loss in the garden

Every season the garden teaches me something.  Whether it be patience, perseverance or simply to be still, I always come away changed from what unfolds.  This season has brought about some loss in my garden.  The biggest loss to swallow is my maple that is in the center of my shade bed in the front garden.

  I began to notice that large branches were dying and with this being the second year that it has not produced seeds I knew that something was wrong.  After consulting with an arborist we have come to learn that one of my favorite trees in our garden has girdle root which means that 20 something years ago when this tree was planted someone most likely planted it incorrectly by leaving it in its metal basket.  The roots are basically suffocating the tree by wrapping themselves around itself instead of growing outward.

I will miss the change of seasons with this tree and all of the memories that have come with it.  When my son was born I would look out his window into its canopy on cold November days as I fed him in his room.  Its brilliant autumn color when the beans were headed out to go trick-or-treating will be missed as well.  Yes,  I am mourning my tree.  Comes with the territory of life.  Nothing is permanent and we all have to adjust our sails to the changes that come.

So you shift and get busy heading in a different direction.  Or as Liz Taylor would say....

Though I don't wear much lipstick I do think this quote is fantastic and so it has been my mission the last few days to walk around my imperfect space to look for beauty.

 {my newly planted Oenothera tetragona by my bird statue}

 {quick combo...Campanula and Foam Flower}

{My new shrub Calycanthus Floridus....Allspice is beginning to bloom brilliantly}

 {long view of the back bed as it unfolds this spring}

 {golden rod, phlox, butterfly weed, roses and sedum filling in and getting ready to bloom...almost covering utility box...finally!}

 {Rambling Red climbing rose and Hyacinth Bean which is an annual vine to fill this season as the rose grows}

{the little guy cutting lettuce for dinner}


Beauty elsewhere

{a visit to the arboretum}

And today we went down to visit some family and enjoy the farmers market.  So many organic farmers selling their beautiful vegetables and plants.  And whatever your stance is or isn't on GMOS,  any crop that is sprayed with crap is bad for the Earth and all who inhabit it....bottom line.  

and to take in a little of this....

my brother entertaining the whole market with his tunes...

{photo taken by my lovely sister}

John Till Music

My tree was special.  The garden is ever changing as nature is.  It's our job to keep on going and seek out the beauty.

I hope that whatever your garden, whether it be a window box or a farm, that you pass on your love of it to just one person.  Together our seeds will transform the future.

Pass on the garden folks and make it a great weekend!  

Happy Growing!  

stepping into spring this week...

It's kinda been a really neat week.  In-between normal life duties I've been running into the most interesting people.  Take the shop I stopped into on Monday.  The salesclerk and I just started chatting and wouldn't you know that she is setting up a local garden walk.  I gave her some information about permaculture and she was so excited that she wants to do a workshop about it at her event.   When visiting the nursery I struck up a conversation with a nice woman as I was loading the beans into the car.  She asked if we could use a log cabin doll house that she was going to donate to Goodwill.  I said YES and then we continued to talk about the nature school she works at and how she keeps bees.   Then there was my kind neighbor who has gotten me into essential oils.  There are many uses for these plant derived oils and after soccer practice this week she gave me a large reference book so that I can learn more about how to use the oils.  And then there was the nice couple who walked by when I was outside gardening and let my bean play with their dogs.  They gave me some tips for keeping chickens as they have a few and told me where to get our permit and how to set things up. 

There have been a few more things but I think you catch my drift!  It was like everywhere I turned people were talking about what they were doing to get back to nature.  Making more conscious choices in their everyday lives to do better.  Pretty cool eh?

My favorite part about stepping into the spring garden is seeing growth.  When I can divide a plant or create a new bed that's when the magic sets in.  I'm still cleaning up beds, laying compost, and tearing out grass to widen different areas.  Our peas and lettuce are coming up and I finished laying all the brick for my back garden border.  This week I have been planting shrubs in different beds for more interest as I wait "patiently" to plant veggies, flower seeds and dahlia tubers.  

Shrubs that have gone in....

Calycanthus Floridus...Allspice

~known for its large waterlily like blooms~

via-Fine Gardening  

Clethra Alnifolia, North American native “Sweet Pepperbush"

~attracts bees and butterflies~

Itea Virginica "Little Henry-Sweetspire"

~small shrub for mixed borders ~

via-Fine Gardening

Ninebark "Amber Jubilee"

~chosen for its striking foliage~

I hope that whatever the season...you're enjoying the beauty that comes with it.  Have a great weekend folks!   

January Design Ideas....

Hello folks!  I sure hope you all had a festive holiday!   We had a great Christmas with lots of loafing around and sleeping in.  It will be shocking when next week comes knocking and we are back to zipping around and scheduled activities.  I'm not sure I'm ready for that, but are we ever?!?  

With the date reading January 2nd now,  I've been thinking about what this year will look like.  No big resolutions to speak of.  Just simple everyday goals of this and thats to be a better me.  I must admit this time of year is usually the time when I start to feel the shift.  The...which way are we going kinda thing.   For now we are here,  taking in the days with 3 rambunctious beans though this quote always rings loudly in my head.....   

So in the event that we don't move to land and we are here in this suburban house for the long haul, there are some things that need to be addressed in the garden this year.  A huge challenge for any gardener is creating a sense of depth and privacy in their space.  Couple that with a small plot and surrounding neighbors and you're left with a challenging puzzle as for what to plant.  I'm still working on creating my screen against the back fence.  I lost both diablo ninebarks this past year.  So needless to say I'm in desperate need of reworking my backdrop along the back fence.  Below you can see some gaps and the fence glaring out at you.  This will be an ongoing saga this spring so please bear with me!  

Nice mass plantings and backdrop in a garden I visited this summer...

And here is some more garden inspiration.  It is a small east coast garden from Fine Gardening. 

{photos by James Salomon}  

Besides the fact that this garden is full and lush, I am thoroughly taken with the use of conifers in the space.  The endless layering in the background is a feast for the eyes and blocks the views of the neighbors.

Switching gears now to the creating department......I have done NOTHING in weeks!   But alas, my mojo started coming back this week!  It all began when I was tucking my bean girl in for the night.  I began to look around their room and knew it was time to really finish...I mean REALLY finish their space for them.  They deserve a special spot and I'm so excited to give that to them.

Here is a shot of what their room looked like....

And though it is not completely done yet, it is almost there.  Here is a design collage of some of the room's features.  The plan is to have their space finished by the end of the month!

I hope that 2015 is your year!  

That you reach and stretch for those dreams you never thought possible and they come true! 

And as always....Happy Making, Baking, and Growing!  

Floral Fridays....foliage...the backbone of the garden

 I look closely at foliage in the garden.  It supports the blooms and remains when they fade, so for that alone, I think that foliage deserves praise and attention.

~my redbud forest pansy transplanted to a sheltered area and thriving~

~sedum after the rain~

~knotweed with its striking variated leaves~

~the fuzzy texture of coreopsis against the dwarf viburnum and weigela~  

~lungwort~

~jackfrost~

~Creeping Jenny~

~swaths of green on a garden walk~

~coleus supporting the back of this flower bed~

~mass plantings to create a serene feeling at a local park~

Happy Gardening!

Floral Fridays is a monthly photography project with different themes each month. This series is about fun and taking time out to smell the flowers. To play along, please email Trishie (trishie@underlockandkeyblog.com) for next month's theme.