Hidden Garden Planted!

We had such nice weather today and we were able, finally, to plant the many plants we bought for the Hidden Garden. I'm sure it is no surprise many of them didn't get put in the precise spots we planned to put them. Sharon had rather thought that we had purchased too many plants for the space, but once we laid everything out, there was an awful lot of empty space so we added some hosta to the mix and spread them out the best we could.

This weekend, if the weather is still nice, Jeff plans to finish digging the final bed in the space along the cinder block wall (we'd run out of soil amendments) and we'll get the last few pots planted. We're also planning to dig up some of the ferns from the backyard rain garden as that area desperately needs some thinning.

When they become available again, we plan to pick up two Lenton Rose plants, the Crandall's Clove Scented Currant and several Tracy's Hybrid Maidenhair. Otherwise, we think we are finally finished spending money on this project.

Since we've found it so helpful for other areas, Sharon went through and obsessively labeled photos so we'll have them later for reference.

Next week, Jeff and Aaron will spread mulch over this area and we'll be able to turn our attention to other projects.

Update on Sep 19th. Last finally finished:

Plant Binge

We've obviously been on a plant binge this year. Sharon bought two more trays of clearance plants from Santa Rosa Gardens for the backyard. Sharon just couldn't resist the 50% coupon off clearance prices. When ordering, she did choose the least expensive varieties because we just wanted to bring in some color and ground cover in that drab unplanted area.

This order was composed of ten Ajuga Mahogany, six Heuchera Plum Crazy, six Heuchera Watermelon; all were only $2/ea for 3" pots. Plus ten Athyrium Metallicum, which were $2.50 each. These plants have been planted throughout the lower backyard around and under the red oak.

We also went out to One Green World to pick up two more kiwi plants for the pergola (and, of course, left with additional unplanned purchases).

The Ken's Red Hardy Kiwi we put in in spring 2016 didn't make it. It sort of limped along the first year without putting on any real growth, and then died by the second spring. The Anna Hardy Kiwi is doing well. We're going to have a few kiwis this year for the first time!

The Anna Hardy Kiwi has finally reached the pergola roof.

Anna Hardy Kiwi fruit

The Kiwi Male Hardy has made some good progress in covering the pergola.

This visit we chose two new varieties of kiwis:

• Hardy Red Kiwi and
• Rossana Italian Hardy Kiwi 

Those were both planted today in the two open corners of the pergola.

While we wandered around to the front entrance to check out with the kiwis, Sharon spied this beautiful little plant covered with red and yellow lantern-shaped flowers. With minimal research to make sure it could survive in part-shade, she brought one home. It is an Abutilon megapotamicum, called a flowering maple or Chinese lanterns. It will likely end up in the Hidden Garden.

We also decided to try two Pawpaw trees under the black walnut. After some research, we discovered they could withstand living under a black walnut and would tolerate shade. These are the varieties Jeff chose:

• Pennsylvania Golden Pawpaw
• Rappahannock Pawpaw

They aren't in the ground yet, it will be a few weeks yet. There's quite a lot of junk in the way of planting these. Planting these trees is probably an August project.

Hidden Garden Plans

Sharon spent quite a bit of time during the last week planning the area behind the garage. We have taken to calling it our hidden garden. Sharon did most of the research because it's the kind of thing she likes to do.

We don't have any kind of software that helps with this process, so we winged it with pictures of the plants laid out on photographs. Excuse how unprofessional they look. LOL

We ended up choosing a Japanese maple to plant in the planting bed in front of the wall. Our current plan is to get an Acer palmatum ‘Sherwood Flame,’ but we could probably be persuaded by a 'Bloodgood.' We like them both.

We're going to go ahead and list the plants because it helps us later when we go shopping, or have questions about the plan, so here goes...

The Japanese maple is mostly transparent so you
can sort of see the plantings behind it.

