"One of the most delightful things about a garden is the anticipation it brings."

Tuesday, July 14, 2009

A new home for 'Gertrude'.

Recently I bought a new rose, 'Gertrude Jekyll', and I bought her not caring if I had a place for her.  I just loved her looks and scent so I brought her home.  I started looking around for the right spot for her, but really didn't have room for her, especially somewhere with lots of sun and where she could be appreciated.  Have you ever wandered around the yard with a plant in your hand trying to figure out where you will put it?  Usually when I do this it's a much smaller type of plant that I can eventually find a place to wedge it into.
I decided I'd have to create a space for her, and where better than on the way to the front door where I've already been planting lots of other fragrant plants.  Since we haven't had rain for a very long time the ground was rock hard and the grass dead, especially in this very sunny spot.  I used this whole space where you can see the very dead grass.

I'm not sure why I decided to start in the middle of a day in the 80's.  I spent about 4 hours the first day.  Those 4 hours not only included digging, but diaper changes, lunches made, a wading pool filled and other Mom duties.  I know my husband would've helped, but I didn't really want to wait for a free weekend since we don't have many and besides, 'Gertrude' needed to get out of her pot!

This is the end of day one.  Not only did I have to remove the dead grass, but I had to dig down to put the first level stones in.  The pickax became the tool of choice.

After lots of water, Gatorade and ibuprofen I was ready to start on day two.  I pretty much finished after another 3 or 4 hours of work.  I just planted some annuals  and moved some lilies in for now until I decide what else I'll put in this area.  I put the stepping stones in so I can step in to smell the rose.

'Gertrude Jekyll', I hope you'll be worth all the work!

This is how it looks coming from the driveway now.  The bed used to end right at the Coreopsis.  We are planning to get rid of the rest of the grass sometime and put in a little "courtyard".  I think I may work on killing the grass over the winter with newspaper or cardboard.

I had no idea when I bought 'Gertrude' she'd be getting a custom made bed.  This is why I've been trying to only buy plants I have a place for, but I'm definitely happy with how it turned out.
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33 comments:

  1. Gertrude is certainly beautiful! Does she have a scent?

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  2. I have grown Gertrude for many years and I'm sure you will find her worth the work!

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  3. Ah Miss Jeykll..Im sure she and her stout boots will adore the lovely new home you have made for her ;-0

    She is a fabulous rose:I had one but lost it...I might be tempted to buy her again for The French Scholar loved her scent very much ;-) Of course to house her I need to excavate like you have done...;-)

    Thank goodness for painkillers ;-)

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  4. She is a beauty. That was a lot of hard work! But dont you just love a new bed??

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  5. She's beautiful and what do they say about where there's a will . . . and presto she's the reason for creating a new neighborhood for her and new friends to move into. Don't ya just love when that happens? ;-)

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  6. I love it! Your yard...or should I say flowers look great!

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  7. Oh it is so much better already! You did a great service to Gertrude and I know she will repay your hard labor with wonderful blooms and sweet perfume. :-)
    Frances

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  8. You go girl! These kinds of plants are the best kind and what fun to make another bed. You did a great job! I have waundered around looking for a spot for a plant before just this spring. It took me two hours to find a spot for a star magnolia, so I said never again. As it is, of course you know that is not true. I bought a few plants at the Summer Celebration and have no idea where one of them is going. Urgh! I might have to do like you and make a custom bed. Send some energy this way please? Gertrude would be proud.

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  9. That's a beautiful rose and I think the hard work will be worth it. The courtyard will be very nice.

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  10. I can't believe how great your gardens looks and that you'd be out there with a pickax (said with such nonchalance) in the sweltering heat!
    Hurray Catherine. Hurray Gertrude.

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  11. Good for you, Catherine! What a tiring project. Re the future grass killing project - we share a bed with our neighbors and they let their half go to grass and weeds last year. In spring, we covered the mess all up with newspapers, then a layer of composted manure (my favorite material! - just bought 25 more bags last night). While the bed looks MUCH better, we could have done better in a few ways. The grass seems to send shoots along until the end of a sheet of newspaper when it can pop up again, so there are little grass starts coming up here and there. Some big dandelions just broke through the middle of the newspaper! We only spread the papers 4-6 sheets deep, so I'd recommend doing yours deeper than that. And I'd unfold the sections to make as big of sheets as possible, and layer/overlap a lot to try to prevent those grass shoots from reaching an edge. Maybe you already knew all this, sorry, but maybe it will help!

