Thursday, August 16, 2012

Stopping Erosion

BY SKEETER
This circled area had an erosion issue for some time. A bit difficult to see in this picture but the grass slopes down to the asphalt driveway. Rain runoff was slowly eroding the earth at the corner of the retaining brick wall. I say slowly as we are under drought conditions most of the time in my Georgia Gardens.  After 10 years, erosion was becoming a problem.
I failed to snap a "Before" photo of this eroded area last Fall. The day I created this little Rock Garden, I was not planning it. It just kind of happen. I collected some large stones and placed them around the larger eroded gaps. I then added pea gravel into the smaller gaps. I pulled some Phlox Moss sprigs from a planter and dug it into the ground in hopes it would root over winter. I planted a Mexican Petunia in the center and I was careful to remember to water this little spot often. A few little statues of dogs and a frog and I decided this garden was complete. Is any garden ever complete? Ha... The above picture was snapped in early May.

Moving to late July, we see the Mexican Petunia (Ruellia brittoniana) is blooming. We also see a blooming Crepe Myrtle bush. This bush was a tree until last year when a storm had Miss Myrtle doing the splits. Click HERE to see that sad saga. She is making a comeback! Back to the Petunia; this is a new plant to me as I added 3 of them last fall. I believe it was Darla that told me they are a bully plant in Florida. They are on the FL Exotic Pest Plant Council (EPPC) so I am a bit concerned with these new additions to my gardens. I shall keep an eye on them. 
At 10:00 in the morning, I find beautiful purple blooms!
By 8:00 in the evening, they have all fallen to the ground. Is this normal?
They look pretty lying on the lush green Moss Phlox but I would think that the butterflies, bees and hummingbirds would rather they remain on the plant.
If you follow the brick wall down a bit, you can see a second Petunia in the Tri-angle Planter which is outside the Porch Planter. This is the West side of the house. The Porch Planter faces North and holds Japanese Maple, Nandina and Camellia.The third Petunia is located on the East side of the other Porch Planter. In the other Tri-angle Planter. These two Porch Planters and Tri-angle Planters are a sort of mirror image of each other. 

This little Rock Garden is thus far doing its job of STOPPING EROSION, In the Garden...

15 comments:

  1. Skeeter,
    The Meixican Petunia is lovely. We have a few in our garden, one Meg got in the Coastal Plain is now 6 ft tall not blooming yet. Sorry about your drought, for once we are well watered this year.

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  2. Nice job on your little garden area. You'll love the Mexican petunia. I have them and they haven't taken over the property yet and I'm in s.e. FL. I don't know about the blooms falling off by the end of the day as I've not been out there to check on them at that time.

    Your home and gardens are lovely.

    FlowerLady

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  3. Yes the blooms fall off by the end of the day. You will see these popping up here and there.

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  4. A perfect solution for the erosion problem. I think ruella is SO pretty. My friend Angie gave me some plants and they are doing so well. The first time ever for me. I don't know about the falling off but I suspect that is normal. They will self seed I am told. A good thing.

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  5. Cute small garden, Skeeter. Those garden ornaments would never stay in my garden. Some thief would come by and off they would go. I can't answer on the Mexican Petunia. We don't have them here.

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  6. Talk about making lemonade out of lemons! I love your little rock garden - it adds a perfect punctuation to the end of the wall and hedge.

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  7. I like your new garden to stop the erosion. The Phlox really took hold nicely. I don't have Mexican petunias, but I look like them.

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  8. Great solution Skeeter. It looks good. I have the Mexican Petunia & it does drop the blooms at days end. It is also a plant that will multiply as it travels by root. I have mine in a pot to protect that fact. The gift giver has it everywhere as it travels by root.

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  9. Mom thinks you are the beesknees when it comes to thinking up creative garden ideas...her brain doesn't even get a buzzzzzz
    stella rose

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  10. Well that sure was a nice fix and the phlox looks mighty happy!

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  11. Love Mexican Petunias. Gorgeous plants that fill up a space nicely.

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  12. Looks like a good solution. The Mexican petunias are nice. Don't know about the bloom drop.

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  13. Like the look of the small rock garden as it serves many purposes

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  14. Thanks to you each for your comments. I am still in TN helping my mom recover from Hip Surgery. I shall be back at visiting you each as soon as I can. Have a wonderful weekend everyone....

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  15. Wow, You little garden is lively but I can't stop staring at those elephant ears the porch and the crepe myrtle...!
    http://www.flowersforums.com/ruth/blog/

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