 |
| View from the vegetable garden over the wall into the pool garden |
I have no control over where the mullein place themselves. In fact I tried to transplant one this year and it didn't like the place I put it. But these just add a little drama to the back corner of the garden. Gone is the sadness of losing the Rosa Zepherine drouhin rose that once sprawled over the wall.
This spring we removed much of the planting along the back of the pool and replaced it with Mexican river rocks. I only left a few grasses and echinacea. On my morning walk I made a note that the wall looks a little stark. Maybe a taller grass behind the rock or maybe a mullein will plant itself there. I am definitely much happier to have the rock rather than the bare soil and I like the variety of colors in the rock.
Just a few more weeks to enjoy all 'this' in the herb garden. Soon it will be time to remove the parsley and cilantro gone to seed, and the seed heads of nigella.
And the Confederate rose agave clump, on the center pedestal, with the mother plant sending up a flower stalk. I will probably have to redo the whole pot because the mother plant is going to leave a big hole. Will the youngsters stay in there or will I have to make a completely new planting?
Two things took me by surprise in the herb garden. The flowering of the dill. Rather like parsley it makes a pretty umbel worthy of a place in any garden.
And an unusual variation in the color of Coreopsis tinctoria. Among all the yellows a beautiful burgundy. Now if that isn't a reason not to pull out all those seedlings. You never know which will be a surprise. I must remember to collect seeds.
I like this clump of self-sown echinacea in the English garden. If only it bloomed all summer!
But I need to remove this pink self sown lantana nearby. It just gets too big and requires too many cut backs during the summer.
This walk around the garden is not just a pleasure but an important part of noting changes you need to make. What works and what doesn't. Now on with the day's work
It's the best way to learn what works. Everything looks so beautiful with just a few tweaks as you pointed out. I'm glad to know you are constantly making changes since I'm always moving something to where it will look a bit better. Not now with the heat but that just gives me time to plan my fall moves.
ReplyDeleteYes, I do this every day I'm home. There are so many pleasant surprises and noted changes to make. Your herb garden is so special! I like the gravel by the pool: I think it looks great the way it is, but your ideas sound wonderful, too.
ReplyDeleteWhat a pretty burgundy seedling! I agree that a morning walk is one of the best things to do, and the light in your garden is so pretty!
ReplyDeleteIt thrills me to be able to walk with you and acually see these spaces in my head. I am so glad to have seen your garden!!! I do the same walk, only mine is at the end of the day, preferably with a glass of wine, which also gets put down often, to snap a photo.
ReplyDeleteCompletely agree! This quiet time gets my creative juices flowing while evaluating all the garden areas. I use to walk with my big camera but the cell phone is less cumbersome and works just as well for this purpose. You never know what you'll find. After having visited your garden, every corner has a spectacular view. But I understand as gardeners we are always reevaluating spaces, plants and projects.
ReplyDeleteGorgeous!!! Do the rocks keep down the weeds?
ReplyDeleteOne thing I have learnt is never to lay landscape fabric. Learnt that from experience. Yes, weeds pop up but they seem easy to pull.
DeleteHow beautiful is May in your garden! Yes, it’s so useful to observe daily, especially at this lush and blooming time of year in Oregon gardens as well. I so enjoyed seeing your lovely gardens earlier this month and now I’ll think of you when I walk with my cup of tea (milk, no sugar, please) at Longview Ranch in the mornings.
ReplyDeleteYes, I can see a helpful verbascum sowing itself against that wall that you've reworked with Mexican river rocks, but it looks splendid as is too. And that monarda -- wow! And that would be so cool to get a burgundy strain of that coreopsis. Morning strolls here are accompanied by multiple cups of coffee that always get cold before they're consumed!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on that stunner of a coreopsis! As you say, it makes a strong case all by itself for letting self-sowers show what they can do.
ReplyDeleteI always take that morning walk but usually forget a phone or note pad!
ReplyDeleteYour garden looks beautiful! I agree that a daily walk through is a must.
ReplyDeleteI walk my garden most mornings too, although my focus is usually on cleaning up whatever mischief the raccoons have wrought overnight. Your garden, as always, is looking splendid. Your photo of the Monarda had me returning to the Fling photos I took of your garden - it seems the bee balm has exploded since the rainy day of our tour. I've tried and failed to grow Monarda here but I'd hoped 'Peter's Purple' might yield better results as it's rated for zone 10 but of course haven't been able to find it; however, your post prompted another search and I just located a source claiming to have it in stock for mail order so I shall be placing an order!
ReplyDeleteYour garden is a delight that never fails and I learn so much from you walking with you vicariously with the cup of tea to admire and plan!
ReplyDeleteYour garden is looking so beautiful! The swath of Monarda is so striking. Mullein seeds itself into my garden, too, and I'm always torn as to how much I want to keep or pull out. A walk around the garden to evaluate it and to also enjoy it each day is a must! I love an evening walk, as I tend to have a little more time then.
ReplyDeleteYour garden, gorgeous as always, is especially lovely on this morning stroll. I look forward to summer vacation and having time to take a leisurely walk around every morning instead of a mad dash to do a couple of things before it's time to get ready for work.
ReplyDelete