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Structure in the Garden

Category: Starting and Maintaining the Garden | Posted: Sat Apr 20, 2013 2:36 pm

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This has been a spring of looking at structure in the garden. Hard scape is easy to recognize. Over the years we laid pavers on some grass paths that the dobies ran to dirt. Then I bordered the paths with found bricks and river rocks.


Mixed rocks and bricks lining paver path ( photo / image / picture from Jewell's Garden )

I had to terrace areas close to the house to keep dirt away from the siding. Railroad ties were inexpensive so we used them and an occasion backseat of the car filled with landscape bricks.


Trail ties stacked with assorted bricks ( photo / image / picture from Jewell's Garden )


Mixed bricks, rocks and ties ( photo / image / picture from Jewell's Garden )

This year I went all out and had a pallet of landscape bricks delivered for yet another terracing project.


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

Much of my garden structure has been plants. Sword and other evergreen ferns have provided year round interest. When I moved a dozen or more this spring it became evident how much I loved and relied on ferns in my garden. A couple of ferns were replaced with a small section of picket fencing.


Picket fence replacing ferns ( photo / image / picture from Jewell's Garden )

My favorite new structures are in the veggie garden. An added sink, soon to have water hosed in and an old window cold frame surrounded with assorted bricks.


Garden sink ( photo / image / picture from Jewell's Garden )


Cold frame ( photo / image / picture from Jewell's Garden )





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Shade Garden Chapter 4

Category: Starting and Maintaining the Garden | Posted: Sun Mar 31, 2013 7:54 pm

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The shade garden got some nice branches to line the paths. The paths and beds are still evolving as plants begin to unfurl. As I finish limbing the last of the branches things will continue to change. The dogs are staying to the paths mostly, but I will need to add some branches inside some beds to keep them from taking short cuts.

Am really pleased with how the wild ginger has taken off. The combination of the cream flowers of the primrose and white flowering bleeding heart is a winner. I have moved so many different ferns and a variety of perennials. Am still waiting impatiently for hostas planted last year to show themselves and have planted newly purchased hostas in their places.

The campanula and columbines are leafing out and starting to set buds. Am seeing small changes daily.


Paths and beds in beginning spring stage ( photo / image / picture from Jewell's Garden )


Hosta, fern, calla lily, hellebore bed with optional seating ( photo / image / picture from Jewell's Garden )


Pink blooming calla lilly ( photo / image / picture from Jewell's Garden )


White blooming bleeding hearts ( photo / image / picture from Jewell's Garden )


Viola ( photo / image / picture from Jewell's Garden )

Lots to do in the garden but it is nice seeing the structure of this portion of the yard starting to show itself.


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Cedar panels and Sinks

Category: Starting and Maintaining the Garden | Posted: Sat Mar 16, 2013 9:27 pm

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I really should never have found Pinterest and Google Images. I am planning not one but two sink areas in the garden/yard. One will be near my potting area and the other near the veggie garden. I have some nice scrap boards I saved from rebuilding the cabin stairs, but need to have some decent weather to take power tools outside. These will be used for a surround for the old fashioned square sink. I liked the shape of the square sink for the garden. Am still on the lookout for a faucet for it. With a hose run to it and hooked up it should be handy for washing veggies and trimming flowers to bring into the house.


Sink for garden area ( photo / image / picture from Jewell's Garden )

The little round one will be perfect to slip into my potting bench made from an old barbecue base. There will be no problem finding it a faucet. I will put it so that I can rinse my hands off outside. I am thinking this will be just too handy.


Sink for potting bench ( photo / image / picture from Jewell's Garden )

Now I will have to do some serious reorganization first. I moved all the pots, stakes, mesh, etc. behind the sheds late last summer. Since i was slowly collecting stakes, netting, etc from the garden all winter it is a real jumble back there.


