I worked on the southwest garden area this week. I'm so pleased at how pretty this little Carroll Cottage is outside now. More work will be done after the installation of the new front porch. The not so old one that Mitchell built me, at the Hardwicke House was removed by Nick & Bill & is now being stored behind the garage till August. At that time Nick & Bill will install it & I'll stain it & make it blend with the other side porch. Everything should have the look that it was always here.
South-West Garden
This garden was work!
First I had to dig out the grass, underneath was sand, so once my shovel (Yes, I'm getting much better with a shovel, far from the days of falling off the shovel & fracturing my ribs! lol) like I was saying, once the shovel was at the sand depth, I pushed & lifted up weed sod. Once I had a shovel of it I walked over to the large depressed area under the clothes line & placed it there. It would join up with the sod weeds from the side garden done last week. I'm filling the hole one shovel load at a time!
It's a large hole, hard to show you the scale of the area.
I first placed peat moss on the sand, then organic top soil, then the plants, then more top soil, & the grand finish of the paper soaked in water. This is work, however year I will not need to be weeding, just enjoying Mother Nature bringing the garden back from the winter. ;-)
Paper soaking in water, excellent way to recycle!
Then the icing on the cake!!! Black mulch to hide, unify & enhance the beauties just planted!
I placed the Lupins on the corner to be the show of this east coast cottage. They can spread wherever they want, just not on the lawn as I'll mow them down.
The stones need to be added to finish the edge of the garden but that will have to wait till Bill returns.
I love lupins'!
I was at the optometrist yesterday due to 'lighting flashes' & I've over done the lifting of soil, sod, mulch, water jugs, etc... too much heavy lifting & if I don't get the gel to stabilize inside the eye, trouble will happen with the retina.
I'm going to ride the tractors & mow the lawn as it's still June & the growing is furiously fast.
Yes, I'll mow slowly. lol
Here is the garden on the north west side of the Carroll Cottage.
The rose bush is really liking it here!
It has buds all over it & should be in bloom when Bill & Donny arrive on July 1st!
I've purchased bunting flags for Canada Day! I'll take photos when I've got the decorating done.
The last of three rose bushes planted back in 2009 is in bud too! This one is a gorgeous coral!
Northeast corner of the cottage. Behind the trellis is the patio screen door & I'm looking forward to the sweet smells of the summer blooming pink roses, that will fill the kitchen with its fragrance!
In the front, the lilac bush is done & now the roses take stage for there show. The tree next to it is going to bloom something?? So many people tell me it looks like a fruit tree but it has never given fruit of any kind. It's a sturdy tree & has thrived since its arrival in 2009.
How fitting is this little door for a fairy garden? I'm going to see if Nick will paint it for me, he's excellent at painting minitures & has an eye for detail & colour. Then I'll over spray it with clear to protect it from the elements of summer. I'll take everything in for winter storage.
Over the doorway it reads 'Peace to all who enter here'. It was a garage sale find a couple of years ago & I think it's going to come to life after Nick paints it! ;-)
The wine glass broke & I saved the bottom to use in stained glass as a roundel. The top is used to hold a fairy that I found at the Dollarstore. I'm having fun with being creative with my finds! lol
The back of the cottage is so boring but will have to wait till next year. I think hostas will nicely fill the area & spread out. Maybe some kind of a vine, trumpet maybe, that would add colour!
The southeast side of the cottage.
The garden Bill put in in May, is thriving & the hydrangea bush has taken well. The calla lilies are coming to life too!
The peonies have a couple of blooms on them, they will be moved in the Fall to a spot that is sunny but not so close to the steel roof of the garage. The water will be too much in the spring for them.
See how the front porch is falling into the front of the cottage? The walls will be braced underneath & the new porch will be added. I really like this wee cottage & enjoy my time here. Thank heavens my guys are handsome & handy for all the work that has been done around here!
I just wish I had better health for the work needed to be done. I don't like hearing about 'aging' my mind is not there but I have this shell of a body that keeps reminding me to listen to it! So...
Sewing & rug hooking to settle things down in my eyes, for a while. I know I'm not a reader but something tells me I may become one! lol Something that makes one sit-stay!
I found this beautiful flag at the Dollarstore & it adds to the colour of the phlox & adds interest to the side garden. It reminds me of the blue bird that lives in Bob's birdhouse. The birdhouse is located on the pole of the clothesline. This morning it was sitting on the top of the clothesline & as I moved the line to add clothes, it stayed for the ride on the top line as I added clothes to the bottom line! It was one of those awe moments for me! The birds are now use to my routine of laundry, line hanging.
I've heard that a woman, visiting from IL USA, was the one that hit the bear. Oh the fright she must have had! Such a true story for her to tell for years to come of visiting Canada & its wildlife.
Thank you for visiting Carroll Cottage & viewing the gardens.
Stay safe & healthy this summer. Yes, I'm going to try to practice what I preach!
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