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| Kirsten's Home Garden in Process | |
Before and In Progress |
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| The photo to the left is how our backyard looked when we bought the house late in Nov. of 2005. We were in the middle of a tree cutting process. The entire backyard slopes to the east - and basically consisted of patchy grass and a few nice old plants: 2 large camelia and 7 small, a crepe myrtle, a few nice trees and a shed and playhouse. The yard is fenced and is bordered on all sides by other homes. Most of the yard is part sun or shade, with a few small areas that you could classify as full sun. The photo to the right is about the same area of the yard in September of 2007. We added beds along the contours of the slope to slow water movement and to create natural "terraces". The beds in the foreground of this photo are planted with herbs, shrubs and perennial flowers. We also added our chicken house and yard where our 7 hens live and provide us with fresh eggs daily. | |
After -(In progress) |
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| 2006: We brought in a large tiller, yards of soil and compost and broke up the long slope with beds that run perpendicular to it. These beds slow the water movement during rain events and provide a good, permeable area for rain to soak in (the previous "lawn" was highly compacted and rain could not soak into the ground.) The beds also provide an ammended strip perfect for new plantings. The bed in the center of the photo here is a mixed herb and perennial flower bed. The photo on the left was taken March 5, so most of the plants are just getting started for the season. The photo on the right was taken in September of 2007. This photo reflects the growth of the shrub bed, the perennials, chicken coop addition. The beds closest to the chicken coop are still a work in progress. | |
Before and in Progress |
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| Feb. 2006: This view is looking straight to the back fence in the backyard. The tree on the right is a turkey oak, and the one down in the lower left is a poplar. | |
After -(In progress) |
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| February, 2007 This in progress photo shows more of the perpendicular planting beds that we created. Notice how the improved water situation has also helped our newly seeded lawn to begin to flourish. The bed curving at the top of the page (below the white wicker chair) contains a back section of crimson clover, sewn last fall to improve the soil before the planting of this summer's vegetables. In front of the clover is a line of shrubs that will eventually reach heights and widths of 5-8'. They will create a sense of enclosure for the main open grassy area in the garden. June, 2007: The hydrangeas, woodbine, lungwort, columbine and heuchera animate this shady bed below the turkey oak tree. | |
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| June, 2007: The summer perennial bed is a beautiful foreground for the playhouse and ladybug sand box in my son's play area. Blooming are: Kalimeris, Salvia, Balloon Flower and Veronica. The bed behind the perennials contains a gardenia, winterberry, fatsia, fern, hosta and lamb's ears. Sept, 2007, The same perennial bed with Kalimeris and Salvia still blooming and a falltime show of goldenrod and Caryopteris along with Mexican petunia. | Feb. 2007 The spring bed is so beautiful with a new pink tulip, daffodils and the emergence of perennials and herbs. |
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Feb. 2007: This central garden bed contains 3 dwarf fothergilla shrubs, just beginning to break bud. Canna lilies, tarot, dahlias, carnations, waving grasses and aster will display their brilliance later in the season. June 2007: The taro, cannas, dahlias begin to show their beauty. |
Feb. 2007: This bok choi and cilantro weathered the whole winter. The cilantro provided seasoning for many mid-winter meals and the bok choi is a delightful spring green. June, 2007: Tomatoes and basil take the place of winter greens |
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Sept 2007, Taro and dahlias still put on a show. |
Sept. 2007 In the fall, annual Gomphrena, Perennial sedum and the ever present Kalimeris sparkle in the garden. |
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Feb. 2007 Pansies on the deck have provided color, sweet scents and interest all winter long. June, 2007: Summer pots bring change to the deck. Sept, 2007, the flowers from June have sprawled and brightened the deck for 3 months now! Another month or so, and it will be pansy planting time again. |
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