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

Sunday, January 16, 2011

Getting inspiration.

This year I made a few resolutions.  Usually I'm not very good about making or keeping them, but this year I decided I needed to do something for myself.  As a stay at home mom most of my time is devoted to kid stuff.  Taking them to and from school, to and from sports practices and games, to and from ballet, etc.  I find that I don't have a whole lot of time to do things that I really enjoy.  I decided this was the year I would start finding more ways to enjoy my hobby of gardening and learn more about it and maybe even meet a few new people that enjoy it like I do.  My first goal is to take the Master Gardener classes in 2012, it's too late to start the program now, but I've got the date on my calender for when I need to send in my application.  My gardening friend and I also decided to join the Northwest Perennial Alliance.  Today we went to our first lecture and it was great to go and sit in a big room full of other gardeners and listen to an interesting speaker, Sue Goetz
I learned so much from listening to her and seeing her wonderful examples of how to give an existing border some excitement.  Her advice was to take a look at your garden when it's looking its worst and see what is missing.  For me winter is definitely the time my front border is at its worst.  It's so hard in the middle of summer to think about how things will look in 6 months because I'm just too excited to cram more flowers in.  Now I look at it and see that it's lacking in evergreen plants.  She suggested visiting local nurseries year round so you can see what is looking good at different times of the year and avoid being overwhelmed by all the blooming plants in spring.  I think that is probably how I've run into the lack of winter interest I have in my garden.
Sue's advice was to pay attention to shapes of the border, layering of plants, texture and repetition.  All such great advice for someone like me who is easily distracted by the flowers blooming in the nursery.

One of our hopes has been to put up a picket fence.  Once that happens the outer grass area (that will hopefully one day be going away) will be inaccessible from the inner grass area unless you climb through the plants.  Trying to decide where to "split" the border is the first challenge.  This border extends both to the left and the right from what you see in this picture.  I'm thinking the path will go to the left of the Dogwood tree.  My plan would be to curve both sides of the path out towards the front,  giving me some more planting space.

This long straight edge has always bugged me, but I just haven't gotten the urge to change it, now I do.  I plan to add a bit of curve to it, nothing too dramatic, but it needs some help.  Then I will be following more of Sue's advice by using repetition plantings along the edge.  Right now it's just a mix of low growing perennials.

These brown sticks aren't really all that exciting to look at, I need to add some other textures in here, preferably some that are evergreen.  This is where I think the path that will divide this long border will go.

Looking at the front from the driveway down I think I'll curve this bed to the left where it will meet with the driveway and that curve will hopefully mirror the curve I plan to make where I divide the bed.

Her final bit of advice was to:
- rip out or revive plants that aren't thriving or working well where they are, 
- evaluate and plan - and to do this when your garden is looking its worst,
- just say no when you go to the nursery - have your list of what you need and don't get distracted, 
-dig in,
- top dress

If it hadn't been 4pm when I returned home I would've started taking the yard apart right then!

Edited to add I'm linking this post to My Little Garden in Japan's world gardening carnival.  Gardening for the new year. Pin It

35 comments:

  1. Cool to hear great advice. I think it refers to whatever is not working in your life as well, after years and years...rip it out and begin again.

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  2. Hi Catherine, This all sounds very exciting. You have me wanting to get out and start re-arranging! I admire you for taking the time to do these lectures since you enjoy gardening so much and it seems to be something that both your daughters enjoy too. Keep us posted!

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  3. Wow--That IS great advice. But I give you permission to get just a little bit distracted at the nursery and buy something spontaneous for all your hard work.
    That is when the best surpises happen.

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  4. Cool. I hope we can remodel our yard.

    Sweetpea

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  5. It would be best to play around with ideas for a while... and go for flexible concept, something we can remodel quickly with much extra cost and effort... cheers ~bangchik

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  6. Good for you for getting some You-time! Sounds like a very informative lecture, I'm glad you got some great ideas from it. It's so necessary to keep the gardening flame alive when everything is so wet and brown and icky.

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  7. I truly believe a garden should be an ongoing, evolving work in progress. Our garden of 27 years has evolved from nothing (builder's rubble and bare earth) to so many different stages and layers in between. Over the years, plants have been ripped out and new ones added, new beds and structural levels created, as and when needed for both practical and aesthetic determinants. The skeleton has always been the trees we planted in the beginning - sadly, quite a number had to give way over the years, as we added the pool and built on to the house, but I have always believed in permanents (shrubs and evergreen fillers) and these have definitely kept the gardening looking good through each season, though of course we of course do not experience the dramatic swings in seasonal change that you do.

    I think your ideas and plans for your front border and the addition of a picket fence are very exciting and will give you a lot more leeway for planning, extending and bringing some new design into your garden. Have fun!!!

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  8. This is great Catherine, I am so happy you are doing this for yourself. I like the idea of the path through the bed, under an arbor maybe? The Master Gardener classes are a great learning experience and a wonderful way to talk to and help other liked minded gardeners. Keep us posted on the progress. Take care.

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  9. What good ideas you got - and imagine what you'll come home from class with! Go for it!

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  10. Having 4 kids, I appreciate how easy it is to lose time for one's own interests and skills. Learning new skills or developing existing ones, especially when you meet similar-minded people doing so, is so life-enhancing. So, I hope you go on loving the adventure of your burgeoning garden plans, and thanks for sharing tips along the way!

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  11. That sounds like an inspirational and energizing talk, with lots of solid practical advice - in other words a rare thing indeed! I'll be interested to see what you do - the fence sounds really nice.

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  12. Every year is a new year, with new plans and rearrangements. I think that is why I love gardening:)
    Take care!