Messy potting area moved to behind the sheds ( photo / image / picture from Jewell's Garden )

We got two of the cedar panels up to hide some of the utility part of the yard. The area looked like this last year.


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

With two of the four planned panels in place both Sweetie and I are very pleased. Less work cleaning mildew stains also. Lol, if I can't see it maybe it doesn't exist.


Two panels up and two more to get installed ( photo / image / picture from Jewell's Garden )

The plants that were transplanted are filling in nicely in the new beds, although it is hard to tell from this photo. The ferns i cut back and hostas will make a huge difference once they leaf out.


New woodland area barked and filling in ( photo / image / picture from Jewell's Garden )

I am surprised at how big the new hellebores are in this area.


New hellebore ( photo / image / picture from Jewell's Garden )





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Plans and Projects

Category: Starting and Maintaining the Garden | Posted: Sun Feb 24, 2013 4:37 am

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Today marked the last of the grass in the main yard. Would never had thought we'd lose the grass. One bed at time made the grass disappear. This month marks the thirtieth year for us on this property. It has certainly changed a lot over the years.

Today was the continuation of several projects in the works. We got 4x4 posts for cedar fencing panels that will block some of the view of the utilities sheds. Tools, propane tanks for the barbecue, gas/electric yard tools and lawn mowers each have their own little shed. These resin sheds have been great for our climate, but aren't very attractive. The cedar panels are much more organic than looking at a variety of plastic/resin storage containers/buildings. My messy potting area and soil containers behind the sheds will also be hidden with the next set of panels. I work in stages.

I had hoped to get the first 2 yards of bark spread today, but the yard cart collapsed. A wheel broke and ripped away from the cart. We did buy the first half of the foundation bricks for David's Smoke Shack. Hopefully we will get the sword ferns moved tomorrow as well as the outdoor fireplace. The fireplace is currently in the place we will put the shack. And the fern is where the fireplace will bump up against once the fireplace is moved.

Bought a couple of plants while we were at the garden center. A male and female Skimmia japonica. It will fill in the back corner perfectly, 4'x4'. It is evergreen, flowers, and has fall berries and likes the shade. Also got a new to me hellebore with a silvery varigated leaf.

Lots to do and have a prioritize the list. Moving plants first, bark next, foundation laying next, errecting the panes after that. Then there is also potting up new plants, setting up my garden sinks, cleaning up the perennials and seeing if I can get rid of the buttercup that have invaded one bed. I am sure there are several other things that also will need to be accomplished in the next month, or maybe the following month. Gardening doesn't let you sit idle for long.

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Chapter 3 1/2 The Wall Is Finished

Category: Starting and Maintaining the Garden | Posted: Tue Feb 19, 2013 12:30 am

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Some sword ferns, and moss are planted on the now finished terrace garden. Am thinking sword ferns for the terraced areas and hostas at ground level. Not pretty..yet, but a good week-ends work.


My great wall ( photo / image / picture from Jewell's Garden )

Had a few extra bricks so with a mix of old and new bricks expanded another bed and moved some daylilies to fill it with.


used bricks and new to expand a bed ( photo / image / picture from Jewell's Garden )

Happiness is working in the garden!




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Shade Garden Chapter 3

Category: Starting and Maintaining the Garden | Posted: Sun Feb 17, 2013 3:19 am

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Started terracing the back property line of the new shade garden. Looks to be about a two foot drop in elevation. I have been digging sword ferns that have begun to out grow the flower garden. Will be moving them to the terraced area. Moved phlox into some of those spaces left bare by moving the ferns. The phlox have also begun to out grow their spaces.


terraced area at back of shade garden ( photo / image / picture from Jewell's Garden )

Moving lots of dirt from one spot to another. Two sword ferns got placed with several others under the filberts. The hart's tongue and holly ferns got moved into the shade garden. Have been digging and tossing the deciduous ferns as I find them. I'd rather have the winter structure of the sword, hart's tongue, and holly ferns. The smell of the BC ginger was lovely. I was able to get three nice sized plants from the one. The glossy round leaves are very attractive right through the winter.

