Starting a new journey in my life is a thrilling but a bit scary too. I hope I'll be able to keep you all up to date with it as we go along through the home build process and make our dream of living in the country a reality. One way I can share it is through gardening-of course! And through the land as well. The major change between our current land where we live and our new land besides the size, 59+ acres compared to one acre, is the fact that our new home will be built in a field. There are really no big trees in this field. In my current home the house is surrounded by trees and I love it! The current garden has been designed to work with the available light that does filter through the trees. I won't say it is totally a shade garden but it is primarily a shade garden. Now we will be moving to a large field with no shade trees and I am concerned about that. The good news is that there are shady areas on the new property. Our pond is a short walk through the field. Once you leave the field you enter a beautiful forest which leads down to the pond area. This pond is quite large and completely surrounded by trees. It is rare to find a pond in my part of Tennessee that is surrounded by trees. We are thrilled but will probably do a bit of thinning of the trees. The good news is that I have a good location to move a great majority of my garden to-prior to even building the house. I can picture hellebores, hydrangeas, hostas, merrybells, wildflowers, pulmonarias, ferns, and other woodland plants from my current garden moving into this location-once I get the path in place. A big job but I am up for the task because I know that this area will not be disturbed by the build of the home. The rest of the story is waiting to be written as far as the vegetable and perennial borders.
I would love to immediately put in the perennial and vegetable garden. I have even completed a garden design for the vegetable garden so I am ready. What I am not ready to do though is to definitively site the gardens. Building a house will mean installing a well and a septic system. Not only that but house building in general is pretty darn messy and traumatic to land. Patience is not something I have a lot of when I have to accomplish such a big task of moving my gardens. I plan to take every single thing I possibly can. Okay, maybe not everything. There is a lot I will leave but I do plan to take all perennials, most bulbs, and my specimen trees and shrubs that I can easily dig up. All hydrangeas will most likely go. I hate to leave Tiger Gardens bare and without its pretty clothes of plants, but honestly, with 282 trees and shrubs just in the front yard (according to my landscape diagram I finally completed) I don't think the yard will be too bare even with a lot of plants moving. Actually, I look at it as more of the fact that I am thinning out the landscape and making room for growth for whomever buys our home when we are ready to sell it. It might be sad if a gardener moved in here and realized so many plants were moved once they saw the landscape design, but honestly, what are the odds a gardener would move into this house? In my experience gardeners are pretty much made slowly. Buying a home with all these gardens would be overwhelming to even the most experienced gardener. Pretty soon weeds would take over and the garden would soon be mowed down. I can see it already. So, in order to avoid that disaster I will move as much as I can and hope the new home buyer never sees this blog. Or perhaps it might help them? Who knows.
Our pond on the land has lots frog eggs. How exciting is that? Surely that will help assuage my impending feelings of loss once I start deconstructing the garden in earnest? Can you see them in the above picture?
The shoreline of the pond has lots of moss growing along it. I have no idea what else is growing there but I am sure I will be pleasantly surprised as the season changes from winter to spring. I can hardly wait! This area is somewhat rocky and full of roots but I suspect I'll be able to fit in some woodland plants.
One thing is for sure about our move, Mr. Fix-it is mighty happy. He can't wait to start fishing! With lots of frog eggs I would suspect there should be some fish here too. Still, even if there aren't I don't think that smile will ever leave Mr. Fix-it's face now that we are....
in the garden....
I can feel your excitement and anticipation. When does construction begin on your home? Enjoy the whole process and learn patience along the way.
ReplyDeleteI would move as many plants to your new home too. I've seen what happens to lovely gardens when a home is sold and it is awful.
Have a great weekend ~ FlowerLady
FlowerLady, It looks like this fall for groundbreaking. We hope!
DeleteMr Fix-it looks sooo happy!! I can't wait to see what you do around the pond. It's going to be so beautiful (and already is). I'm glad you are going to take your plants. I don't think most people are up to the task of taking care of so many plants. In fact, I think by removing many of the plants you'll probably sell faster.
ReplyDeleteOh yes, big job on moving the garden but you're right. I think people would not like the maintenance of a garden and I need my garden with me anyhow.
DeleteIt's all very exciting! Can't wait to see how you put it all together. Is there a natural spring nearby? You could just take cuttings of all those hydrangeas and bring them with you that way without having to dig!
