We put in what I call my ‘secret garden’ last summer, finishing in September. After I dug all the flower beds, of course I wanted them to look ‘finished’. So – I did what I definitely know you should NOT do….I planted waaaaay too close, and waaaay too much, and planted some things that I wasn’t even sure what they were!
After our great little mini-vaction, I came home to a real mess. And, darn it, I couldn’t even blame someone else for it. I knew before we left, that I had tall plants in front of short plants, plants on top of plants, etc., and that I’d have to do something about it. Especially in this corner I’m showing you below. But I was waiting to see what color these hollyhocks were going to be – am sure I did not plant them here.
Well, now I know they are white – they bloomed while I was gone. And this picture above shows how I found them when I got home. I left timers on my hoses when we left, and was watering an hour every day as it was to be in the high 80s, low 90s. (This is more water than the yard and gardens get when I am home). Water will do wonders. In hindsight – I should have turned the damned water off and just let things wilt and stunt while I was gone!
These hollyhocks came right up on top of my 5′ tall butterfly bush and killed it. Well, except for at the trunkline where it is sprouting well, about six inches high. I cut off the top and trunk and I think it’ll come back. The hollyhock is also ‘hiding’ two red hot pockers, a white coneflower, a pink coneflower, a liatris, some pansies, and half of the honeysuckle! I decided it was time to ‘relocate’ a few things. (And I don’t CARE what time of year you are SUPPOSED to transplant!)
And now it looks like this:
Much better.
Then it was time to do something with part of the middle bed. Daylilies and liatris were hidden by tall bluish things that are through blooming, which are both behind the tall yellowish things which are through blooming. And beside them, this large pinkish thing I thought was lamb’s ear, but am not sure? Well, as you can see below, this was really a big mess.
But after some more of my ‘relocating’, it now looks like this:
These grapes are growing great – taking over the whole fence. I’ll be making jam like crazy one of these days. If you can see it in this picture below, there was lavender behind the angel trumpets, and a lilac start behind that, and the spider wort was just messy looking.
I cleaned it up and now it looks like this:
And then there was the squash. I was so envious of bloggers talking about their square foot gardening, and decided to put a few things in this way. I knew at the time, that you could NOT grow squash in a ‘square foot’ – but, oh, look – I had to try:
T screwed some boards on the ends of my raised bed, drilled some holes in them for my twine, and now the squash can get OFF my green peppers!
My four way, grafted pear tree is bearing fruit for us – in just one year – but the fruit got a little heavy for these baby branches – here’s the ‘before’ picture, and one ‘after’ T fixed it up for me.
There was some good news, though. I’ve waited and waited for my sweet peas and they are blooming like crazy. It makes me smile just to look at these vibrant colors, together.
Now I’m doing absolutely NOTHING for two days – I’m tired, I’m hot, and I hurt all over.
Your garden is gorgeous! Come do mine. Please?
Hollyhocks grow in my yard and my mom’s like weeds…all from one planted by a bird years ago. Ours are mostly pink and burgundy, though I think she has a peach one. They don’t seem to get as tall as yours did and we have problems with, I think it’s “rust.” The stalks get brown and the leaves get all lacy looking from being chewed by something, I guess. Nothing we’ve sprayed has stopped it.
You deserve to rest, what a great job!!!
Mama! You know what happened to your arm and shoulder the last time you over did it. Be careful! But the garden is looking beautiful.
What you did looks fantastic Jackie! Now, since I work in a medical office (nobody has to know it’s a dental office 😉 ) I’m giving you a bonafide medical note saying you are to be excused from any and all labor, including cooking and dishwashing for the next week. 😉 Feel better!!
Stacy, I’d love to help with your garden! I like digging anywhere.
My hollyhocks get the ‘rust’ stuff, too. Usually the leaves near the bottom. I just tear them off and toss them – seems to slow it down a little.
The hollyhocks in my front yard are very much smaller than these in the secret garden. It’s the amount of sun and amount of water, with differences in soil – that makes the difference. If you want me to save you some seeds from black, white, or red ones – let me know and I’ll mail you some.
Pauline, thank you, my dear.