In the planting bed directly behind the garage—in keeping with the color scheme—we're hoping to put in two hellebores: one burgundy, and one apricot. Of course, since most of the varieties out are patented, we're not really sure what we'll be able to find this fall when we go shopping. At the moment, Sharon thinks she could buy:

• Helleborus x hybridus 'Red Sapphire’ OR Helleborus 'Rome in Red' Honeymoon® series OR Helleborus 'Red Racer'
• Helleborus x ‘Apricot Blush’ Winter Jewels® OR Helleborus 'Tropical Sunset' Honeymoon® series OR Helleborus x ‘Golden Sunrise’ Winter Jewels®

Apricot Blush Group

Red Sapphire Group

We're also going to plant quite a few Heucharas because they provide some great color and tolerate mostly shade. Sharon actually already ordered some on clearance (oops); she could not resist $6 a plant. She ordered the Heuchera ‘Cajun Fire’ because she liked that the color changed throughout the season. Also, the color change will be out of sync with the Japanese maple, which will hopefully be really fun.

She also ordered a couple of Heuchera x 'Carnival Peach Parfait'. And if we run across them, she'll probably buy a couple of Heuchera x 'Caramel'.

The iris in the corner is an Iris x pacifica ‘Big Wheel’.

The larger shrubs we plan to plant along the back fence:

• On the right side, we're planning to plant a Rhododendron 'Seaview Sunset' OR Rhododendron ‘Honey Butter'. (The picture is of the Seaview Sunset Rhododendron.)
• To the left of that, we're thinking about putting in a Ribes x gordonianum (Flowering Currant). It has coral-colored flowers that are really pretty.

In front of the wall, to the left of the maple, we plan to plant a Physocarpus opulifolius 'Hoogi018' (Angel® Ninebark).

We would also like to install some sort of trellis on that ugly cinder block wall. If we manage to get something put up, we're expecting to plant a Lonicera ciliosa (Orange Honeysuckle) because it is a native, and will tolerate dry shade once it's established.

The rest of the beds will be filled in with a variety of plants, as we can find them. (This is a list of possible plants, we won't end up with all of them. This is just a starting point for when we go shopping.):

• Adiantum x tracyi (Tracy's Maidenhair Fern)
• Aquilegia caerulea 'Swan Pink-Yellow' (Columbine, wild honeysuckle)
• Aquilegia oxysepala (Oriental Columbine)
• Aquilegia vulgaris ‘Bordeaux Barlow’ (Columbine)
• Aquilegia vulgaris var. stellata 'Ruby Port' (Columbine)
• Asarum caudatum (Wild Ginger)
• Athyrium filix-femina  (Lady Fern)
• Blechnum spicant (Deer Fern)
• Cyclamen persicum (Dreamscape™ Deep Burgundy Cyclamen)
• Dicentra x Hybrida 'Sulpher Hearts' (Bleeding Heart with yellow flowers, if we can find them)
• Dryopteris erythrosora (Autumn Fern)
• Epimedium × rubrum  OR Epimedium x ‘Supernova’ OR Epimedium x versicolor 'Sulphureum' (Bishop's Hat)
• Gymnocarpium dryopteris (Northern Oak Fern)
• Polypodium glycyrrhiza  (Licorice Fern)
• Polystichum munitum (Sword Fern)
• Polystichum setiferum var. divisilobum (Soft Shield Fern)

We'll be adding more as we go shopping and as we find more plants that tolerate dry shade. We might also try a few plants that prefer full sun just to see how they do.

Parking strip planting

The time had come to deal with our parking strip. We originally thought it was a hot, sunny spot, but after Jeff spent the day digging it out, we realized it only gets a couple hours of direct sun a day. The neighbor's maple tree is so huge, it shades most of our front yard. So, we shifted the original plan to focus on plants that would tolerate more shade.

Sharon spent hours researching locally-available plants that would fit the parameters and she came up with this collage of plants that she thought looked pretty good together. (Yeah, purple and maroon were obviously a major theme.)

Jeff wanted to shape some planting berms with space for water to flow across the space.

