Apologies to Monty Python.
This blog (this site, even) is called “Veggie Smith,” and really I’m meant to be telling you all about our edible adventures. HOWEVER, the whole idea of planting stuff in our yard caught fire with us this year, so I thought I’d fill you in on some of it! I guess I could have also called this post “planting outside the box,” but that’s just so passé.
I should also mention that one of our plantings is a peach tree (which we hope will qualify as an edible adventure in the years to come), about which you’ll hear more in the next few days. After we’d planted it, Joan filled us in on what we’d done wrong, and I’ll share about that soon, I promise. Here it is, for now:
Peach Tree with Gardens and Chestnut tree in the background.
Did you read the caption? See how I slickly included a reference to our gardens? And see how they’re covered up? Yes, we had another frost warning last night. You may be thinking that Mike likes some of our plants more than others (since some are covered and some are not) but you would be mistaken. Sadly, Mike has yet to sort out a windproof method of coverage for our gardens. I’ll let you know what he works out.
You may have also noticed I referred to a chestnut tree! This is my pride and joy, I kid you not. I bought this tree at a plant sale fund-raiser* Joany and I attended 2 weeks ago. It is 9 years old and lovely. Here is a better view:
Isn't she adorable? Don't you just want to give her a cuddle?
If you are a gardening guru, you no doubt already know what is around these trees. If not: it is cedar mulch which is intended to cut down on weeds and to help retain moisture around the roots. This site gives you even more fabulous reasons it is the great miracle worker of the mulch world.
At the aforementioned plant sale I also procured 4 Hostas which are lovely plants that grow well in shade. We’ve planted 3 of them around our Maple Tree:
2 of 3 Hostas under our Maple Tree
And the 4th hosta has been given a home in “Bubbie’s Garden.”
Bubbie's Garden
Bubbie/Bubby (in case you’re wondering) is the Yiddish term for Grandmother. This little garden belongs to Mike’s mother (to help satiate her gardening desires now that his parents have moved into a condo). Mike made these little stones.
Bubbie's Stones
Isn’t he creative?! Oh, okay, I’ll admit that he used this kit. It’s really cool, though.
That plant sale was both entertaining and fruitful (even though I was terrified of it beforehand, for some reason: I had an image of throngs of plant crazed individuals trampling one another in their quest for the perfect accent to their already impeccable gardens…in reality it was a lovely, calm, and friendly affair with lots of delightful plants). In addition to the Hostas (and tree and lots of other stuff) I also nabbed a rose bush, which I was extremely excited about. I planted it in the wee front garden, which I had earlier relieved of its ivy blight (yes, I said BLIGHT - that stuff rips siding right.off.your.house).
After I had planted the tiny rose bush (and some Hens and Chicks beside it) I decided it looked lonely, so I went to the Superstore (please don’t hate me, nursery owner friends…) and installed a friend for it.
Superstore rose on the left, Plant Sale casualty on the right.
As you can see, the plant sale dude is not faring so well. Joan tells me that roses are basically weeds, though, and have been known to survive mowing (cough *Dad* cough) and other crimes against rosedom.
You may also note that the backdrop for said roses is not entirely gorgeous. This is the front of our house that has been ravaged by that dang IVY, and also by our neglect. We’re also trying to remedy this situation with the installation of some Cedar trees and two “Mint Julep” Juniper bushes. I was going to post a photo, but I think I’ve already gone a bit overboard with pictures today, and the photo was not exactly awe-inspiring featuring, as it does, more of the peeling paint of our foundation wall. Which will be painted this summer. Promise.
In all seriousness, though, there is something splendid about attaching ourselves to this piece of the earth. I take great comfort in knowing that if we were to suddenly vanish, the trees just behind our property would take over our lawn within about 10-15 years. And they would be accompanied (I hope) by a robust peach tree, and a lovely chestnut tree.
My next post will return to the regularly scheduled program of droning on about Square Foot Gardening ad nauseam.
*for the Kentville Curling Club: you just had to know, didn’t you?
Hehe… I bet there will be some upset rose growers out there…. roses give me itchy eyes and make me sneeze… and I don’t know a thing about the fancy newfangled varieties out there… but the old pink and yellow ones that are planted around the old farm houses are basically weeds :o) Just mow them off and they will grow up twice as big and pretty.
I am about to inherit a huge garden with a house that we have just purchased. Not too many veggies - just some herbs and berries, but lots and lots of plants, shrubs and flowers. Gobs and gobs of ‘em! And grass. I’ll have grass! So, now you’ll be my gardening guru. I’m so excited! (Mostly about my garden, but your blog is awesome too.)
Oh cool, I’m glad you talked about your other garden stuff! I like Bubbie’s Garden - should look wonderful once it fills out.
I don’t like roses either, Joan — too much work, prone to many pests, fussy about pruning, etc. — I’ll get my roses from the florist… or from my mom’s back yard, as she has a bazillion of ‘em, all with fancy names, all gorgeous.
Oh yeah - and don’t ever BUY a hosta plant again. Mooch them from fellow gardeners! They are super easy to divide.
Yeah, but Jools it was a fund-raiser. :o) And Joany is not just down on roses…she’s allergic to them!