Tuesday, May 14, 2019

Tell the Truth Tuesday - A Tale of Two Corners

Alison over at Bonnie Lassie started a blog meme about unsightly areas in our gardens. Everyone has them. I believe the thinking about this is to encourage us to fix up what is messed up. This Tuesday I  have a dilly to share with you, my compost area, a tale of two corners of the garden.
As you can see in this westerly corner of the garden is where I have had the compost pile for several years. My previous dog dug a big hole here. I decided that I would move the compost pile here to fill the hole. Our neighbor didn't mind because there were a couple of UGLY sheds here that blocked their view from this site. 
Yes, I had to raise the sides and lock the gate to keep our present dog (Annie) from helping herself to snacks from the compost. It wouldn't be bad except that watermelon and cantaloupe rinds don't digest well for a dog.
As you can see in the above picture to the right there is a lilac shrub that is sort of spindly. It has been in this spot for some years. I planted a River Birch tree way too close to it so after my neighbor took down one of those UGLY buildings they could now see into our garden. Also this opened up more light into this area. 
So I enlisted my Dearly Beloved to move this huge lilac into the area where the compost had been. I am hoping that the lilac will enjoy its new home by filling out and having many more blooms than it has had in the past few years. Mother Nature has certainly helped the process along by having plenty of rain on the subject. Plus I won't feel like someone is watching.
I spread a lot of the compost along the back fence where a more natural garden is forming. Don't look at those posts that I used to keep newspapers down to kill off the grass and weeds. I will eventually do away with those. So this side of the garden is looking a bit more tidy.
Now for the Easterly Corner.I have tried over the years to have a raised bed garden in this corner. The only thing that has flourished in this corner is the Grape Vine on the arch over the entrance. There just isn't enough sun here for veggies. I don't call this corner the Forgotten Corner for nothing as nothing has ever come of this. 
I used the posts that were used as tomato cages to form the Anti-Annie area.
 I  moved the 'keep out Annie' cage to the far end. This will be where we bring our scraps and there will be plenty of room for leaves in the fall. 
The poor neglected boxwoods here got a good trim.  
So this is the end result. A much more tidy Forgotten Corner and a much more useful corner. I am looking forward to the plants all along the fence line growing up. The neighbors that have that pool will never notice because they are rarely outside until it is frying hot to use their pool and that isn't often. They won't notice the difference. I imagine that Annie and I will be the only ones that notice. 
So now as I look across  the garden this corner isn't too much of an eyesore. It will improve with age no doubt and I will have plenty of compost to spread. 
How about you? Do you have an area you are working on this spring?

17 comments:

  1. Lisa - your solution to move the lilac to your old compost pile sounds like an excellent idea. Your last photo of the garden is so lovely. Everything looks like it is doing so well. You are a bit further along than we are. Have some yellow daylilies opening and our Rhododendron is beginning to open up. Thanks friend for sharing your corners (I have a big one behind our shed - not sure what I will be doing with it this spring). Hugs!

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    1. Thanks Debbie. Wow daylilies aren't even setting buds here. Funny how plants react in different areas.

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  2. You are doing what gardeners do - relocating, digging, composting, changing, replanting, looking with a critical eye, to please ....yourself!

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    1. Yes, it is funny how Self changes her mind so often.

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  3. I've seen far worse looking compost areas! I think you've done a great job of tidying things up, Lisa. I hope Annie's not too put out by being blocked out of areas she must have thought were hers.

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    1. Thanks Kris, I am liking this area now too. Now Annie might not like it but she still patrols this area just in case a carrot peeling might escape the fenced area.

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  4. You did an excellent job improving the area. The Lilac may be really happy in soil where a compost pile used to be. All the nutrients that have shifted down into the soil.

    The giant fork and spoon on the grape arch are fun!

    Isn't the Tell-The-Truth-Tuesday a helpful meme? It has motivated me to do a lot.

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    1. I sure hope the lilac takes and enjoys its new home.
      That giant fork and spoon is a left over from gifts that Gary brought back from Vietnam to give to people. I guess not everyone wanted one. ha... I was trying to make this a small raised bed for a few veggies so I used the fork and spoon as a decoration.
      I have been wanting to do this project for some time. Gary was reluctant to give up the raised bed but with the drought last year and failing plants he agreed this year.
      Tell the truth does motivate me. I have another UGLY spot or two that need attention.

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  5. Lisa what a hard work you did! Take care!
    I do the same - digging, weeding, replanting but after - I sit and relax. Your corner looks better and you have a lot of compost.
    Love your arch, very talented work.

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    1. Thanks Nadezda. I will soon be relaxing more than I want to because it will be too hot to comfortably work outside.

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  6. You are a true gardener ~ lovely and delightful photos ~ got to have a messy corner or two ~ LOL

    Happy Day to you,
    A ShutterBug Explores,
    aka (A Creative Harbor)

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    1. Don't worry Carol, I have several other messy corners to tackle.

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  7. You're making great use of that rich compost! Thanks for the reminder: I need to spread some around my garden, too. I love the spot for that Lilac!

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  8. We have a few areas that aren't necessarily "social media ready" too. Your garden is looking great! Nice work on that corner.

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  9. Great to have you visit ~ we had sun yesterday ~ more rain today ~ hopefully some sun tomorrow ~

    Happy Day to you,
    A ShutterBug Explores,
    aka (A Creative Harbor)

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  10. You really grabbed the bull by the horns - good work! I hope your Lilac prospers.

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  11. Another rainy, cloudy day today, Sunday ~ Saturday was lovely! Hope your weather is better ~ ^_^

    Happy Day To You,
    A ShutterBug Explores,
    aka (A Creative Harbor)

    ReplyDelete

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