ReplyDeleteDave, We are told the pond is spring fed though we could not find a spring in the side of the hill. We really have not looked too hard as of yet so perhaps we'll find it. Hydrangeas are one of those shrubs that transplant easily though they can be bears to dig out. I plan to dig mine as I want big plants. Cuttings take SO long to grow to a useable size. Most of my PGs were started by me using cuttings and they took a long time to get big (7 years!). They'll move okay though.
DeleteSo exciting, Tina!
ReplyDeleteAs one who built in an open deer field, we were restricted by covenants and that's why I have few trees in front of the house. We are supposed to retain the "meadow" look here. You won't have that restriction. Unfortunately, deer will gobble up hydrangeas and hostas--deer candy. You'll need to fence those off from the critters.
Looking forward to following your progress.
I am worried about those deer Freda! I do hope to fence everything. No covenants where we are so anything goes I think-hopefully the deer will go!
DeleteSo happy & excited for you. Can't wait to see in stages what you do with your new garden & home. Love that pond.
ReplyDeleteThanks Lola! It is really a dream come true for both of us.
DeleteI am going to take a guess and say that the pond has been fished out by all the tresspassers. But you may have some left but that does happen to land that has been left for squaters to enjoy. If you have any small ones left, they should grow to a fun catchable size in time with your "NO Tresspassing" Signs in place. You can also easily have it stocked and I am sure Mr Fixit would enjoy that too as he can have so much fun catching fish and yall cooking fresh fish! Plus fishing friends, (hint hint) can enjoy a day of catch and release. :-) Anyway, that pond is awesome and will bring in the wildlife for sure. Deer will come to the pond so be warned! I hope the pond is spring fed as it will maintain itself and stay pretty full. I would put up an electric type fencing around areas you do not want the deer to frequent. But taking away their pond would be mean as they have more then likely been relying on it for water for many years. But your property to do with as you please but as a wildlife lover such as us, best to try and live in harmony with them verses trying to run them off.... But you will figure it allout in time.... I still enjoy the first of the fawns in our yard during the spring. We get so excited and I know you will as well. BUt with having dogs roaming the property, you may have less of an issue with deer as they will keep them at bay.
ReplyDeleteI am going to throddle back on planting new gardens in our yard. We do not plan to stay here forever and in time we too will make a move. I cannot bare the thought of someone digging out or mowing over my beautiful gardens but it does happen often. I do not want to put any more money into my gardens until I am at the final house. I hope you do not over do it in moving too much too soon though. Keep in mind that if you break your back (figure of speech) you will not be able to do what you plan. So take it slow and keep on track.
I cannot wait to see your property which shall be soon!
You are welcomed anytime Skeeter! Fishing pole and all!
DeleteHow exciting for you i could only wish to be away from crazy neighbors....you are blessed.....but what work!
ReplyDeleteWe so agree!
DeleteA pond too!!! I've always wanted a pond. I love hearing those spring peepers. It will be fun to watch your progress.
ReplyDeleteNot planning on moving but I know if I ever do a lot of plants will move with me. Especially my hostas and hellebores.
Tina I moved from a wooded lot with gardens to a few trees and a blank slate after we built the house. So I could not move many plants...the new owners ripped everything out....EVERYTHING! So I say go for it and move your garden....love that pond....heaven!
ReplyDeleteI so knew you'd be wanting to move all your favorite plants. What about your free finds? Moving all the concrete pieces etc.? What fun all the planning. Do you have the house plans decided too?
ReplyDeleteTalk about a new life. This is almost like a new universe! I wish you the best of luck and I look forward to all the photos. Many thanks.
ReplyDeleteGreetings from London.
It won't be easy, but I have every confidence that the new garden will look great in no time. Yes, it will be a big switch, but you'll enjoy the challenge of figuring out what kind of sun lovers to plant. Welcome to my world! Our home was built almost 9 years ago, and still there is very little shade to plant around. I'm used to it.
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like you are going to have so many opportunities. It must be exciting.
ReplyDeleteI feel your excitement! That pond is a nice feature, how big is it? Spring fed? Swimming hole? I look forward to your updates as house building and garden planning starts.
ReplyDeleteI completely understand about taking your plants with you. My old garden didn't get a new gardener.