Halfway to a new garden!

The garden project is coming along!<br/><br/>We managed to rototill the area we want to plant, which is most of the front of our house and along the side.<br/><br/>It was an eventful day!  As it turns out there were a lot of things already <em>planted</em> in our garden-to-be.  Such as:  gigantic rocks, wasp nests, and the invisible fence line!  As you can imagine we were <em>delighted</em> at our findings, but rather than celebrate, we still had to ready the area for our new shrubs and flowers.<br/><br/>With my mothers help, I had arranged all the plants where we wanted them to go, or maybe more aptly, where they needed to go.  Big A measured each plant from the house and made a map of the garden-to-be.  I also took pictures of the area with the plants laid out so that we could use the photos as reference.<br/><br/><a href="http://www.fyimodularhomes.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/DSC_0025.jpg"><img alt="" class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-333" height="199" src="http://www.fyimodularhomes.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/DSC_0025-300x199.jpg" title="DSC_0025" width="300" /></a><br/><br/>He then used spray paint to outline the edge of the garden.  I have to admit, we were not precise with the outline of the garden.  Our criteria was that it had to be about 5' out from the foundation, because some of the shrubs have a 10' spread when they are full grown.  Also, the garden itself had to encompass some of the huge boulders we have near the house so that Big A didn't have to move them!  Fair point!<br/><br/><a href="http://www.fyimodularhomes.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/marking.jpg"><img alt="" class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-334" height="163" src="http://www.fyimodularhomes.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/marking-300x163.jpg" title="marking" width="300" /></a>Then Big A got to work with the rototiller.<br/><br/><a href="http://www.fyimodularhomes.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Big-As-job.jpg"><img alt="" class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-335" height="270" src="http://www.fyimodularhomes.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Big-As-job-300x270.jpg" title="Big A's job" width="300" /></a>The ground was very dry and had a lot of clay and rocks - big rocks.   I wanted to run the rototiller myself, however, when I saw how much it was pulling, even for Big A, I thought I'd better not push my luck.  (At that point we'd already been stung by wasps and I didn't want to end up in the ER with a missing limb...)  So while he rototilled, I raked, cleared out the sod and rocks, and maybe most importantly, dealt with our other two helpers - the dog and the 4 year old.  Helpers can be hard to manage!  But I have my ways:<br/><br/><a href="http://www.fyimodularhomes.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Helper.jpg"><img alt="" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-336" height="260" src="http://www.fyimodularhomes.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Helper-300x260.jpg" title="Helper" width="300" /></a><a href="http://www.fyimodularhomes.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Taking-a-break.jpg"><img alt="" class="size-medium wp-image-337 alignleft" height="300" src="http://www.fyimodularhomes.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Taking-a-break-278x300.jpg" title="Taking a break" width="278" /></a><br/><br/> <br/><br/> <br/><br/> <br/><br/> <br/><br/> <br/><br/> <br/><br/> <br/><br/> <br/><br/> <br/><br/> <br/><br/> <br/><br/> <br/><br/> <br/><br/>We finished with the area rototilled and raked ready for planting.  This part of the process took us about 7 hours total.  We were very happy when it was finished, cuz it was admittedly a long and tiring day, compounded by finding wasp nests, and dealing with 90 degree heat. By 5 p.m. we called it quits and headed to my in-laws pool!<br/><br/>Which. Was. Heaven. :-)

Halfway to a new garden!

The garden project is coming along! We managed to rototill the area we want to plant, which is most of the front of our house and along the ...

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Flower Power!

