How About Some Hyacinth

Well, the new bed is completed. This weekend we will be adding some compost and manure to richen up the soil a little bit and then we start adding plants. We also decided to add an additional seven feet or so to the left hand side of the bed so it’s even bigger than the pictures posted here on the blog. I really can’t wait to get started planting, the first new plants will go in this weekend. We’re going to put a Japanese Maple on each end of the bed and just outside of the bed in the center back will go the Pink Dogwood. I want to put at least three of the smaller sized Buddleia in it, or two dwarf and one standard and lots of different types of Daylilies. We will add more plants of course, but right now those are the things that come immediately to mind.

We are starting to get a little color in the yard as the bulbs start to sprout. Over the next couple of weeks I should be posting several different types of Daffodils. I have no idea how many varieties we planted last year. All the stakes got blown away. LOL Meanwhile, here are three of the four Hyacinths that are blooming right now 'Jan Bos', 'White Pearl' and 'Atlantic' The fourth is dragging a little behind so I’ll post a picture of it when it blooms.

'Jan Bos'

'White Pearl'

'Atlantic'

Isn't it amazing how the 'Atlantic' changes from a purple to a beautiful blue when the light changes? I love the blue.

The New Patio Bed

Jamie and I started on one of the new beds last Saturday. I’m getting very excited about watching everything come together. I would say we are about half way thru with what we are calling the “Patio Bed”. I’m still having a hard time adjusting to the barren back yard. I get myself past it by realizing we have a blank canvass. Lately ideas have been pouring into my mind so by the end of summer we should be noticing some major differences in the garden. Right now I’m flip flopping on whether or not to put up a privacy fence. We would have a much better back drop for the garden but, our neighbors on the right hand side put one up a couple of years ago and we never see each other. I really, really like the elderly couple that lives on the left side, so they are my only hesitation in putting up the fence. I enjoy meeting at the fence post to talk.

My Oh So Hard Working Other Half

This bed would already be done were it not for the tremendous amount of tree roots we have to dig up. There were three very large forty year old trees back here and they had many years to stretch out their feet. In the background you can see I’ve pushed the chain link fence back up but it still hasn’t been repaired. I think I can fix it myself, it seems pretty simple.

Looking at Jamie standing there you can get a better idea of the size of the Patio Bed. As big as it is you can tell from the picture it still only covers about seventy percent of the original area. We may extend it just a couple of feet more on the left hand side or Maybe not. I have some ideas for other beds and I may need that area for something else. I climbed on the roof to take the picture.

Jamie Sure is Phoe-toe-genical

Well, you should have a general idea of which direction we are heading with this bed. We have two Japanese Red Maples to plant on the very ends of each side and a Stellar Pink Dogwood to go in the center towards the back. All three will grow to fifteen or twenty foot trees and will eventually provide some shade for the bed but still allow it to get plenty of sun. I’m concerned about the pink dogwood being in full sun, but if we water it well enough it should do just fine. The ones in the front yard were thriving just fine in full sun. The leaves did get a little crispy during August sometimes; it didn’t matter though because Fall is close enough at that point they are only a temporary eye sore.

This little Redbud is the first step towards replanting the garden. We bought two of them to replace the ones broken off in the storm. I got such a sense of satisfaction from planting it in it’s new home. I hope it does well for us.

Eastern Redbud

Hello From Us to You...

Hello everyone! I’m sorry I haven’t been able to post but, as I’m certain you all know I have been extremely busy getting things fixed. Which led to something else, and something else and something else. That, has been a nightmare all on its own. I’ll be so glad when I get thru with this contractor, I wish I had never hired him but, I’m not going to get started on that.

I do have some good news! Jamie and I got seven, that’s right, seven new trees for the garden! Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay! A very, very, very big thank you and a huge hug go out to Ms. Martha P. from Dave’s Garden, a total stranger that has a heart the size of Texas. With out her, five of them would have never happened. They’re nice trees too, well established. It was absolute HEAVEN to be in a garden center shopping for new trees. I’m so excited! Can I say that again? I’m SO, SO, SO excited! In addition, yesterday we received an EXTREMELY generous gift certificate to Plant Delights Nursery from some wonderful folks in Louisiana we met online thru Gardener's Gumbo. How great is that?! I’ll be posting pictures of the trees soon and the new bed we started. We have a ways to go on it, but anything is progress. Jamie and I make an unbeatable team and we will whip it into shape before you can say Johnjacobjingleheimer… well, what ever his name was.