We were delighted to get Aaron's help again. He came a couple days ago and helped Jeff double dig the bed and mix in 8 bags of composted manure.

With the plan mostly ready, and the site prepped, we spent the day driving out to a couple garden centers and Joy Creek Nursery. Plants were purchased and placed.

Then planted.

For future reference, here is the list of plants we've planted and planned for the space:

1. Adiantum x tracyi (maidenhair fern). This plant will act like a groundcover and spread. We only bought 2 because they weren't in the original plan. We put them out there and to see how they do in the spot.
2. Ajuga reptans 'Catlin's Giant' (bugleweed) for  groundcover. We bought 6 but probably should have bought a few more of these. I hope they spread fast.
3. Aquilegia (columbine).
   
   We bought 3 columbines of various varieties. All purple tones. These were also a spontaneous purchase.
4. Athyrium nipponicum var. pictum (Japanese painted fern). What's not to like about a fern that has purple on it? The last time we bought purple ferns, they didn't survive. Today we couldn't resist trying again. If it survives the winter, we'll probably get more.
5. Campanula Pearl Deep Blue (Carpathian bellflower). We bought two of these, but sadly one of them has already died.
6. Corydalis flexuosa 'Purple Leaf'
   
   (Purple leaf corydalis). This plant has the strangest looking blue flowers. Sharon thought it was cool looking and couldn't resist.
7. Geranium x 'Johnson's Blue' (hardy geranium). We bought 2 of these and planted them in late July.
8. Heuchera FOREVER® Purple (coral bells). We bought a total of 7 of these because Sharon really liked the color.
9. Juncus patens (spreading blue rush). Jeff likes these and put 3 of them in the base of the ditch.
10. Iris Lazica. Sharon loves irises. This is one of the few varieties she found that would tolerate shade.
11. Polypodium scouleri (leather-leaf fern). We didn't have any of these in our yard yet. We just bought one to try it.
12. Polystichum munitum (western sword fern). Can you ever have too many ferns? These can survive anywhere.
13. Polystichum polyblepharum (tassel fern). This fern is pretty interesting looking. We bought 2 of them.
14. Polystichum setiferum (Alaskan fern). When we picked this up we didn't realize how huge it could get (4' tall by 3' wide). We may eventually end up moving this to a better location if it outgrows this area.
15. Pratia pedunculata 'County Park' (blue star creeper). These weren't actually in the original plan; they were a spontaneous purchase from the nursery because it was a good match color-wise and it would work in the shade.
16. Sisyrinchium bellum ‘Rocky Point’ (west coast blue eyed grass). This plant was a substitution for another plant which was not available. It will hopefully survive the location because the flowers are quite pretty.
17. Dicentra formosa 'Luxuriant' (bleeding heart). Another late addition. We put it in the shadiest spot we have and hope it lives.

We mapped out the planting so we can remember what went where.

Updated with plant additions on Jul 28.

Bulbs ordered for fall delivery:

1. Crocus 'Remembrance'
2. Hyacinth 'Purple Sensation'
3. Hemerocallis 'Ledgewood's Belgium Blues' (Daylily)
4. Iris 'Dakota Smoke' (Tall Bearded Iris)
5. Iris Reticula 'Harmony'
6. Tulip 'Negrita Double' 

Incredible Edibles Plant Sale -- May 4, 2013

In case you don't follow my cooking blog, I just put a post there about the Incredible Edibles Plant sale coming up May 4, 2013. I'm looking forward to it and will post more about the plants I get here.

Digging a path

Today was too nice not to get some gardening in.

I did a second planting of veggies in the front.

I started the first of several plantings of chard. Some of the seeds are a little old, so I did a mixed planting of several different varieties and we'll just see what, if anything, comes up and go from there.

Then I moved to the back and finished my first pass of grading the new path. This makes the path longer but gives it an even and more manageable grade in inclement weather.

Shasta is always ready to give a helping paw.