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  13. Such a timely post for me. I have been walking and looking at my gardens all winter and saying, I really need more evergreens. On my trips to the nurseries, I just haven't had anything jump in the cart. I have noticed that low growing boxwoods seem to be making a come back....I too want to take the Master Gardener's Class...maybe I will in 2012 like you. Looking forward to seeing the choices of plants and the changes in your gardens. I do believe that soft curves for a garden are more forgiving than straight lines.

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  14. Hi Catherine, it sounds like you have some great ideas for your front border. I felt my front garden was lacking in interest and I am slowly putting in some more interesting shrubbery and blooming plants.

    I am in the Master Gardener Program right now in Illinois. I had to wait two years to get in. In this area, it is all about science not much about specific plants so I am really studying to remember all of this information.

    Eileen

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  15. Looks like you have a good plan Catherine. I'm so glad you enjoyed the society;. I too love mine and tomorrow night is the night! Looking at the house from the front I think to the left of the dogwood is the perfect place to put a nice arbor with some beautiful Zephrine Droughn roses draped over it. Can't wait to see how it progresses.

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  16. Yes! Thank you for sharing your inspiration and plans...my front beds are atrocious right now and I was really feeling overwhelmed by them...I'm going to do as you've done...take pictures and then start planning!

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  17. That sounds like a great plan. I've wanted take the Master Gardener course too but.... I like your idea of adding a curve in the front bed. It will add interest.

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  18. It's funny Catherine, we could sit there side by side without knowing it. But I didn't make that lecture. Good luck with your plans!

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  19. I am so glad to hear that you are getting involved in something you love to do.Good for you. The ideas and information will be marvelous and bound to get you excited.It sounds like you have figured out a wonderful plan for your front bed. I am going to like all this wonderful information you can share with us. LOL! I couldn't help but notice how green your grass is still looking. It may be a while before I see mine again. LOL! Hi Sweetpea and Littlest Gardener!

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  20. Hi Catherine,
    I keep seeing facebook pages for blogs but am stumped about how to set one up for mine. I set up a page for a product/brand/organization and selected website from the drop down, but the page that is made doesn't have a Blog tab and won't let me add one - do you mind taking a minute to explain how you set yours up? Thanks so much!!

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  21. I love your ideas for the front border. I think it will look great. Good luck with the Master Gardener class next year. I had thought about it myself, but with two jobs, I decided I just couldn't fit it in :-(

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  22. They never seem to have any garden lectures up here in the middle of nowhere. Good advise though. I plan on revamping my gardens a bit too this spring, but then again when don't I? lol. I guess I'll have to wait a few months to start tearing my yard apart though, so for now I'll write all of my brilliant ideas in a notebook that I hopefully won't lose by April.

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  23. Thank you all for stopping by to comment. I'm so anxious to go out and get started, but it's raining... again :(
    Tina and Garden of Threads - Love the arbor idea!

    VW - I accidentally set mine up as a business page and then went back and deleted it and started over with a website page. I had to go to Networked blogs and have the feed linked to my blog page, then the blog tab showed up if I remember correctly. I had no idea what I was doing when I set it up, probably luck that it showed up. I hope that'll help.

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  24. Uh oh...I'd have real trouble with the "don't get distracted" part ;) I think added some gentle curve to that bed will be beautiful, and bring some depth to that part of the garden. I love curves in the garden. You can play with a length of garden hose to establish a shape you like as a guide. I hope you're not too wet up there, some the rain north of us seems to be wreaking havoc!

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  25. Gardening seminars are always so inspiring!

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  26. I love reading about everyone's hopes and dreams for this year- very inspiring. I can tell you the Master Gardener course is worth taking. I took the one in Portland in '05 (I think!) and loved it! I plan on taking the one here in Redmond as soon as I can.

    So here is to the hopes, dreams, and plans for 2011!

    Tessa

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  27. I'm so proud of you ~ taking the time to do something for yourself ~ a hard thing for Moms, right? You're going to learn so much and your garden will reflect it. I have often thought of doing the same thing but never have looked into it. I can hear the excitement thru the computer tho so maybe it will be contagious. It will sure be fun to watch you revamp your front garden.

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  28. Sounds like great advice, good luck with your project. It's always so nice to see your garden and weather!

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  29. Very interesting post with lots of good ideas. I don't really like the idea of you having to "just say no" when you're at the nursery. But....I luv the idea that your signing up for classes, attending lectures, etc. Our local botantical garden offers many classes and also the local county horticulture extension service and the Audubon Society.

    Remember....if momma's happy, everyone's happy!

    donna

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  30. Warning: Once you start delving into the merits of evergreen shrubs you might get addicted. LOL Great post, Catherine. I think you're catching the vision. I look forward to see how it comes to fruition.

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  31. Thanks for the answer about FB, Catherine! We'll see if I can figure it out.
    RE your newest post - I love the comment that the winter interest isn't so interesting anymore :-) Amen to that. I've been trimming back perennials the past few days - I know it's probably dumb and we'll get super cold weather to kill stuff, but I'm tired of the mess. Enjoy your sun today.

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  32. It all sounds very exciting! I would love to have that much space on my garden.
    Best luck, I think you will do great on your resolutions!

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  33. Catherine, Good for you for making some time for yourself, and I love the fact that Sweetpea has put her seal of approval on this plan with her comment on this post. :-) I also love the fact that just one lecture left you buzzing with energy and inspiration. Thanks for passing some of that along. The advice to look at your garden when it's at its worst is something I need to embrace. I find it all too tempting to ignore/avoid what isn't working and focus on enjoying what is. Thanks for sharing; I look forward to more passalong lectures! -Jean

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  34. Great garden goals! Good for you about the Master Gardener program. I think the idea of staying on track at the nursery sounds the hardest to me. :)

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  35. wow, you've got a great space there. I think adding some curves will make it just beautiful!

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