Fall Equinox Heralding a New Start to the Garden

This spring my DB and I removed 6 shrubs that we knew were invasive. We didn't know this when they were planted some 20+ years ago. The plants were acceptable at the time. We replanted with shrubs that are now considered either native or at least not invasive. I have become a lot more aware of native plants especially as they have become more available.

After we did all this work I was bragging to a friend that works for the Nature Conservancy telling her how hard we worked and offered a garden tour to show how well we did. Much to my embarrassment she sighted several more plants that are considered invasive.

We knew we had our work cut out for us. Luckily when we attended the first Knox County Native Plant Days we won a door prize that was 'a day of work of removing invasive plants'. It couldn't have been more timely. We called and set up a date for the work to be done.

Last evening we had a team of garden workers descend on our garden to once and for all remove the of the invasive shrubs from our garden. The group below tackled some winter creeper growing in a ring around my Knot Garden. This Euonymus wasn't supposed to spread. After some time it started reverting to it's original state which is invasive. This group made short work of the tangled mess. 

As some were working there across the path another started cutting back this huge European Cranberry.

After it was cut back it took three men with two Pullerbears and a shovel to get the base out.

What is a Pullerbear? It is a gizmo that can grab a good sized trunk and it has a long handle to use as a fulcrum. 

They got this brute pulled out.

There were two European Privets that had to go. The Pullerbear was again in use.

Another 4 Euonymus and a Bittersweet were pulled and all was crammed into the back of the truck to be taken away.

I can't thank this team of hard working men and women enough. They came here after their day jobs, on a hot humid evening, to work until all was removed. 

Thank you again.

Foliage Follow Up - September 2017

Pam at Digging always has a Foliage Follow up after Garden Bloggers Bloom Day. I have what I think is a very interesting foliage to share with you. It is a  small area right by my front porch that is covered with 'Silver Falls' Dichondra.

I have to agree with you that this isn't such an uncommon plant but for it to be here again this year it is amazing to me. Dichondra isn't supposed to be hardy in my zone 6b. I had an extra Dichondra after planting my pots last year so I stuck it in the ground right here by the front porch. It took off. and covered this area.

This late spring I saw a tiny tendril poke up out of the ground and it took off. I guess with all the concrete around it and our mild winter it enough had life to take off again this year. I like the way it works as a ground cover. It is a tough plant because this area doesn't get much extra water. Just when I have to water the plants in the pot above it. Since this is out front I don't get out there often. Happiness is an unexpected return of a plant.

Garden Bloggers Bloom Day - September 2017

This month you can clearly see who is not paying any attention to the lack of rain in the garden. The major thugs are battling out for territory along the gravel path in this corner of the garden. The bees and bugs are seemingly cheering on the Golden rod 'Fireworks' with their buzzing and swirling around each golden bloom.

While the white anemone 

‘Honorine Jobert' leans over the path to entice the Turtlehead 'TinyTortuga' into the fray. 

There are a few annuals blooming such as the stalwart Salvias 'Blue Spires' and 'Wendys Wish'.

With this drought the grapes are intensely fragrant and flavorful. I hope to get some grape jelly made before they all fall to the ground. 

The other bit of 'Fireworks' in the garden is Pennisetum xadvena. I have already cut some of the blooms to dry for an arrangement. It being in a container that I can keep watered it has been throwing out more 'Fireworks'. 

At this time not a whole lot else is blooming. Sedums and Toad Lilies seem to be awaiting a good rain to actually open their buds.

What is blooming in your garden this Garden Bloggers Bloom Day?  Carol hosts every month on the 15th. Please join us at May Dreams Garden and tell about what is blooming in your garden at this time.

Other blooms in the garden:

Perennials

Tall garden phlox 'Robert Porre'

Coneflower

Rudbekia

Geranium 'Rozanne'

Persicaria 'Lance corporal' & 'Red Dragon'

Honeysuckle 'Scentsations'

Hardy Begonia

Annuals

Fuchsia 'Gartenmeister'

Cleome

Marigolds

Basil

Gomphrena 'Buddy Purple'

Apple Tree Bed Conversion

The flower bed that I refer to as the Apple Tree Bed no longer exists as it did several years ago with our old apple tree right in the middle of it. This first picture was taken June of 2010. The apple tree was 30+ years old and developed a disease that killed it. So what did this gardener do? I carried on despite losing one of my dear old friends.

 It looks a whole lot different than it did in 2010. I have added the Vanilla Strawberry Hydrangea and some other shrubs and trees that you can't see from this vantage point.  

What I am particularly pleased with is the little seating area that we, we being my DB and I, made with the left over concrete from the sidewalk remodel out front. For the last few years  I have had this old bench sitting here. Since I do use it, especially in the morning, I thought to get a new set of furniture to sit in this little space.

I have always wanted one of those white antique wrought iron sets of lawn furniture. While this is not antique it gives that feel to the setting.

Right now everything in the garden looks so rusty since it is the first of September and August was so terribly dry. We only had .7" of rain in the gauge. Where Weather Underground officially measures for our area WU said that August had no rain but luckily we had a touch. Below you can see a better view of the little trio.

I am trying to train myself to call this area my Sitting Garden because I do seem to do a lot of sitting here. I now have a little table to set my book, camera, paints etc on. Surprisingly these little chairs are a lot more comfortable than they look. 

I am looking forward to the day when the garden is again well watered and look all green and plump as in the first photo. Come on fall rains.