Cottage Garden Diary

16 Feb '06 1:15 pm

This part of the forums is for keeping a garden diary... so that is what I will try to do. Please feel free to interject comments, questions or suggestions at any time.... Very Happy

16 Feb '06 1:44 pm

Have I mentioned that February, at least here in Iowa (USA), is the longest month of the year? I know that February has only 28 days, but those days drag on and on. Its alot like watching paint dry, only slower.

This is the dreadful time between the Holidays and Spring. February is the last full month before the weather starts to warm, and generally stays warm. To make matters worse, February the weather swings from one extreme to the other. Just yesterday it was 67 degrees, and today it was below zero with strong winds from the North. And tonight and tomorrow we're expecting snow, sleet, and ice. Depressing.

This is also the time of year that we get "cabin-fever", which is a nice way of saying you're sick of being trapped in the house. Doctor's have decided that this is a "real" condition (what isn't these days?) and have named it SDS, or Seasonal Depression Syndrom. By giving it a name, they can take your money to treat it and prescribe drugs for it. Rolling Eyes

A trip to the Bahamas is cheaper and the money better spent. Very Happy

The good news is that, eventhough we're all convinced it will never end, there really are only 13 days left in February!

The picture below is my raised rock bed about Mid-March last year. I decided to post it to prove to myself that February really will end.... someday. Wink

16 Feb '06 1:47 pm

lets try this again....

Keep in mind that by Mid-March our grass is already nice and green.... in February its so brown you swear its dead....

18 Feb '06 12:03 am

Oh! I can share your feelings wholeheartedly! Sometimes, I catch myself talking to my still sleeping garden saying, " Wake up guys! I missed you so much! Wake up , pleeeease!" It is true, though, that some Spring bulbs are showing their green noses, already, like Tulips, Crocuses, and Dafodils! And that IS something!!

I have also created a new island border since last Autumn, which now is waiting Mama(Liza), to start giving it the beautiful colours of its final happy look! You imagine then, how strongly I wait these "softer", brighter days to come! All the babies to be planted in this new --heart shaped-- border are already planted in medium pots since last Autumn, well protected during Winter. I'll start planting them in their final home by mid-March. I can't wait!

I'll post for you two photos of this new heart-shaped island border, from last Autumn, and last January. Here they are :

20 Feb '06 3:31 am

I love your back yard!

In most parts of town we have alleys behind all of the houses and its common for houses to have free-standing garages and parking that sit off the alley, like ours. It makes it very hard to create a lush backdrop when you have to allow for parking. I'll attach a photo of my backyard so you can see what I mean. The photo was taken after I'd put in the new bed, and before I'd planted anything into it.

I made the bed in July, which is a very poor time to plant or transplant anything here, so I let the bed sit until september before putting in plants.

I'd almost like to add a fence across the back (where my truck is sitting), but then we'd loose the extra parking spot. When we have alot of company we can actually squeeze two mid-size cars there. So I'm still pondering the fence idea.

20 Feb '06 4:35 am

I love your green , beautiful lawn AND the backyard! When you add your beautiful flowers in the bed, it is going to be an outburst of colors , in perfect harmony with your happy, green lawn! And I love these happy trees!

And about your fence idea : imagine a colorful fence covered by...Roses of your favorite color! Or by two Clematis, blooming in two different summer months! Or - even more exciting!- one Clematis and one Rose, together in harmonious colors, embracing each other's blooms! Just think about it! If you decide something like this, I might help you in choosing, after reminding me your hardiness zone.

20 Feb '06 12:49 pm

Liza,

I put in a Don Juan climbing rose in the center of the fence, and a Red Hot Azalea tucked between the middle pine and the fence, then added Candy Tuft (white) at the base of the rose, several clumps of daylilies from the azalea to the far end of the bed. I put Lady's Mantel and Hostas (several varieties) around the 2 pine trees, added an antique wheelbarrow, and an antique oil burning heat stove. Its a BIG bed so I'll still have places to fill in this year. I'm thinking Autum Joy Sedum and some Mums for fall color. OH! And I have 2 Clematis that I bought as bare root plants last year that will go in, one on each side of the climbing rose.

I'm hoping that will round out and fill the bed nicely, but I LOVE suggestions! Very Happy

You just never know what someone might think of that you've forgotten! I'm in Zone 5. My garden is a mix of two styles: cottage type plants and native flowers.

I don't get too caught up in what the "experts" say will work together, I'm more prone to pick what I like and go with it. Like the bed in the photo.... I have Blackeyed Susans and Blue Salvia intermixed in a bed.... sounds odd, but actually looks great!

20 Feb '06 8:22 pm

Wow! I do love your chosen colours and plant combinations! It is going to be a wonderland mixed border! It seems we have something in common in our gardening imagination! Myself, too, I listen to my intuition to guide me with plants, but --soon after I choose them--- I always need to learn about their personal, private needs , in order to place them properly in their permanent home and see them prosper. The wheel barrow and stove as garden ornaments is a fantastic designing garden idea !

Rudbeckias and Salvias is one of my favorite combinations , too, which is the colour blue together with golden yellow. This combination is alive through many plants in our garden during the good season. Your beautiful Rudbeckias and Salvias are also together in a close up photo of yours in another post; this photo is very dear to me!

When all these lovely plants in your new border and fence are happily in bloom, PLEASE, send us some photos!

21 Feb '06 4:11 am

This is my first post here and is also a bit of a test to see if I can upload a pic.... Here's my best efforts to date at a Cottage Garden...

21 Feb '06 6:39 am

Welcome , dear new gardener friend!

The vibrant colours of your happy flowers and especially the bright whites together with the vivid reds and yellows make me long stronger for the awakening of my garden! What is this superb purple leaved plant in your photo?

Where is your garden situated, really? Please, tell us more of your garden !

Cottage Garden Diary

Cottage Garden Diary

Spring will NEVER come!

where'd the darn picture go?

Winter blues...

Your backyard.

Amazing, colourful bed!

Welcome!