Garden 2010

[Ghoulish Delight]

I've spent the last month or so getting my hands dirty in our patio dirt strips. After a semi-successful attempt at a bunny buffet which netted us a year of parsley and carrot tops, I've pulled up the carrots, seeded more parsley, planted a couple store bought basil plants and seeded some more basil. The parsley's well on its way, looks like I'll get 5 more plants. The basil has sprouted, but it's slooooow going. If all the sprouts make it, and the 2 existing plants take, I think I'll have around 6 or 7 basil plants. Not enough for a constant supply for bunnies, but enough to give them a regular treat (basil is one of their favorites).

Meanwhile on the other side of the patio has been the real work. The dirt strip there has been the strip of death. Everything I've put in there had dies. Quickly. So I made it my mission to rehabilitate it. Dug out a lot of top soil, turned underneath, then added a bunch of quality garden soil and fertilizer. A few weeks ago I planted a couple sacrificial test plants. Amazingly, they both lived!

All of which lead to today. Major planting today. I snapped a few so-so shots in fading light:

First, the establishing shot. The kalanchoe on the far left was one of the test plants. I didn't even realize how much it had grown until I brought the new ones in. The weird lump in the back corner is due to the stumps that remain from the 30 foot star pine and the grape vine we had removed. I'm hoping the ground cover overtakes and hides that bit of ugly.
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A little perspective to give an idea of the elevations and textures involved
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Here's a closeup of one of those kalanchoes. I LOVE the colors these come in
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For ground cover, some wooly thyme. Should stay nice and low, let the kalanchoe stand out. And it'll be tasty!
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Another of the test plants, a cluster of impatiens
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There's also a zinnia in there, but I'm not too sure it's going to make it.

And for the last bit of texture, a few clusters of "Californian Skies", a sisyrinchium grass with a gorgeous indigo flower.





Amusing story. Looking at different ground cover options had me in the succulents checking out different varieties of sedum. I particularly liked the sedum spurium. Except, someone either wasn't paying attention, or had a sense of humor, because all of the pots were labeled "sedum spurmium".