Work in the Yard Continued

I feel like the last two weeks have been a little bit like wheels spinning because the work I have been doing in the yard has been piddly and not visually exciting.  I put some Ornithogalum dubium Orange Cream bulbs in the ground in several areas of the yard, but it will be a while before I know if they will work out for me.  I thought I had lost all the ones I got for Christmas last year, but when I stuck my fingers into the remaining pots, I found two that still had live bulbs with strong roots and a little bit of growth from the top!

One of my big projects is well underway.  After talking to my mom, I decided that I should replace the pea gravel in the garden path at the side of the house.  It holds a lot of heat in the summer and makes this little strip bake like an oven – not good for my shade garden.  I found some inspiration online for using several varieties of creeping thyme in between the stepping stones.  Having living plants in the path should keep it cooler and less dry.

First I pulled up all the stepping stones, then shoveled out all the dirt and pea gravel.  When I ran out of places to put the gravel, I freecycled the rest.  I put down new weed block fabric and replaced the stepping stones.  I found four varieties of thyme at Pike, but it seems like I should have bought a few more (as well as a few more bags of soil).  The varieties are Doone Valley ThymeElfin ThymeMagic Carpet Thyme, and Pink Chinz Thyme.  I hope it spreads quickly!

Before

Progress

I ordered some planters that were on clearance at Target to really fill in the corner of the patio where I normally keep smaller, mismatched planters.  I moved some of the plants from the old planters and bought a few new fall plants, like pansies and kale when I was at Pike.  I took this picture with my phone, hence the poor quality.  I am also very happy with the plants I put in the small planter a few weeks ago (not to mention the cyclamen started blooming again!)

Coming up:  I still need to transplant one more hydrangea as well as the four gardenias under the living room window.  Then I still have to replant the rest of the canna lilies and gladioli.  In the front yard, I have a couple of dwarf firepower nandinas to replace some more of Japanese barberries.  While I was at Pike, they had their drift roses on sale.  They are by the same company that makes knock-out roses, but they are dwarfs.  I bought a few to put next to the rosemary on the hill in front of the Little Gem Magnolia.  It should provide some nice pop of color.

 

Published by Leslie

I think Habitual Rearranger fits me well because I am never settled on designs, colors, or placement of items in our home. I drive Bradley crazy sometimes, but I keep figuring out new and better ways of doing things! I am not striving to be profound or an expert on anything in this blog. It is simply a way to keep a record of all of my adventures - home and life - for me to reference and also for my loved ones to follow along. I am a born and raised Georgia girl. I don't think I would enjoy living anywhere except the south. Bradley and I spent six and a half years in our starter home and are now in our forever home, a 1970s traditional two story brick house. I love getting into all kinds of projects around our house, and I try to document all the dirty details here if for no one else than for me.

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