Brookie, I was really aware of what I was doing – and mostly using my left side for the hard parts. *naggy little nurse* OOPs, did I say that outloud?
Snigsspot, now that is what I call a good friend! Thank you, I’ll take it!
I have such garden envy. And green thumb envy. Seriously happy for you but seriously green with envy. Green like your garden, and your thumb, both of which I envy. Are we clear how I feel?
BEAUTIFUL what you and nature have worked out together!
Oh, Sweetpea, Oh won’t you dance with me?
Won’t you, won’t you, won’t you be my girrr-ir-irl?
Hey, when you coming to Friday Harbor?
Holy Moly, that’s a fantastic garden! I can’t wait till I have some space to work with (and some experience to work with as well). It’s beautiful!
Alison – thanks. And thanks for the smile, too. I love it when I sit here all by myself, and chuckle outloud over something you’ve written.
Quilly-Sister – Caryl and I were discussing it today and were going to find a date…but she’s napping now and I have to leave the hill in about an hour. For sure – tomorrow – we will figure it out and call you!
Kim – thank you. You’ve got a great start. I used to only have pots to ‘garden’ in. And as you can tell by the ‘before’ photos, my experience isn’t helping me much! It’s always an ongoing and trial and error thing – but if ya love diggin’ in the dirt – ya just keep diggin’ in the dirt!
I am inspired to grow sweet peas again next year. Why is that we want instant gardens and do the crazy thing of putting plants too close together. been there, done that . Rest dear, you deserve it.
Jackie, How about a photo of where you relocated all that stuff to? Your garden looks fabulous. I used to be an avid gardener… but now I forget to water!
Love your garden! It looks great, and you’ve done loads of work. Enjoy your rest
IEG – we’re all so impatient, aren’t we? 🙂
Holly – I would NEVER forget to water! It’s my sign. And I love to play in the water, am hand watering all the time, T makes fun of me – with my hose and my phone.
Sal – thanks. But YOU have red tomatoes – I can’t wait. I want to walk out in the garden and pop those hot little things in my mouth.
I’ve figured out why you like my Mum so much. You’re twin souls you two – she can make flowers grow in the desert too…
Oh, I am so jealous. I’ll have to try growing sweet peas next year, the colors are so bright and cheerful. Great job, pat yourself on the back for me!
Jenn – that might be ONE of the reasons. 🙂
Janet – I just threw these seeds into this concrete square that I use for a planter. You should be able to grow them easily, as you are outside with Spot every day and could give them a drink.
I didn’t think anything could kill a butterfly bush. I had to assure my husband today that the 10′ tall butterfly bush near our kitchen was only 3 years old.
And hollyhocks! Hah. I planted numerous colors–variety of pastels and even some black ones I bought from Monticello. What did I get? White. White. White.
What is that about?
Robin (Bumblebee)
Hi, Jackie.
I so much enjoyed looking at all these photos this evening. I haven’t been able to visit my mom in her country garden for a few weeks so your lovely garden was a fine substitute.
Sweet peas are my favourite flower. Yours are exceptional.
I would say you must have ten green fingers and ten green toes to have a garden this prolific. It seems like all the plants are competing with each other to be the tallest and most lush.
Thank you for regularly visiting my little balcony. The garden is coming along slowly. We’ve had extreme weather this season. When its been hot, it’s been very hot. At other times, it’s been dull and rainy.
Robin – if you just planted your hollyhocks last year, and have white ones this year – NEXT year you’ll have some others. There should be babies growing out there already – they will bloom next year. Hollyhocks are really bi-annuals, it just seems like they are there every year, but it’s new ones.
Elaine – I think it’s just that I drench everything. We are more than 10 degrees above normal this year, too. So hot every day. Don’t want to complain too much tho – the snow won’t be far away!
I do that too…plant things all shoulder to shoulder so they look pretty right away and then suffer for it the next season. At least I did before I left my house.
Kat, some of us just never learn, do we?
Our sweet peas are still exploding down here in Olympia. My mother picks them every couple of days, and they just keep coming back. There’s no stopping them!
Ms. Tart – don’t you just love them?! They are so bright and cheery looking. I wish I could have them year round!