This has been a very huge project but I’m finally starting to see the vision much better, and I am ecstatic with the progress. Of course, it would be faster and easier if I paid someone to do it, but that’s not in the cards, so it’s a slow and laborious process… but I see a light at the end of the tunnel.
My son and his friend helped me by digging out a lot of the grass in the two (let’s call them) right-side quadrants closest to the paved patio driveway. Moving earth is backbreaking work and it doesn’t help that it’s 9 million degrees outside practically year-round.
From there, I dumped wheelbarrows of topsoil I purchased in bulk by the trailer load. This gave me space to start planting roses that I had received as (mostly) bareroot. They started growing rapidly and many began to bloom, so I felt compelled to get them in the ground so they wouldn’t overheat in black pots on the grass.
Once they were in the ground, I mulched over with pine bark. This helps keep the roots moist and the soil temperatures moderate. It also helps prevent weeds from competing with the plants.
I felt it important to start laying out the path and so I put down heavy duty landscape fabric so I could see the vision more clearly. I did get a couple of pallets of gray belgian blocks because I just adore the way they look when they line a pea gravel path.
It’s not easy to find decomposed granite in these parts and I don’t want to build up the paths with crushed concrete as it is too alkaline a material and roses and gardenias are acid loving plants. Raising the pH will prevent the plants from taking up critical nutrients. I found some online at Home Depot and can have it shipped to the house and so that’s the next step as far as the paths are concerned.
I also added another vinyl arbor and two tri-colored dappled willows on the west side of the garden to help shade the roses from the hottest afternoon blaze. In addition, I decided to mix up the plantings by lining the right border with meteor shower verbena and a blue salvia from proven winners. After that, I planted 12 low profile Radicans gardenias so that there is a lining on the pathway, delicious fragrance, and an evergreen anchor. I have four more to plant on the edges of the last quadrant that hasn’t gotten dug out yet.
A rose allée is also in the works, with the first of several metal arches spanning the “grass” alley on the east side next to the Mrs. B.R. Cant beds.
On each of the three arbors, I planted two climbing or rambling roses on both sides. The allée arbor has peachy colored Polka, Crown Princess Margarita, and Wollerton Old Hall as well as a more orange colored Westerland climber. The original vinyl arch on the east side has two Honeymoon roses, but they have been growing painfully slowly and are plagued with blackspot. So, I planted Sally Holmes on both sides as well.
For the final arbor in the parterre, I planted climbers The Generous Gardener and James Galway, and ramblers Crepuscule, and Phyllis Bide.
Almost forgot, along the porch, I already have two ginormous Peggy Martin roses cascading in all their glory. In addition, I planted Reve d’or and Clair Austin. Away from the parterre but in the same vicinity, I planted burgundy iceberg and Dublin Bay to take over for the ailing New Dawn climber.
In the meanwhile, Joe is starting to lay out irrigation and put it on a timer, so I don’t have to spend 10 hours a week watering all the plants and they can stay nice and hydrated… especially since the last couple of months has been a drought.
Stayed tuned for part 3, where I finally lay down at least the base of the path. After that, one of the parterre sections still needs to be dug up and the soil needs to be replaced. Then plants and mulch. Then the belgian blocks and pea gravel and landscape lighting. After that, yaupon holly path anchors, landscape lighting and, at some point, a water feature in the circle section where the paths intersect. I also envision a seating area under a small pergola where my malvern hills ramblers will grow.
Onward!