Garden planning -- the apple tree mound

Apple Tree Mound Aug 18, 2012

I got my hands in the soil yesterday at a friends house helping them plant garlic. That has succeeded in getting my gardening juices flowing. I pulled out my The Maritime Northwest Garden Guide and started planning out my beds for the year. I am making a spreadsheet table for each bed and thinking through what I'm going to want where.

One great idea that Debra uses is to have a "ready to plant" pouch where you keep the seeds you intend to plant this season that are ready to go into the ground. And on the packet, write how long the planting window goes so you know how much flexibility you have if you have to triage what goes into the ground based on how much time you have available in the garden.

I am also thinking that if I try to only focus on one bed at a time, I might find the planning a little less overwhelming. So the bed d'jour is what I am calling the Apple Tree Mound, between the path and the driveway in the front yard.

State of the mound -- July 9, 2012

A harvested squash -- Aug 31, 2012

I liked the tromboncino squash I planted last year. By the end of the summer it had taken over the "apple tree mound". But by July 9 it had just started to spread.

So I'm thinking that this year I will try to get a crop of early veggies in this mound that I will harvest as the squash overtakes them. Radishes, salad greens, etc. I may even be able to selectively prune or arrange leaves to provide a little shade for greens to continue later into the summer.

I also want to get some more herbs established in the north edge of this bed. It makes a nice kitchen garden since it is just a few steps from the front porch and within easy access to water. Last year I had basil and italian parsley. I'd like to also have some oregano and thyme. Long term I'll likely have to do something else here once the apple tree has really established itself.

 I'll probably plant some chervil (Anthriscus cerefolium). It has a long tap root, so I'm not sure if my transplant will work. But I also have some seed to sew.

I also want to grow cilantro, but mostly for the coriander seeds.

Fall garden and cover crops

After the Master Gardener talk on Fall and Winter Gardening by Jen Aron of Peaceful Gardens I did a bit of a harvest and clear out of the summer garden to make some room.

I lightly prepped the soil, added a little organic matter and some seeds.

For the fall garden, I planted chard and lettuce. As a cover crop I planted crimson clover and some chicken vetch.

Watered that in and covered with burlap and mulch to keep the water in.

Then started watering twice a day to keep moist.

I was shocked, yes shocked, to see sprouts just three days later!

Garden update

I harvested some salad greens from the garden tonight. The garden has been enjoying the warm weather. I have finally had to start regular watering. Now I need to figure out when to harvest the fennel.
Plants were purchased at the Incredible Edibles Plant Sale and were planted in May.

The italian parsley seems particularly happy and the squash has some nice large dark green leaves. The basil was not doing well, so I picked up another basil plant from Trader Joe's.

Finishing Front

At Naomi's Organic Farm Supply I picked up some worm compost and steer manure to top-dress my garden.

Then I spread around some flakes from a compressed straw bale and proceeded to spread the straw out as a mulch.

With a gentle spray setting, I wetted down the straw.

I thought I was going to be clever and dress up the straw with some hazelnut shells. Turns out I either need a lot more shells or this is only going to be an accent. I'm going to give it some time to decide if the look is going to work for me. I had thought about using Douglas Fir Bark Dust, but this would lead to a more fugally dominated soil as it breaks down. For annual plants, we want bacterially dominated soils.

And I couldn't resist picking up some more plants: flowers and herbs to plant on the slopes

Planting Veggies

Now that I had a nice mound of dirt in the front yard, today was the day to plant! I am going for something between row planting and square foot gardening. We'll see how this turns out.

I planted onions on top, tomatoes around the back, fennel around the front. And greens, spinach, lettuce, and a mesclun mix, on the lower slope.

In particular I was a little unsure of where to put the plants relative to the slopes, troughs, and ridges along the side of the mound. So I did a little of each and will try to pay attention to what does best.

I planted a few herbs on the other mound between the path and the driveway. This will get a little less frequent water and seemed like a better place for some herbs: basil and parsley. I also planted a zucchini squash as much as a ground cover as for the food.