Monday, March 2, 2009

Getting Rooted this Weekend


(Inspiration Garden)

I love gardening, in fact, this blog was started as a gardening blog, hence the "niagaranovice" headline. When we moved to the North East, I found gardening to be a fun and worthwhile hobby, and quickly moved to put my private gardens together. I learned that it was a process, a lengthy process, but that watching something grow from a bulb or seed was the most rewarding feeling - and it kept me motivated to keep planting.

Last year, we, "Margaret", Scott, and I, put together a garden walk for our street to showcase the handy work of our green thumbed neighbors. It was a huge success. In the process, I nearly broke my back adding ornamental grasses, trees, shrubs, and flowers to over 100 sq. feet of new garden space. It was quite a project, but one that payed off triple fold once everything grew in. My end of the year tent party was centered in the garden, and though the tent was quite nice, the flowers and scents were truly magical.

So this past weekend, when I came across bulbs and seeds for new flowers I wanted for Garden Walk 2009, I couldn't help to buy just a few:

The addition of yellow perennials are my biggest change this year. Last year, the garden was a wash of white and purple, with variations of green thrown in. I loved the overall feel of the garden, but I wanted something with a bit more brightness, so yellow it was. Two varieties of Dahlias in soft butter yellow, and golden rod with white will be the perfect addition to the garden, along with wildflowers like shasta daisy, black eyed susan, and coreopsys.

The flowers I purchased last year will stay, and hopefully have reseeded themselves to make for a more impressive lot. Other plants, like my wine and roses wiegela bush, dwarf alberta spruce, burning bush, decorative and ornamental grasses, liatris, russian sage, and lavender will also stay in the garden, adding those purple hues that I think will really help the white and yellow pop.
Of course, there is also the back breaking addition of the reclaimed brick patio and pergola. The goal is to start this in mid May when the ground has thawed enough to set the posts in concrete, and begin the clearing of the area for weed tarp, gravel and sand, then the crowning jewel - the beautiful brick.
Look forward to more garden posts, and more interesting garden topics as we move forward into spring and summer!


15 comments:

  1. TWIN! New life, gorgeous color, fabulous textures, and divine scents on the breeze -- does it get any better?! I don't think so! I love your choices (including the one to break your silence!) and I cannot wait to see this all come into fruition. Garden Glory! Woo!
    xo Isa

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  2. Your selection is wonderful.. I love the snow white coneflower, mine are purple.. they are quite invasive..are you able to get around up your way? I've heard you've been blanketed with quite the snowfall...hugs ~lynne~

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  3. Great picks! Since moving to New England, black-eyed Susan's have been one of my favorites. The white cones and orchids are great.

    Although we were looking forward to an early spring, all this snow is actually very good for protecting the perennials from the cold temperatures and wind the rest of this week. Right before this blizzard, I spied a few bulbs peeping out and there is a warm up coming this weekend. Think Spring!

    G in CT

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  4. I love beautiful flower gardens but I am a horrible gardner. I always have grand ideas but very few get implemented! Glad you are back!

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  5. Hello Artie!
    Thank you for this beautiful post letting us know that spring is right around the corner. I just put away the snow equipment two days ago and now look we are buried again! Your gardens are so well thought out. Thanks for posting even though you are overloaded with projects. That is what happens when you are talented at many different things!

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  6. Ummm, these all look fabulous!!
    Just wanted to stop by and say hope things are better and that I am thinking of you....
    xo bj

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  7. Hi Artieness. I've missed you, but I read on your previous post how busy you've been. Oh, I'm excited about your garden! I remember how nice you made your backyard. I need to get out and get my little beds ready!
    Be a sweetie,
    Shelia :)

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  8. Great choices! Dahlias are some of my favorite flowers! They take their time coming in, but they are the last to leave the garden! Daisies, dahlias, black-eyed susans, are all of my favs. You know which flowers I'd love to grow - foxgloves and Bells of Ireland. I'm zone 4 so it's hopeless. ~ Robyn

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  9. I really can't wait to see the progression of your gardens this year, Artie. I remember all the work you did on that one area last year and how pleased you were with the way it turned out. I think the yellow flowers are going to be a perfect addition!
    And it's funny... I feel like you've been talking about this brick patio for eons. Is it really going to happen in just 2 months? Really???

    Justine :o )

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  10. Awww. I remember many of those flowers from Syracuse...The baby seeds will be bursting out soon!!!

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  11. Artie I'm so glad you are here today!

    A garden walk is a fabulous idea! My first thought is that would encourage those who don't take care of their yards to get into shape! Isn't it terrible of me to think of that? Slap me.

    Anyway, your gardens are beautiful and I'm looking forward to a new season. My friend who lives in NY grows lilacs which don't do well here. She also has the most beautiful hydrangeas! Your winter is long but you all do have beautiful gardens.

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  12. Can't wait to see your garden space to shape - if they are anything like your indoor space -we are in for a treat!!

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  13. Great post artie, be sure to stake those lilies, twice I have waited too long as I hate the stakes and let wind take mine off! Good to see you back in the saddle. xoxox

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  14. Welcome back Artie. Missed you!
    As we are still knee-deep in Snow this posting is like a breath of fresh air. I'm tired looking at bleak 'n cold Winter skies.

    So pretty in all its Spring glory.
    Thank you. -Brenda-

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  15. This post makes me so anxious to get to work in our flowerbeds.

    I am in the early stages of a perennial garden. I can't wait to see the changes this summer.

    Thanks for sharing...

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