Cottage Garden 2/26/2016

My favorite part about gardening is that the fruits of your labor don't happen over night.  It takes a "vision" and time and lot of effort to finally see an accomplishment.  At times it takes only a few weeks, sometimes it takes a few months and other times it takes years. I've even achieved half way to what I thought was a dreamy 'vision' and changed my mind.  For example, last fall I decided to remove these two hydrangeas that were on the walkway going up to my chicken coop.  I love how they spilled over into the walkway, but they were getting out of control.  I moved them to another location in the landscape.  Now seeing this photo makes me anxious to see how my new vision of this area will evolve.

This is what it looks like right now.  I've added three new Dwarf English Boxwoods to the walkway, I always buy small because they are less expensive and they will grow.  Plus my garden is so dense, it's easier for me to dig a tiny hole for planting rather than a large one.

I also love a good challenge.  Over time, I've learned to become a DIY'r in the garden.  I've divided and propagated plants from cuttings, started some from seed, nursed diseased plants back to health mostly by trial and error.

I recently saw a video on propagating boxwood and so I thought I'd try it for myself this year.  I've noticed that there is a hole between my arbor and the row of Green Velvet Boxwoods and have been searching for a reasonable price to place one there. These boxwoods are difficult to find, not to mention the online pricing is crazy expensive.  I've also been wanting a row of boxwoods between the coop area and my Fairy Roses. So today I decided I would try my hand at starting my own.

Step #1. Take a six inch clipping of the boxwood that has new growth with rose buds at the tip.

Step #2. Remove all of the lower leaves and branches

Step #3. Dip end in root starter

Step #4 Poke a hole into the ground with your finger where you want the planting to take root.

Step #5. Place a jar over the top to create an atrium effect for eight to ten weeks.

The video said it's best to do this in the fall and allow growth to take place over the winter months. I have nothing to lose trying it now. We are expecting rain over the next few weeks and our current soil is very moist. I'll keep you posted on how my boxwoods work out. I know it will take a few years for them to really get established and i'm looking forward to seeing the results.

Another garden solution I have accomplished this past week is putting blocks under all of my cement garden features.  Those darn moles (or rats) have softened the ground so much that my planters and bird baths have fallen over.  These precious statuary pieces can only take so many falls before they break. 

So my simple solution is to purchase square blocks (under $5. from Home Depot) with a little gravel underneath to keep them in place.

Now for what is blooming this week....

Primroses. I purchased these on the clearance rack for .49 cents each last year after their bloom season was over. So pretty to see them now blooming in the garden this spring. Love finding clearance plants for next years garden. 

This Camellia is called "Big Red" - every year this row of gorgeous shrubs hides my fence even more. Couldn't be happier with this plant next to my walkway.  

More varieties of my much loved Lenten Roses, also known as Hellebore have emerged.  These take about three years to get established in the gardens which means this should be the year they are crazy blooming.  But I am not seeing that to be the case.  These varieties here are "Red Sapphire" and "Ivory Prince". Maybe its early in the season or I might have to await another year. 

Brunnera “Jack Frost” has made it's appearance in a few places in my "secret garden". I divided and planted more of these last fall so they aren't as showy as they've been in years past. 

Pulmonaria ‘Sissinghurst White’ also known as Lungwort has begun blooming this week.  

"Candytuft" along the bottom of my rose terrace has begun blooming but seem more leggy than in years past.

Hyacinth bulbs are beginning to bloom, but every year they just don't seem as pretty as the first year. But their fragrance is still delicious! 

Hard to believe my landscape will soon be lush and pretty again. When I take a walk through the garden it seems I have so much open dirt space and avail real estate.  It just takes a few minutes of looking through old garden pictures to realize that I not the case. For now I will enjoy these simple bloom!

Thank you for coming over and seeing my garden progressing this week! I appreciate you and all your comments. xoox, tracie

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