Planting around the exposed foundation of our new modular home is on my big "to do" list, so I'm very excited to have to opportunity to get started.  My birthday present from my parents was a whole bunch of plants from the local garden center, which with my Mom's guidence I got to pick out!  What an awesome birthday present!<br/><br/>The house has two areas in the front that I'm really excited to adorn with some plants. Let's face it, that exposed foundation looks like H. E. double toothpicks.<br/><br/>[caption id="attachment_320" align="aligncenter" width="300"]<a href="http://www.fyimodularhomes.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/DSC_0056.jpg"><img alt="" class="size-medium wp-image-320" height="199" src="http://www.fyimodularhomes.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/DSC_0056-300x199.jpg" title="DSC_0056" width="300" /></a> The front to the right of the porch[/caption]<br/><br/>[caption id="attachment_321" align="aligncenter" width="300"]<a href="http://www.fyimodularhomes.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/DSC_0050.jpg"><img alt="" class="size-medium wp-image-321" height="199" src="http://www.fyimodularhomes.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/DSC_0050-300x199.jpg" title="DSC_0050" width="300" /></a> The side of the house[/caption]<br/><br/>I didn't really want to plant any high maintenance gardens, because although I adore gardens, gardening is not exactly one of my strong points.  Ideally I wanted some pretty substantial shrubs and plantings, perhaps that will fill in and spread on their own, with little effort on my part.<br/><br/>So yesterday, my mother and I headed to <a href="http://www.dickmanfarms.com">Dickman Farms</a>, where we spent a couple of hours in flower and plant heaven!  It was not only a bright sunny day, but only about 70 degress - beautiful!<br/><br/>[caption id="attachment_322" align="aligncenter" width="300"]<a href="http://www.fyimodularhomes.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/DSC_00191.jpg"><img alt="" class="size-medium wp-image-322" height="199" src="http://www.fyimodularhomes.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/DSC_00191-300x199.jpg" title="DSC_0019" width="300" /></a> Butterfly on a butterfly bush[/caption]<br/><br/>[caption id="attachment_323" align="aligncenter" width="300"]<a href="http://www.fyimodularhomes.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/DSC_0046.jpg"><img alt="" class="size-medium wp-image-323" height="199" src="http://www.fyimodularhomes.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/DSC_0046-300x199.jpg" title="DSC_0046" width="300" /></a> Flowers everywhere[/caption]<br/><br/>[caption id="attachment_324" align="aligncenter" width="300"]<a href="http://www.fyimodularhomes.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/DSC_0023.jpg"><img alt="" class="size-medium wp-image-324" height="199" src="http://www.fyimodularhomes.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/DSC_0023-300x199.jpg" title="DSC_0023" width="300" /></a> Love the yellow![/caption]<br/><br/>Eventually we stopped drooling over plants that wouldn't work for the "gardening disadvantaged", and got down to business.  We found 6 shrubs that fit the bill, and various other perenials, like hostas, day lilies and astilbies.  (Pat on the back to me for remembering those plant names!).<br/><br/>[caption id="attachment_325" align="aligncenter" width="300"]<a href="http://www.fyimodularhomes.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/DSC_0045.jpg"><img alt="" class="size-medium wp-image-325" height="199" src="http://www.fyimodularhomes.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/DSC_0045-300x199.jpg" title="DSC_0045" width="300" /></a> We had 2 wagons full[/caption]<br/><br/>Thank you Mom and Dad, so much!  We have our work cut out for us, getting all of this planted.  However, I can't wait to plant, and see what these guys look like in a couple of years (if I manage to keep them alive!).  Big A is happy too!  I think his exact comment was "<em>Thank you for all the work you're creating for ME</em>!"  I'm sure he meant it sincerely, so that's why, as a special thanks for all of his hard work, Mom and I bought him his "<em>dream tractor"</em> !<br/><br/>[caption id="attachment_326" align="aligncenter" width="300"]<a href="http://www.fyimodularhomes.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/DSC_00223.jpg"><img alt="" class="size-medium wp-image-326" height="199" src="http://www.fyimodularhomes.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/DSC_00223-300x199.jpg" title="DSC_0022" width="300" /></a> NOT![/caption]

Flower Power!

Planting around the exposed foundation of our new modular home is on my big "to do" list, so I'm very excited to have to oppor...

Read more »

Planting a Front Garden

Time marches on.  <em>NO</em>, time <em>FLIES</em>!   It's already the end of June, and there are still a lot of things not crossed off on my To Do list!  However, the summer means birthdays in our family, and one really good thing to having another birthday is that my Mom and Dad surprised me, telling me that I need Big A and his truck in order to get my birthday present!  I need a truck for my present?!  How exciting!<br/><br/>It turns out they bought me a bunch of plants, that are waiting for me at the local garden center, <a href="http://dickmanfarms.com">Dickman Farms</a>.  And that means I'll be able to cross another task off of the dreaded To Do list.  Cuz now I can plant a garden around the foundation!<br/><br/>I've been googling: foundation plants, gardens, container gardens, easy gardening, and more...<br/><br/>So pretty!  This picture below has 3 levels, and I love all the green.  I know day lillies will spread quickly and fill in a lot of space.<br/><br/><a href="http://www.fyimodularhomes.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/garden1.jpg"><img alt="" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-290" height="194" src="http://www.fyimodularhomes.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/garden1.jpg" title="garden1" width="259" /></a>I love the next garden below.  I love hostas, and I love the hanging baskets with a pop of color.<br/><br/><a href="http://www.fyimodularhomes.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/garden2.jpg"><img alt="" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-291" height="194" src="http://www.fyimodularhomes.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/garden2.jpg" title="garden2" width="259" /></a><br/><br/>Hostas and lillies below look really lush and full.  And I like the bricks edging the garden.<br/><br/><a href="http://www.fyimodularhomes.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/garden3.jpg"><img alt="" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-292" height="183" src="http://www.fyimodularhomes.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/garden3.jpg" title="garden3" width="275" /></a><br/><br/>And this one is so pretty - I love yellow!<br/><br/><a href="http://www.fyimodularhomes.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/garden4.jpg"><img alt="" class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-293" height="300" src="http://www.fyimodularhomes.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/garden4-300x300.jpg" title="garden4" width="300" /></a><br/><br/>So now I have some ideas.  Time to grab my Mom and pick her brain for ideas on what is actually feesible in our space, and get to work.<br/><br/> <br/><br/> <br/><br/> <br/><br/> <br/><br/> 

Planting a Front Garden

Time marches on.  NO , time FLIES !   It's already the end of June, and there are still a lot of things not crossed off on my To Do list...

Read more »