New Beginnings

I've taken nearly a 10 month long hiatus from the blog.  The first reason was obvious... last summer's scorching temperatures left me with nothing but dust and dead plants.  Even the grass blew away, literally.

The second reason was our move.  While Eric and I had discussed it in the summer, we didn't know we'd be jumping ship so soon.  I found our new piece of paradise while I was checking real estate listings one evening.  This little beauty has 6.25 acres -- approximately 5 of them are open field, and the rest is wooded.  We have room to spread out and I can have shade and full sun gardens.  A gardener's dream.

The previous owner was a landscaper by trade.  He created a wonderful framework of trees and shrubs, and hardscape, for me to begin with. The gardens were somewhat neglected, but I'm finding it enjoyable to bring them back to life.  It feels like a secret garden that I've discovered and am in the process of restoring.  Okay, it's not nearly to that ruin, but it sounds romantic.

I have done a considerable amount of work already, and have a lot of plans for what's to come. I would have taken some before pictures but I couldn't find my camera.  And then when I found it, the batteries were dead.  I'm all up and running now with fresh batteries.

In honor of being the proud owner of a new garden, I have relaunched my blog with a new name.  I hope you will join me in this adventure in "Taming Rugged Acres".

I found these great planters at Ikea.  To give you an idea of scale, I placed my little model in front.

I brought these planters from our old house entry, and I'm using them in virtually the same location.  I thought I'd get rid of these, but after popping in these great New Guinea Impatiens, I see how lovely they look.  I also realized they are almost the same color as the stone foundation and porch.

The beds are all outlined in a lovely stone edging.  The hostas you see here, I added last weekend.  There was not much in this bed except for a couple of shrubs and some Sum & Substance hostas in the corner.

The other side of te porch.  Lemon Lime mini hostas and Drinking Gourd blue hostas, along with a classic -- boxwood.

This stacked rock surrounds a small parking area we have off the driveway.  Even it is lovely, planted with a tree (not sure what kind), a lilac, and some dogwood trees.  I am turning this into my perennial garden and the idea is that it takes on sort of an English flavor, being packed and diverse.

The lilac... my assumption is this is "Miss Kim".

Yellow baptisia that I planted.

All of the gardens on the south and west sides of the house are planted full of this groundcover sedum. It is really quite beautiful.  I love the shade of green.  Great choice for the sides that get deer tracking through, and are in the most sun.

The front porch.  I love formal and symmetrical arrangements.  Simple and elegant.

These are the hostas he left behind.  Again, giving you an idea of scale with Tyler in the foreground.  I am pretty sure these are Sum & Substance.  I bought one and it looks identical.

The rose and daylily garden.

My crane has a new home!  Check out the backdrop.  Borrowed views are a very important design principle.  Our gardens would not look so great without those hills in the background. 

The shrubs surround the pool area.

WEEDS!  The rose and daylily garden looked just like this, as did several others, but I painstakingly cleared them one weed at a time.  Can't use roundup because these beds are filled with tender japanese maples.  This bed has daylilies in it so I definitely want to try and keep them.

I have always wanted a stone stairwell and now I have one.

Those sticks you see toward the middle of the photo is the start of an orchard.  Apples for sure, and I'm starting to think there are peaches in there.

One of my stand-by ideas, taking a hanging basket and popping it into a planter.  Looks full and lush right out of the gate.