The Morning Frost

This morning I awoke to a sparkling silver blanket of frost. It cleverly disguised the mucky brown mess created by the bobcat that lies beneath. It got down to 25 degrees in Prattville last night. I thought at this point we might be done with all the really cold weather.

Yesterday I walked around our garden and began the rebuilding in my minds eye. I’m going to use this opportunity to correct past mistakes. As the garden centers start to load up more and more ideas will pop into my head. Last year I had a sense of urgency to get things done, for some reason this year I’m more relaxed about it.

Today the Electrician comes to re-wire the house and the aluminum siding guy is supposed to be here to do his work too. Hopefully all will go smoothly and there will be no discrepancies on what was included in the original estimates. I’m looking forward to a day filled with peace.

Liriope

Daffodil

Daylily

Daffodil and Ice

Rose Leaf

Frost on the Window

Update on the Storm

Hello everyone, I wanted to take a moment to give you guys an update. There have been so many words of encouragement from so many people. Phillip thanks again for your post on Dirt Therapy, your loyal readers have left wonderful, wonderful notes for us and with each one we’ve felt a little better. Things have really started to fall back into place. One of my biggest concerns was the original estimate of damage done by the insurance company. I wondered how in the world we were going to get everything done with the small amount of money that was given to us. This past Tuesday a second adjuster came by and took another look. Evidently she thought our first estimate was grossly under projected and saw fit to give us a huge supplement payment. We now have the money to fix all the damage that was done. Plus! We had heat yesterday for the fist time in nine days! It was wonderful! Sadly they did "Total" my convertible, the repairs were twice as much as the value of my little emerald baby so she will have to be retired at the tender age of thirteen years. It is going to be very hard to say goodbye to something I've pampered for so long just because of extensive cosmetic damages. Chrysler parts are outrageous and she took a severe beating from the flying debris. If I had adequate storage I would buy her back from the insurance company as salvage. Unfortunately, any convertible parked for a long period of time will start to dry rot almost instantly and before you know it all that is left is a crunchy mildewed mess.

Now to the garden, the most remarkable thing has happened. News of our troubles was posted on the Dave’s Garden Website by a gardening friend and there have been numerous offers of help from Master Gardeners meeting in Tupelo in April. All wanting to contribute to the rebuilding of our garden I’m terribly afraid I won’t be able to make it there because I’ve missed so much work, but just the offers of assistance were encouraging all on there on. In addition the most wonderful kind hearted lady by the name Martha even went so far as to mail us a gift card to the local garden supply chain. How can you possibly get more compassionate, kindhearted and caring than that? It literally brought me to tears. Martha if you are reading this I asked the angels for a special blessing for you and I’m certain I heard them say Amen. You are one in a million and a child of light in the truest sense. I’m starting to see this more as a new opportunity than a loss and Jamie and I owe it all to you guys and your support. Thank you with all our sincerity. Today, I even went and bought two new Eastern Redbuds to replace the ones broken by the storm. See, it’s already begun. The sad part is the house still isn’t even completely repaired yet. LOL Hey, a gardener has to keep his priorities strait you know. *wink*

Photos from the Storm and Garden

Here are photos from the storm and current pictures of the garden. I won’t comment much, I think the photos will speak for themselves. Despite my depression and deep sadness concerning the garden I am glad that our home is still standing and we are safe, our loss is so small compared to others. Phillip, thank you so much for the kind words you posted in your blog.

Our Home



The Garden



The House Across the Street



The Garden as it Looks Now






All That is Left of Our Hard Work

The Only Bloom in Our Garden and Our Littel Ray of Hope

I know we will persevere, I have no doubt about that and I know things will get better. It just seems like such a giant step backwards and we worked so hard last year you just couldn’t imagine. I do know this, everything happens for a reason, so I guess there is reason we must start over.