I have only purchased the primrose's (which I wish I had gotten twice as many) and the heuchera so far. Have plenty of plants to move around that should do well in this new garden area. Read about how Oregon grape is a food source for Anna's hummingbird that are here year round, so will move some into this area also. I hope to get a few more hostas, some large varieties.


Lots of moved plants to shaded area ( photo / image / picture from Jewell's Garden )

One of the reasons I'm trying to level this back section is to have a space to put up a garden shed. It would be lovely to have a wooden structure to hang out in and store some of the gardening tools. Will continue dreaming and planning. The plastic sheds have serviced us well, but they aren't attractive and I would love something with recycled windows and doors. I just want a fairy garden.


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





Last edited: Tue Feb 19, 2013 12:23 am

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Plans for Shade Garden Chapter 2

Category: Starting and Maintaining the Garden | Posted: Tue Jan 01, 2013 10:22 pm

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Have been dwelling on the prospects of this shady garden area on my last day of vacation. Woke up to ice on the pond and a crisp day. With so many of the plants small or deciduous in this area I will need to wait until spring to do too much. Somewhere is hidden some painted ferns: Athyrium niponicum 'Pictum' and a dozen or so hosta.

Here is a closer look at some of the plants that are currently dwelling in the new beds.


Stachys byzantina (Lamb's Ears) ( photo / image / picture from Jewell's Garden )


Ajuga reptans (Carpet Bugleweed, Common Bugleweed) ( photo / image / picture from Jewell's Garden )


Ajuga bed started ( photo / image / picture from Jewell's Garden )


Digitalis purpurea (Common Foxglove) volunteers: this was a small strawberry bed, but I wasn't happy with the results so transplanted the strawberries elsewhere. ( photo / image / picture from Jewell's Garden )


Heuchera 'Marmalade' (Coral Bells) ( photo / image / picture from Jewell's Garden )


Pieris japonica "Valley Valentine" (purple blooming) with a Galium odoratum (Sweet Woodruff)at its base ( photo / image / picture from Jewell's Garden )


Pieris japonica (Japanese Pieris, Japanese Andromeda) white blooming ( photo / image / picture from Jewell's Garden )


Acorus gramineus...I think..an evergreen grass that does well in the shade ( photo / image / picture from Jewell's Garden )


Blechnum spicant (Deer Fern): nice smaller variety of native fern ( photo / image / picture from Jewell's Garden )


violets mark where a deciduous fern sleeps ( photo / image / picture from Jewell's Garden )


baby Polystichum munitum (Western Sword Fern) moved from perrenial garden bed ( photo / image / picture from Jewell's Garden )


Polystichum polyblepharum (Tassel Fern) in winter: tassled at base noticeable ( photo / image / picture from Jewell's Garden )


Polystichum makinoi (Makinoi's Holly Fern): glossy leaves and is staying nice this winter ( photo / image / picture from Jewell's Garden )


big hosta in winter....at base Soleirolia soleirolii (Mother of Thousands, Baby' ( photo / image / picture from Jewell's Garden )


summer view: Hosta "Francis Williams" ( photo / image / picture from Jewell's Garden )


winter: Brunnera macrophylla "Jack Frost" (Siberian Bugloss) much prettier in summer ( photo / image / picture from Jewell's Garden )


summer: Brunnera macrophylla ( photo / image / picture from Jewell's Garden )


Then I will move some of the following into the area where there is room in the spring (I've been pretty lucky if I get a large enough shovel full. Then some plants don't seem to mind the move).