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  12. It all looks so lovely! I'm sure Gertrude is very happy to be in her new home!!!!!

    Michelle

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  13. I made my husband read this...he thought I was the only one who wandered with plants that I "forced" myself to buy...and had no idea where to put....I have been known to say ...well...I could just build a bed here...and then cringe when he has a tantrum for ripping up the grass!!! It looks sensational!!!

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  14. I wander about like a mad woman with plant in hand too. I hope Ms Jekyll appreciates her new home, because you have done one heck of a job. I am tired just looking at it. Your grounds are just so beautiful. I am just going to read your post on putting in your pond and point it out to my husband. I need a turtle and he must have a home.

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  15. Can I just say WOW?!!! I am completely impressed--not only with your hard work and the end result, but how stunning your yard is! A high five to you, my friend!

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  16. Your flowers look so pretty and the landscaping you have done is beautiful. Gertrude has found the perfect home! Karen

    http://herbeyondthenest.blogspot.com/

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  17. You should be happy with how it turned out! It looks great. I love how when you don't think you can squeeze one more thing in, there is always a way.

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  18. Gertrude looks quite at home in her new bed. I can't believe you had to use a pickax. Your flowers look like they have never suffered a dry day.

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  19. The Thrifty Coutnrywoman - It does have a wonderful scent :)

    Tina - I'm glad to hear I'm not the only one that does this. I feel such pressure to find the best spot for a plant so I don't have to move it later, but somehow I usually end up moving things around anyway.

    VW - Thanks for the great tips on grass killing. I've never tried it before, we've always done it the hard way.

    Tootsie - My husband is glad to have less to mow :) One year he spent many hours getting the lawn perfect only to have moles tear it up. I think he's given up on it.

    Florida Sue - I think you'd love having a pond. I'd love to have a turtle in ours, but it gets too cold here in the winter.

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  20. Looks beautiful! You made a wonderful home for her. It was a lot of work but well worth it. PS - I do stuff like this all the time. I moved a bunch of plants on Saturday to make room for one lavender plant I bought. Too funny! -Jackie

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  21. Nice use of "dead" space! I'm all for digging up lawn but Dirt has begun following me around when I head out with any tool of destruction in my hand just like I follow him closely when he is weed-eating or mowing.

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  22. Gertrude looks beautiful & very happy in her new home. What a great job!

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  23. Hi Catherine~~ I feel your pain. And I feel your triumph too. What a beautiful garden. Gertie (We're on a nickname basis now) looks like she's really going to enjoy her new home, gracing your sidewalk with her fragrant presence. I know what you mean about just doing it rather than wait for hubby!

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  24. Gosh what a lot of work in unfavourable weather but your new bed and rose will be there for many years to come for you to enjoy.

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  25. Hi Catherine, haha, you think like me..always making beds bigger! Gertrude will thank you and thrive!! Loved your last couple posts..the Magnus coneflower pic..so pretty!!!
    Lynn

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  26. Job well done Catherine. Your gardens are beautiful as always, the love and attention that you give them really shows. I know you will enjoy Gertrude for years to come!

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  27. Lots of work, but it looks great! Just an FYI, I have heard this rose called, "Galloping Gertie" because she can get so big. But then again, that is any David Austin rose in my yard!

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  28. Wow! You are woman hear you roar! I'm impressed with your "go-to-it" attitude and self-sufficiency! I'm sure your husband was impressed, too (just make sure he knows about the ibuprophen you needed or you'll be digging all the beds! ha ha ha!)

    My garden progress is slowing...(and the action on my blog) but for a great reason! We are moving! Yea!!! We'll be moving to Northern California (the North Bay) so I'll be able to garden with decent weather now! I'm so excited!

    Anyway, beautiful rose...beautiful new bed! Thanks for posting.

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  29. Gertrude looks right at home there Catherine. You must have been very pleased with the results of your hard labour.

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  30. Gertrude certainly looks lovely in her new home!

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  31. I had just decided to go for the same rose a few days ago in the David Austin range!!!! How funny!!! Its absolutely beautiful, def worth a new bed in her honour!!!

    Liniz x x

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  32. Wow - it looks wonderful, and well worth all the hard work.
    K

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