Update: I'm reformatting my garden page, so the text is older than the date of the post.
Remember this painting? It is my inspiration painting for the cottage garden we are going to create in our back yard. In the center of the garden painting, it has a fountain flanked by two fruit trees. In our garden, the apricot tree is going to be the main focal point and will be surrounded by 4 somewhat equal corner beds. Please don't grade me on my surveying skills, because I don't have any! Again, the look is formal, but our beds will be planted in the trademark cottage style of seemingly wild and chaotic abandon! This planting style will help offset, or contrast, and soften the formal layout. As well as the addition of some handmade garden art and fixtures, that will also give the garden a more cottage like, or rustic feel. But not too many tchotchkes, and baubles. I don't want our cottage garden to look like a crazy artist colony.
The apricot tree and the flower beds will be encircled by a 4 ft. straight rectangular path of grass, but about mid-way of each path a small 4ft. by 33" path will lead into the apricot tree's lawn. These tiny paths might be laid with stone and inter planted with something like wooly thyme, rupturewart-green carpet, or ajuga 'Chocolate Chip'. If you could fly over, the yard, this creates a cross design "+", and it will allow easy access for a mower.
This arrangement can be changed simply by removing one or more of the center paths, allowing for more planting space. Or an urn, bird bath, other sculpture can be placed on the little stone paths for more interest.
This arrangement can be changed simply by removing one or more of the center paths, allowing for more planting space. Or an urn, bird bath, other sculpture can be placed on the little stone paths for more interest.
Look at that! Can you see who the garden is taking shape? I'm very excited! I started by measuring out four feet from the garage first. That is the first walking path that will lead into the garden from the back door. Then I measured and staked the other paths using what ever scrap of twine I could find and some old 4th of July flags, and screwdrivers. I know! Only a woman would use a tool such as a screwdriver as a stake. Hey, it worked!
Only one more bed to cut out of the rock hard clay. Yay! It actually is starting to look like my inspiration painting. Well, maybe if you squint at it and use you imagination. But remember that this is what it looked like before I started:
So much better the the before photo right? Right? Well one thing is for sure, I'm getting a very good workout! Cutting out sod, even dead sod, is hard back breaking work! Stay tuned for more updates! I gotta go and rest my back.