Achlys triphylla (Vanilla-leaf deer foot)already potted up and just need to get into the ground ( photo / image / picture from Jewell's Garden )


wild hyacinth ( photo / image / picture from Jewell's Garden )


Such pretty little bulb flowers, but rather an invasive plant. ( photo / image / picture from Jewell's Garden )


Pacific trilliums, Trillium ovatum ( photo / image / picture from Jewell's Garden )


primroses, mother of thousands, and Pacific bleeding hearts ( photo / image / picture from Jewell's Garden )

Also this big sword fern, and wild ginger that I want to move or divide. The wild ginger is an unknown to me (only had for a couple of years and haven't tried to move or divide it yet). I am guessing it may not take kindly to division.

I am also wondering about maybe planting some hardy cyclamen. They are doing OK in my little protected area between the house and garage. They may be too small to put into a large area where they could get lost.


Polystichum munitum (Western Sword Fern): to be moved to new beds ( photo / image / picture from Jewell's Garden )


Asarum caudatum (British Columbia Wild Ginger) ( photo / image / picture from Jewell's Garden )


Cyclamen hederifolium (Hardy Cyclamen) in bed of mother of thousands ( photo / image / picture from Jewell's Garden )









Last edited: Sun Feb 17, 2013 3:20 am

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Plans for Shade Garden Chapter 1

Category: Starting and Maintaining the Garden | Posted: Mon Dec 31, 2012 11:33 pm

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The warm, sunny weather brought on the feeling of spring. The yard is in its winter doldrums with fallen leaves and perennial flower stems falling across beds and paths in a haphazard manner. Very untidy. The last of the leaves are almost all off the filbert trees and scattered on the barked and paver paths. I keep raking, but gosh it will be January tomorrow and still not all the leaves are down and some are already composted in the beds.


New gardening area in June ( photo / image / picture from Jewell's Garden )

The new woodland garden area is a 30 foot by 70 foot area of vacated alley. Slowly I have been pulling up the lamb's ears, a favorite of native bees, that spread out over the patio areas. I have been then laying the uprooted plants onto the ground in the new woodland area. These plants do as well in shade as they do in the sunny spots. We'll see if they root in this mild winter we are having. My bets are on their self-preservation complimented with the rainforest habitat. If not I may have pity on them and toss a little dirt over their roots.


Woodland area 2012 on south side of lot being developed ( photo / image / picture from Jewell's Garden )

I moved my garden work benches behind the shed. With most of the grass now smothered with cardboard I have been moving plants into slowly developed beds. In many places the cardboard has already decomposed and had a thin layer of bark tossed over it (new beds and paths). Some cardboard has been covered in fir needles and small branches that have been wind blown down from the neighbor's fir trees. The rest is the new cardboard waiting for spring laid bark and time to smother weeds, decompose and let nature help me out.


grasses, small plants, bare ground and hopes for the future??? ( photo / image / picture from Jewell's Garden )

This new area has a lot of bare/barked/card boarded ground. Some of the plants are a couple of shade grasses, two small Pieris japonica evergreen plants for future structure. With primarily hostas in this area I am not happy with the winter look so far. I have also moved a few ajuga, sweet woodruff, mother-of-thousands into the area for ground cover. Some of the smaller evergreen ferns also got transplanted into the area that sprouted in my vegie/perennial garden.

It will need several years to have winter lines that make the area feel "right". A few paths are delinated with small fencing to keep the dogs from running through beds. Not pretty, but the plans are semi laid.














Last edited: Sun Feb 17, 2013 3:20 am

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Rest In Peace

Category: Starting and Maintaining the Garden | Posted: Sun Jul 22, 2012 6:48 am

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Some plants just don't make it. Lost several different plants to giant slugs this year: all petunias (hope springs eternal, but come July it is obvious they have become fodder for the slimy ones


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


wave petunias ( photo / image / picture from Jewell's Garden )

Slugs also enjoyed the star gazer lilies. I am getting better at squishing the slimy criminals.


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

Freezing rain and unusual cold killed my dahlia bulbs. Dead. Chose not to replant, but they were pretty. Sigh.....


