Friday, February 26, 2010

The Very Start of The Garden

“I want to dig out the boulevard garden”. That was my answer when Ted asked me what I would like to do on our 12th wedding anniversary.  This was our second spring in our fixer-upper home. And, Ted had no idea that our yard was about to become a garden.   “You want to do what!” He was in shock. The idea of spending a beautiful spring day removing the weedy grass and several pickup loads of soil did not at all sound like a romantic way to spend a 12th anniversary.  But love can  be displayed in so many ways.  Sometimes with a twinkle in his eye Ted tells me, “The impossible we do immediately,  miracles take a little longer”.  That morning the impossible started. 

Our boulevard garden or street facing garden or “hell strip” as Lauren Springer,  renowned author of “The Passionate Gardener” calls them, is 8ft by 50ft.  It is dry, hot and sits in full sun.  In the winter after a snowfall the snow plow spreads sand and plows the streets.  In doing so, sand and gravel gets thrown onto the boulevard strips of grass, eventually raising the level of the grass until the grass sits above the curbs. That was the case in our very old yard.

So we went to work. We dug out several pickup loads of dirt and gave them to a friend who was building raised beds. Ted then spread sand as a base for the stepping stones that we placed in the garden.

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There are 2 “pods” on each side of the center walkway. Notice the Mock Orange (philadelphus)

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Drought tolerate plants like Lambs Ears(Stachys),  Salvia and Coreopsis flourish in this garden

 

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In the summer purple, white and pink Echinacea bloom along with the  a tall yellow Heliopsis.  Next to it on the left is Perovskia (Russian Sage)  On the right you can see  Achillea (Coronation Gold Yarrow).

The boulevard strip was the first garden.  This spring I will show you the low maintenance changes I have made to the front garden.

22 comments:

  1. What a charming place you have turned your home into.

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  2. What you did in that area of yours is a splendid but difficult job. I salute your being very hardworking. I recall your other post is the before and after photos, but found difficulty locating your old posts' titles. thanks.

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  3. Dear Gloria, What comes over here is the very obvious delight and pleasure which you have from your garden. From the pictures it looks so attractive and must be constantly admired by everyone who passes by.

    I am horrified to hear how, after snow, the snow ploughs shovel the snow to the side, flinging with it grit and sand onto the garden. It really is so unthinking and would make me very cross indeed. I notice, though, that now you have an edging next to the pavement - a very wise move!

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  4. Randy- Thank you.

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  5. Dear Edith, I look forward to your comments and really enjoy your blog. When the snow plow clears the road some of the sand and grit that was previously spread on the street, gets mixed up with the snow and ends up on our curb and garden strip. It is not alot at one time, but through the years it accumulates. The 2 rows of pavers we now have next to the curb, make it easier for me to sweep it back into the street. But for those who have lawn, over the years, the bit of grit tends to build up the grassy area.

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  6. Andrea, thank you for your comments. The pictures on the top left side of my blog are all Making of the Garden posts. Most are before and after pictures.

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  7. Gloria, What a great anniversary gift! (Ted is clearly a gem.) I love what you've done with this space. I'm particularly fond of that tall yellow heliopsis (which I think I have versions of growing in three different places in my own garden). What all these posts make clear is what a talented garden designer you are. -Jean

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  8. I love that that's what you wanted to do for you anniversary. Our 12th is coming up this year, wonder if I can get my husband to help me on something big :)
    What a great job you both did! I love how full and colorful is. I bet your neighbors love seeing your garden. I've really been enjoying these posts of your different projects, very inspirational!

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  9. I know your garden has taken a lot of work and upkeep is never ending, but what joy it must bring you! And your neighbors, too! I love your mock orange. I have three, and they are so beautiful when they bloom.

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  10. Thank you Jean, Catherine and Deb - Jean I was given the Heliopsis. I think it is Golden Glow. Yes, Catherine and Deb, the garden is a conversation starter, that's for sure. I especially enjoy the children who sometime hopscotch up and down the flagstones. I hoped they would enjoy it.

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  11. Gloria,
    Your boulevard is beautiful, and Ted is clearly a keeper! :) The edging next to the pavement by the road is a wonderful idea, and I would imagine this saves the plants from all of the salt during the winter months, in addition to saving you some time removing that gravel.

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  12. Gloria, what a lovely space you have made for everyone to enjoy.

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  13. Gloria, THIS is your garden?!?!?! WOW!!!! I don't even want to blog anymore...your garden puts mine to SHAME!!!! It is absolutely BEAUTIFUL!!!! And what a nice, sweet witness to your marriage / relationship! I'm sincerely awestruck. GREAT JOB!!!!!

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  14. What a wonderful place to plant a garden. So many people just waste the boulevard space with boring grass. I look forward to seeing what other changes you made :^)

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  15. Beautiful! I think your house will be very easy to find when I get around to paying you a visit. Love your choice of flowers. I have a 'hell strip,' too, and I am amazed sometimes that my flowers grow as well as they do in such tough conditions. Lauren Springer really knows her stuff.

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  16. I love the selection of plants you chose for that area. Is there any salt in that sand and grit? Here salt is mixed in with the sand and grit to melt the ice on the roads.

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  17. You have transformed your place into a veritable wonderland. It is truly amazing to see and to hear (read!) how it's progressed over the years!

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  18. I very much like the look of the finished garden... and hearing how you began, I can appreciate the hard labor and creativity that went into what now looks so flowing and colorful and effortless. :) My favorite combo is the Russian sage with those Echinaceas. I might have to copy you one of these days when we have our own yard!

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  19. It's just wonderful, Gloria, and I love the miracles quote from your dear husband. Your neighborhood looks very similar to mine, without the slope. I love what you have done with that bit of land, and look forward to seeing your improvements, although it already looks great. :-)

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  20. I love that you wanted to tackle the garden on your anniversary. A woman after my own heart. My favorite mother's day gift ever was a set of 5 soaker hoses! (Favorite anniversary gift: cordless drill. Weird, I know.) Kelly

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  21. It's so lovely and what a darling house you have!

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  22. I heart potatoes :D Everything about them. Those ones look delicious!!

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