| Fall 2013 | January 2014 | January 2014 |
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There are actually two beds under the deck, one directly below the stairs and the other under the front of the deck. Due to a deck remodel a few years back, the patio is a bit funky, and we've placed the swinging chair in a rather awkward spot where the old stairs used to end.
The under stairs bed is in part sun/shade and consists of daylillies at the end, an evergreen clematis climbing the trellis, with bleeding hearts filling in behind.
I find that the bleeding heart hold themselves pretty well in this setting and often don't go dormant until early September. I've tried underplanting them with creeping dogwood, but that plant is difficult to get established for me, even though it is a native.
I am hopeful the clematis will fill in and form an evergreen frame up and across the deck, but it is as yet still a young plant. I had problems with some sort of disease with the first clematis (Apple Blossom) and have replanted with a plainer but perhaps hardier variety (Snowdrift). It's showing some brownish leaves though, so might have to come up with a different plant. I suppose I could go with a wisteria - there is certainly enough support for one. Hmmm. I'll give the clem another run at it this season and see how it does.
The bed under the front of the deck is in full sun and is currently planted with croscosmia in the back flanked by shasta daisies, with coreopsis in the front. I mistakenly planted a couple goldish rudbeckias between the coreopsis which is too much yellow/gold at the same time. I plan to yard those out this year and replace with a coneflower of some sort, perhaps a purple one with a gold center. Or asters? Haven't yet decided. Need to also now find a spot for the rudbeckias, although they are always a welcome late season addition anywhere.
| End of season August 2013 | Fall 2013 | January 2014 |
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This is a mixed border of herbs and perennials. The honeysuckle has feverfew at its feet, and the crocosmia has lemon balm in front of it as a support plant. This view is from the yard side, and I have not yet cleaned up the herb garden side.
It's nice to be able to get out in the garden in January, although I do find after a couple hours my fingers get a bit numb. After clearing out all the dead stalks and weeds, I was happy to find lots of perennials just starting to poke their heads through the soil. I also saw a couple robins and the aspen grove was alive with birdsong (unfortunately it was the dreaded starlings, but they do make a lovely racket).
The herbs in this section are used in cooking. It is closest to the gate and handy to the kitchen. Sing along with me: Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme..., basil, cilantro, chives, sorrel, marjoram, lemon grass. Oregano is found in the herb flower border across the path, and tarragon is in the astrological section. The lemon grass is potted and will be brought in for the winter. I have twice tried to get bay established, but it has not over-wintered for me.
The metal chicken is symbolic of 'a chicken in every pot' - and reminds me to be grateful for all that I have. It will come in for winter cleaning and storage.
| Before | After fall clean-up |
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| Before | After |
The repellent section includes herbs that naturally repel moths and other bugs. Tansy, fleabane, cedronella, and (my favorite) southernwood. A large concrete grasshopper identifies this section. He'll come in for the winter for cleaning and storage.
This section is the furthest away from the gate and tends to be most neglected. The tansy in particular has gone from a solid mass to thin and strangly, overrun by moss and sweet woodruff. I don't mind the woodruff, it is a nice contrast to the yellow foliage of the tansy, but pulled as much of it as I could, knowing it will come back.
I need to add in more plants - I've tried santolina but it struggles for me. Would also like to add some pyrethrum if I can find it.
The astrological section contains herbs that give special powers to each zodiac sign. I have no clear idea how this works, but found it in one of my herb books and ran with it. The armillary symbolizes the celestrial constellations ruling the zodiac.
Aquarius - mullein, Pisces - meadowsweet, Aries - cowslip, Taurus - calamint, Gemini - lavender, Cancer - agrimony, Leo - poppy, Virgo - savory, Libra - pennyroyal, Scorpio - tarragon, Sagittarius - feverfew, Captricorn - sorrel.
Lauri reluctantly provides me with a mullein each year, I need to replace the pennyroyal or perhaps sub in a violet or yarrow, and tarragon seems to be an annual for me. For some reason, I planted a decorative oregano in this section, I'll have to figure out where I was going with that.
The meadowsweet is a vibrant pink, and I've divided that and plugged it in a couple other spots for color.
The cowslips are very crowded and need to be split up either this fall or early spring.
Fall Clean-up
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| Before | After |