Unknown white dalhia ( photo / image / picture from Jewell's Garden )


dahlia ( photo / image / picture from Jewell's Garden )

Black eyed Susan's chose not to return. Birds forgot to bring in more seeds.


Rudbeckia hirta ( photo / image / picture from Jewell's Garden )

The double hollyhock hate wet summers. Deceased.


Hollyhock: Alcea rosea "Chater's Double Red" ( photo / image / picture from Jewell's Garden )

Driveway heather got ran over one too many times when it snowed. Pulled the broken carcass.


June blooming variety ( photo / image / picture from Jewell's Garden )

The second hardy hibiscus bit the dust. It didn't like the pruning job I did on it. It shouldn't have gotten so huge. Maybe mini ones or not... Oh well, some thrive and some don't. It is always changing in the garden.


hardy hibiscus - Rose of Sharon ( photo / image / picture from Jewell's Garden )

Then the ivy over grew the coreopsis and smothered it. Dead.


Coreopsis ( photo / image / picture from Jewell's Garden )

So ends the short list of deceased greens. Unfortunately there have been many more than shown over the years. With my gardening skills (or lack of) I will always have an excuse to shop the gardening centers.











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Garden Gone Wild

Category: Starting and Maintaining the Garden | Posted: Sat Jul 21, 2012 11:07 pm

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This gardening year has been one of things growing wild. Why on earth would a normal phlox (Phlox paniculata) grow six feet tall?


arrow points to 6+ feet tall phlox not yet in bloom ( photo / image / picture from Jewell's Garden )

Most of the phlox has stayed within somewhat more normal ranges, but are still taller than usual. The Speedwell and calendula are looking fine still.

None of the plants got so out of control last year. Another offender is the Shasta Daisies (Leucanthemum maximum). Come on I don't want to have to get a ladder to view the flowers. They are the white blob in the background. (I shouldn't be taking photos with my phone...but...)


Shasta daisies as tall as the hollyhocks ( photo / image / picture from Jewell's Garden )

Although most of the foxgloves (Digitalis purpurea) were shorter than normal in the three foot range one crazy one got over twelve feet tall.


top of foxglove above and beyond the arrows ( photo / image / picture from Jewell's Garden )

Plants are stretching out as well as up. I had to start pulling the deciduous ferns since they were beginning to suffocate other plants. One clump of ferns I took the ax to (quite literally) since it had covered one of my favorite hydrangeas (Hydrangea serrata 'Blue Billow')


fern take over ( photo / image / picture from Jewell's Garden )


fern axed ( photo / image / picture from Jewell's Garden )

Then there are some phlox that have decided to send starts into the pathways. More plants to divide in the spring.


phlox starts in the pathway ( photo / image / picture from Jewell's Garden )

I am pulling lamb's ears (Stachys byzantine) out by the wheelbarrow load. They are covering the walkways and paths.


blue-willow hydrenga ( photo / image / picture from Jewell's Garden )


pathway after clearing lamb's ears and ferns ( photo / image / picture from Jewell's Garden )

I chopped the gorgeous Knautia macedonica back to its base as it was another plant that needed more room than it was allotted. It will be a memory until it regrows.


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

The fig leaf hollyhocks (Alcea ficifolia) are doing great. They are just coming into their own. The mallow (Lavatera thuringiaca) is beginning its bloom. Both look somewhat small compared to the plants that have gone giant this season.


figleaf hollyhock ( photo / image / picture from Jewell's Garden )


mallow ( photo / image / picture from Jewell's Garden )

I have to come in and take a break at the computer and relax. Somehow being out in the garden right now makes me see all that I need to be doing and not what has already been accomplished.


starts of iris, columbine, ferns ( photo / image / picture from Jewell's Garden )

Take a breath and relax



Patroit hosta in bloom ( photo / image / picture from Jewell's Garden )






Peace in the small spaces ( photo / image / picture from Jewell's Garden )





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