Gift

BY SKEETER
The best gift in the world for me is to receive a gift card from a Garden Center. I can take that card and turn it into something new for my Georgia Gardens!
The Saints sister sent me such a gift for my birthday last month. As usual during the month of March, I am so busy playing in my gardens that my birthday just seems to creep up on me. I spent the day playing in the garden and even though the Saint wanted to take me out to dinner, I had him run for Sub Sandwiches and we ate them at the patio then back off to the gardens I went. My kind of birthday! I was not expecting much as my gift will be a bit later with a Trip to Ashville in May! So, What a surprise to find a gift card in a birthday card from the Saints sister!
I failed to snap a before picture as I really did not know what I was going to do until I did it. That is how a lot of my project's come about. I had cleared the debris and mess from in front of the planter in the Semi-Formal Garden and then the idea struck. A rock garden to break up the small area! This photo is to the far right going right up against the upper level of gardens. Creeping Phlox has been transferred from another spot in this garden with pulling sprigs. They should take off at some point. You can barely see them just below the Begonia. I had that one odd plant remaining from a 6 pack and it kind of got stuck there. There are also two daffodils in this spot that happily bloomed last month. I shall add more bulbs this fall.
Moving a bit to the left of that picture, we see one of two stepping stones and some creeping plants. I haven't a clue as to the names of these plants. The names were printed on the containers and I recycled them before thinking to write down the names. All are creeping plants and perfect for a Rock Garden.
Moving on to the left a bit more and you see both stepping stones and more creeping plants. I put the stepping stones so as to have a spot to step while tending to the plants in the planter above. I need to add some of these to the large Rock Garden as I am walking on the Lava Rock all the time thus pushing it into the ground more and more with each step into the Rock Garden.
To the very left of this Garden is where the Lavender begins. I stopped the Lava Rock at that point and started to pick up the Cypress Mulch. I have mulched most of the Gardens with Cypress this year. The Saint had this idea instead of Pine Straw to see how differently it would act verses the Pine needles. The theory being, thicker layers of mulch will keep the weeds down and last longer then the pine needles. Only time will tell but I think the Saint may be onto something. I have spread about 100 bags of mulch thus far and I have one more area yet to work on. I will say it is a lot easier to work with verses the Pine Straw.
Here is a view of the little Rock Garden from end to end. I like the way the Lava Rock breaks up the area from the planter to the walkway and adds another type garden in between. Neat and clean looking just the way I want this garden to be.... Sis B, Thank you so much for the wonderful GIFT, In the Garden...
Words and Photos Property of In the Garden Blog Team, In the Garden