The Prairie/Rock Garden is Taking Shape

I have been spending a lot of time out at the land as we build our home. As such, I spend a good deal of my time near this Prairie/Rock Garden I built last summer. I am so happy I put it in so that I can enjoy its beauty because it is a spot of tranquilness in all the wildness of our land. By tranquil I mean it is 'cultivated'. Those of you with wild gardens will understand my need for cultivation. Sometimes wild is great (I love it too!) but sometimes wild is just-wild and not really a garden at all. Well, this side of the garden area is finally looking like a garden. The above view is looking west and shows the sloping land fairly well. Our house is going to be built to the right of this picture up on the hill in the field. Behind me is the 'Wildflower Hill'.

Here we are looking north from the gazebo. I have spent some time weeding here by pulling mainly wild garlic from the bed. Other than that the mulch and newspapers has helped to make this a true garden bed and not just an area with some perennials. We have in this bed: amsonias, baptisias, asters, Tartarian asters, helianthus, catmint, salvias, daylilies, liatris, compass plants, Japanese anemones, Culver's Root, obedient plant, geraniums, spirareas, gladiolus, creeping phlox, sundrops primrose, coreopsis, hyssop, and heucheras.

The cultivated area of this garden bed is divided by stepping stones. Here we step over the stepping stone path to the wild area next to a vernal pond. I have not planted anything in this area due to the native wildflowers such as hawkweed (blooming yellow flowers), American Columbo, and others. Tree roots also tend to get in the way. I did however plant about 20 azaleas in this area and I am happy to report they are doing well and bloomed this year.

Looking down from the top of the hill and the front of the bed we see this is a rather large bed area and while it does not have much color right now, there is some foliage. Including the old ratty foliage of tulips. I wish tulips would just fade away gently like Virginia bluebells tend to do.

I planted two 'Glow Girl' spiraeas sent to me by Proven Winners last spring. These spiraeas are doing really well and the chartreuse foliage looks great in this bed because it provides a bit of excitement.


One last picture of is 'Lemon Drops' Oenothera primrose. These were given to me by my friend Angie and I am happy to report they are doing awesomely in the Prairie/Rock Garden....

in the garden....

Words and Photos Property of In the Garden Blog Team, In the Garden

The Chicks with a few Friends

By Dawn

Thank goodness it stopped raining long enough for my daughter and I to get a much needed project done. It seems like we have not really had a summer this year as it's been really cool and wet. I'm hoping for the dog days of summer to show next month. Anyhow, this is a small set of steps and the end of my backdoor porch. It allows access to under my deck, and it is a very damp and shady spot. The large rock to the left is permanent. In fact, we have a deck post attached to this rock by drilling rebar into the rock then placing the deck post on top of it. What you can't get to you work around.

This is a new wall from this past spring, I thought it being in an undisturbed place (no plowing or mowing) it would be perfect for hens and chicks.

How wonderful since I was too late last year in planting these four in the ground. They sprouted beyond the tray and were in dire need of something to be done to them.

I removed six large hens from another wall I made years ago. My daughter and I were astonished about how many good sized hens and chicks could grow in a small hole. All I had to do was pull a little to get them out! They are virtually growing in the evergreen needles that had washed over the rocks.

The hippo, the frog, the hen and the cow have my houseplants growing within them.

I have grown twin flower vine over another wall and it was gorgeous! Especially when it flowered. It looked like confetti scattered about on top of a green mat. The excavator covered it up when we added to our septic system. I hope to find more growing in my small neck of the woods. It is a dainty little wildflower that goes unnoticed a lot of the time.

That's the plan for the top of this wall, I can imagine all the holes alive with chicks and a greenish mat working it's way along the top curve. It will take a couple of years.....

and I can't wait! In the Garden.