It is one of those chores that one puts off as long as possible. It isn't that it is a difficult task but slinging pea gravel over paths certainly looses any glamour it might have had in 90 degree weathers.
Not only that I chose to complicate the matter somewhat with a bit of a change of scenery.
All of that strappy foliage equals daylilies that doesn't get enough sun to bloom.
Plus under that pile of mulch is a round stepping stone, I think. It has been a long time not seeing the light of day.
Yes, stepping stone found. Since I had a pile of brick and pieces too I decided to try to jazz up the single step a little. I do like my sun pattern or as a friend of mine calls it a star. Either way it looks better than a pile of mulch.
With the strappy foliage moved away and some small hostas planted on both sides of the step it is a more inviting look.
On the east end of the patio these stepping stones were alright in the pea gravel but there again the daylilies didn't bloom this year. So out they came.
Brick edging went as far as the bricks lasted. I wanted hosta for here too. I went to the local nursery to see if they had an interesting hosta that I liked and I didn't already have. Sure enough they had 'Blue Ivory'. It was a nice fat plant so I chopped it in two. One for each side. I took out strappy plants and other plants that had self seeded in the area.
So nice and neat. The hosta is a color echo of the hydrangea in the background. Along this path are also some white asiatic lilies which are finished blooming. I think I will like this better.
At the opposite end of the patio the path that goes off to the West and then splits got it's fair share of pea gravel, and I have a confession to make.
While shopping for the hosta I saw this planter. Of course it was on sale so...I couldn't resist. I also picked up this Pennisetum 'Fireworks' to go into the planter. How could I not???
I will leave you with this view of the Western most path in the garden. Not a view I often show. You can see in the right foreground the tiny variegated Oak tree I bought lately. I had to put it into a pot so it can grow tall enough that the rabbits won't eat it before planting in the garden.
Have any of you been braving the heat to do any projects. ?? Do share.
Ha! We are both crazy to be working in this weather. I was going to go out early but did not make it until 7:30 am. Weeded, moved some really big Iris and then planted Iris cristata all along the dry stream on one side. Then I sat under pine trees and weeded moss. I was wearing long sleeves, jeans and a hat with mosquito veiling. Mark pruned a bunch of trees that had grown so much from the rain they were blocking paths. I had intended to stay inside today. 87 here but feels like 96 or so they say!
ReplyDeleteBugs must be bad up your way. We haven't had enough rain to make mosquitoes a problem. Actually not many bugs at all.
DeleteI know I am nuts to be out there but I try to stay in the shade.
We have plans to weed (major bind weed and sooo much rain). It's going to be in the 90's and pretty humid. To add to the fun it we weed during nap time after lunch. Swim time is scheduled promptly after gardening time.
ReplyDeleteDo be careful out in that kind of heat. It is nice that you have a pool to refresh yourself in after a big weed pulling. I wish I had some of your rain.
DeleteIt's all looking wonderful--especially that sun stepping stone. Very nice! I spent the morning volunteering at a pollinator garden. By the time noon rolled around I was a little delirious (well, maybe that's an overstatement, but...). I don't mind the heat, but working in it is another matter. When I got home, I tried to work on my computer in the AC house, but I kept getting distracted with things I wanted to do outside. LOL. Gardeners can't stop putzing. :) And to answer your question to Linda, the mosquitoes are bad after all our rain (at least they're biting me to pieces).
ReplyDeleteThanks Beth, it can be dangerous out in this heat and humidity. Morning is the best time to be out. You have to go when the garden muse calls. Bah humbug to the mosquitoes.
DeleteGreat job - it all looks so nice. I love the sun pattern with the bricks.
ReplyDeleteThanks Phillip.
ReplyDeleteI love the sun pattern with the bricks--you are so creative! I've been putzing in the garden, too, but not really changing things up--I start out weeding or cutting back something, then get distracted by something else. Consequently, no job ever gets finished:) Mostly, though, I have been watering, watering, and more watering.
ReplyDeleteLists. I make lists. It feels so good to mark off what I accomplish. Then of course I am always adding things just to mark off because of getting side tracked. tee hee....
DeleteReally beautiful..... I would happily trade a few tasks I have been putting off in exchange for garden graveling and bricking...
ReplyDeleteThanks Jess. Any time you get a wild hair to sling gravel or mulch, which will be the next task...come on down.
DeleteLisa, it all looks great. I like your star/sun very, very much. I hate working with pea gravel, yet that is what I also have. It slides down my hill and drives me bonkers in spring when we get rain. I forgive it come summer. Did you mean to write Pennisetum instead of Penstemon on the Fireworks? It's one of my favorite grasses, bar none. Mine always loses the pink strip when summer is hottest, but it comes back in fall.~~Dee
ReplyDeleteThanks Dee. The pea gravel isn't much trouble here on my flat lot. The worst thing here is that it squished out the sides without a barrier, even with a barrier I drag the hose through it and it oozes out the ends. But I haven't seen a different type of gravel that I would like any better. I like this natural look. You are right it should say Pennisetum. Gotta keep an eye on those typing fingers. ;) Thanks for telling me. There might be some poor soul out there thinking I knew what I was talking about and wonder where I found that grass. :)
DeleteYou definitely "do" know what you're talking about. I make those kind of typos all the time. I do like the natural look too. I wish we'd had dg available, and I'd had the money back in the day. Those stay better than river rock. Ah well, it's always something.
DeleteYour garden(s) is/are beautiful. I really enjoy seeing it.
ReplyDeleteI love your garden design and all the beautiful ~ florals and fauna ~ ^_^
ReplyDeleteThank you Carol.
DeleteYour stepping stone sunburst is wonderful. Even though spreading pea gravel isn't the most fun job, it's very satisfying at the end when everything looks so tidy and fresh. Love the planter and would have given in to that temptation as well. You know, when they put beautiful things like that on sale it's our duty to give them good homes.
ReplyDeleteThanks Peter. I always endeavor to do my duty.
DeleteThere is nothing like a clean edge and some neat mulch to make the garden look its best. Good job. I know how hard you worked on that but the garden does look glorious. I do like your stepping stone.
ReplyDeleteThanks Layanee.
DeleteYour putzing sounds pretty ambitious. Our summer has been filled with big projects. I was very interested in your stepping stones. My husband managed to move 7000 (!) pound of 3/8" stones to create our 'dry stream bed' or path depending on our feelings that day. Our stones are part of our flood management project which then required new plantings on either side of the stone, daylilies and carex, both promised to be water tolerant. Yo
ReplyDeleteOh my gosh Pat, 7000# of stone, WOW. Not sure how much Gary moved. I took our 3/4ton truck to the place twice. They don't pile it too heavy. I didn't keep the receipt. Now you make me wonder how much we moved. ha... I bet not as much as your Hubby. I love the result though. I know you do too. Our east path looks like a stream when there is a lot of rain. The water collects there. Haven't had that much rain yet this spring. I am actually beginning to worry. Oh well, can't do anything about it.
ReplyDeleteThanks again for your sweet comments on my angels and my fur person ~ Happy Weekend to you ~ xxx
ReplyDelete