a bit of Missy ashes to the planting hole. This area is where she used to do her "business".
I have 4 or 5 Hostas that need homes too. It'll all come together soon.
I'm scheming on the next project. It will be adding more flagstone to a path.
Gardens are never finished, are they?


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progress on 2012 project

Category: Working in the yard | Posted: Thu May 10, 2012 1:34 am

Last weekend, I finally had time and energy together to get outside and get busy on my project. I got half of it done.Yea!
I had to undercut the nearly dead grass out, turned over the soil and amended with cotton burr compost. Dug up my Calicarpa (American Beautyberry) and planted it in its new home. Then I searched my beds for Hostas that might like a new spot. Found 3, dug em up and in they went. Watered, mulched, Voila!


new plantings ( photo / image / picture from Kay's Garden )

The other side of the tuteur will be next, but I have to figure out what to do with the pile of mulch sitting there.




lotsa mulch ( photo / image / picture from Kay's Garden )

We moved it there to get it off the driveway. I have mulched all the beds and have all this left. I have to move it again I guess so I can get back to my project. That is, when I have time and energy together again!



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Looks like I have my work cut out here!

Category: Working in the yard | Posted: Wed Apr 18, 2012 1:22 am

My project for the spring of 2012 has begun. There are two flower beds bordering the back of the property with about 16 feet between them, and a tuteur with an Ampelopsis Vine on it. I am going to connect them.I don't see why I need grass there when I can have one continuous bed. I already have a Fothergilla, a Variegated Dogwood and a Calicarpa waiting to be planted. I put tarps down over the grass to start the process of killing it. We did dig up several slices of sod to put in bare areas of the lawn. I will slowly dig up this area and amend it with compost.I have placed the rock border where I want it and we cut the sod under them.
It is mostly shady, so I will be continuing my love of gardening with shade loving perennials.It may take me a while because I am really busy at work, and have limited energy, but my will is strong!



thebe 2012 project ( photo / image / picture from Kay's Garden )

Now for the mulch... As one of the perks of working for a landscaping company, my boss gave me 10 yds. of this nice double ground mulch. Free! How nice... The only thing is... I have to spread it... Guess I have my work cut out for myself for a few days!




10 cubic yards of mulch ( photo / image / picture from Kay's Garden )





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making plans to redecorate the garden

Category: Working in the yard | Posted: Tue Aug 02, 2011 6:11 pm

My garden has been suffering through a long period of heat lately. We went from a cool, rainy June into this dry,hot weather. I have been watering a lot more than usual to keep up with plant's needs, especially the shrubs that I added this spring.
The temperatures have been hovering in the high 90s mostly with the past couple days reaching into the triple digits. Ugh...
In my backyard, the corner that was visibly changed by the removal of the big, old Pine is undergoing some stress. I was out early today, to beat the sun's heat to deadhead some Heucheras and Hostas. They are looking a bit scorched. I have decided to find new shadier homes for them. Earlier this spring, I already relocated several Astilbe, Hosta, and Heuchera. Now I am searching for spots to put the poor long suffering kids so they can do their best and thrive., but I'm going to wait until it cools off some.
The bright side is that I have realized that I will have room to plant more, and I will be able to add some sun lovers for a change!

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A renegade weed

Category: Working in the yard | Posted: Thu Jun 23, 2011 10:45 pm


a big weed ( photo / image / picture from Kay's Garden )



I found this growing in my flower bed earlier this spring. I had amended the soil with some compost from my work. Our shop is on an old dairy farm, and we pulverize the mounds of manure to use in planting etc.
It was a very nice healthy plant, no bugs, nothing wrong at all, with the exception of being illegal...
It was hard for me to destroy such a pretty plant. Oh well, had to be done.
It grows wild all over in Nebraska. We just don't pick it, or grow it in our gardens, if we are smart that is...

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Going, going, gone!

Category: Working in the yard | Posted: Thu Feb 24, 2011 8:31 pm

There was an old Austrian Pine in the corner of our backyard that had lived around 40 years. It began to look stressed a couple years ago, and we have pruned dead branches from it. But this winter, with all the deciduous trees bare, it was evident that the poor old tree was not going to survive much longer. It had a lot of dead even up at the top. So, with a heavy heart, I scheduled the work.
The tree crew from the company I work for showed up and made short work of taking it down. It took 3 hours from start to finish including the clean up, and trimming another Pine back there.
I tried not to hover, but I wanted to be sure they were not trampling all over my dormant plants...
The timing of this work was about perfect. It was a fairly decent sunny winter day. I wanted to get it down before any plants emerged from dormancy (which is no time soon here) I also wanted to get it down before any birds or squirrels built their nest in it.
Larry made the job look easy, but climbing up trees to take them down is not for amateurs. The guys do it safely and the correct way.


( photo / image / picture from Kay's Garden )






( photo / image / picture from Kay's Garden )

The two ground guys hauled the limbs and debris out pretty quickly. I felt compelled to help them, but I didn't! When Larry had the tree limbs all cut off, he came down. It was bittersweet to see what was left. I remembered watching all the activity of the birds and squirrels in it over the years.
Then Jay took over and made the two wedge cuts to topple the trunk. It really made a big thud when it hit the ground! Then they made about 5 cuts to piece it out and hauled it out. I decided I didn't want the stump ground out because I have so many plants around it, and I knew they might not fair well! He cut the stump close to the ground, and we'll deal with it. I'll probably put rocks on it, or some kind of garden art thing!


( photo / image / picture from Kay's Garden )






( photo / image / picture from Kay's Garden )
Now we're left with a gaping space! It looks so different, and I can't wait to remedy that! One thing our backyard doesn't have a lot of is privacy. We've only lived here 4 years, and have lots of ideas and wishes for the yard. Someday, if we ever finish the basement... (oh, the joys of home owning!)
So, for this coming growing season, I have some very tall Zebra grass that I'll probably plant in the corner. It will fill the void. Then I can dream and plot my next move... A new tree? A shrub? Hmmm, I'll let you know!




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