It has been CRAZY around here for me this spring! Which, in this economy, is good thing. But I'm finding myself stretched pretty thin (figuratively speaking, unfortunately) and anxious about doing a good job for my clients. One day at a time...I want to jot down a few quick thoughts while I am shopping for pots online and before I run out to work on this glorious rainy, windy day (dread, dread, dread).
If you haven't worked your soil yet, please stop planting and do so. By this I mean, turn your soil over and mix in all the left over mulch from last year - dig deeply enough to ensure you're mixing actual soil with the mulch. Also check the quality of your soil; if it seems dry and used up, consider adding some top quality compost to it. I mix in about an inch of mushroom compost to my gardens every few years - it does wonders. This picture is pretty boring, but this is what mine looked like last week: delicious.Now for the fun stuff! One of my clients has a huge, awful looking retaining wall. After much thought, I decided to do what I could to incorporate it into the garden rather than just try to hide it with plants and flowers.
So we knocked some holes in it
(see http://thecottagegardenerblog.blogspot.com/2010/04/beauty-is-in-eye-of-beholder.html) and I began using it as my backdrop.
With good watering, these flowers will take root and grow beautifully in the wall.
Take time to think about what you are trying to hide and consider the possibility of using it as a canvas instead. It could be a new beginning of wonderful, creative ideas!
Well, I'm off to slog through this downpour...gotta plant!
