Diverse Island

BY SKEETER

 I am going to take you back to early April today with our first voyage of the year to our beautiful Georgia Lake. Going under this bridge, I am always on the look out for Osprey as they like to nest on top of the bridge.

Zooming in, I spot the nest but no activity.

 Later with our return back under the bridge, we spot an Osprey on the nest. We see Osprey more often then Bald Eagles but enjoy them both.

 We took advantage of a beautiful day to beach the boat at several different islands in order to do some geocaching. While on this one island, we spotted a goose sitting on a nest.

 She was very quiet and still and we did not spot her as we arrived on the island. We spotted her as we were departing and after snapping a few photos of her from afar, we quietly left the island without disturbing her further.

We spotted many Loons on the lake this day.

We were lucky enough to hear them call out as well! Love that sound.

 I spotted wild Vinca on another island. The leaves were covered with pine pollen.

 The Vinca was just starting to bloom but I so wished this patch of it was in full bloom.

 While walking on the islands, I had on water shoes but the shoes would not protect my piggies from the massive amounts of Pine Pollen that was falling from those tall Georgia Pine Trees.

 Pine Pollen is so large that it is easily seen floating on top of the water at the lake.  

Yes, it was a yellow icky mess. But since this photo was snapped, the rains came and washed all the pollen out and the lake is once again clear! Luckily, this pollen does not affect sinus for people.

 As we beached the boat on an island, I spotted this Lady Bug hanging out enjoying the warm sunshine.

 This was our favorite island we visited this day. It is so diverse in terrain and so neat to explore.

 The pebbles on the beach were so unique and soft to the feet.

 These large rocks were the source of the pebbles as the pebbles crumbled from them. We suspect some type of Soft Slate type stone.

I spotted this large bush in full bloom! Master Gardener Tina, do you know this bush?

 The blooms looked like some sort of Bleeding Heart type bloom. 

 I also spotted Carolina Jessamine blooming on this island.

 Soft pebbles on one side of the island and Red Clay on the other.

Just up from the Red Clay, is this view. I tell you it is one DIVERSE ISLAND, In the Garden...

Words and Photos Property of In the Garden Blog Team, In the Garden

Stopping Erosion

BY SKEETER

This circled area had an erosion issue for some time. A bit difficult to see in this picture but the grass slopes down to the asphalt driveway. Rain runoff was slowly eroding the earth at the corner of the retaining brick wall. I say slowly as we are under drought conditions most of the time in my Georgia Gardens.  After 10 years, erosion was becoming a problem.

I failed to snap a "Before" photo of this eroded area last Fall. The day I created this little Rock Garden, I was not planning it. It just kind of happen. I collected some large stones and placed them around the larger eroded gaps. I then added pea gravel into the smaller gaps. I pulled some Phlox Moss sprigs from a planter and dug it into the ground in hopes it would root over winter. I planted a Mexican Petunia in the center and I was careful to remember to water this little spot often. A few little statues of dogs and a frog and I decided this garden was complete. Is any garden ever complete? Ha... The above picture was snapped in early May.

Moving to late July, we see the Mexican Petunia (Ruellia brittoniana) is blooming. We also see a blooming Crepe Myrtle bush. This bush was a tree until last year when a storm had Miss Myrtle doing the splits. Click HERE to see that sad saga. She is making a comeback! Back to the Petunia; this is a new plant to me as I added 3 of them last fall. I believe it was Darla that told me they are a bully plant in Florida. They are on the FL Exotic Pest Plant Council (EPPC) so I am a bit concerned with these new additions to my gardens. I shall keep an eye on them. 

At 10:00 in the morning, I find beautiful purple blooms!

By 8:00 in the evening, they have all fallen to the ground. Is this normal?

They look pretty lying on the lush green Moss Phlox but I would think that the butterflies, bees and hummingbirds would rather they remain on the plant.

If you follow the brick wall down a bit, you can see a second Petunia in the Tri-angle Planter which is outside the Porch Planter. This is the West side of the house. The Porch Planter faces North and holds Japanese Maple, Nandina and Camellia.The third Petunia is located on the East side of the other Porch Planter. In the other Tri-angle Planter. These two Porch Planters and Tri-angle Planters are a sort of mirror image of each other. 

This little Rock Garden is thus far doing its job of STOPPING EROSION, In the Garden...

Extending Pathways Pt 2

BY SKEETER

Here is the Butterfly Island Garden with the Key Hole pathway containing a Bird Feeder. (Click HERE to see how this garden started) I found myself walking through the Butterfly Bushes to get to the Semi-Formal Garden. So decided it was time to extend this pathway in my GEORGIA GARDEN. The pea gravel looks white in this pic but that is bad lighting with an older camera, hence, an old photo taken back in 2007.

Spring of 2011, we moved the Butterfly Bushes around a bit in this garden because the Bald Cypress needed room to breathe. You cannot see that tree in this pic. As you can see, this pea gravel is the brown tones so it was moved to the pathways I showed you on Tuesday in my Semi-Formal Garden. Which you can see beyond the grass in this pic.

This was an easy path to construct as it was full of sand and all the old tree roots from 4 sweet gum trees have rotted down over time.

In this photo, I am standing inside the Arbor of the Semi-Formal Garden. I had yet to fill in the blank spot with the moved gravel from the Key Hole path when I snapped this pic. It has since been filled in of course. See how this pathway lines up with the new path?

Here is the new pathway through the island. The Butterfly Bushes are doing great and did not become harmed from being moved. They are tough bushes. I moved these Elephant Ears from the Semi-Formal Garden where they were once located. The dogwood trees had gotten too tall and shaded them. Plus, they were not getting the water they needed during this drought. They are now a bit closer and easier for me to keep happy with water. Here, you can see the Bald Cypress Tree.

Here is the patch of grass that separates the Butterfly Island and the Semi-Formal Garden. I once again must ask myself the question; Do I attach these three pathways or leave them as be? We use this grassy area as a pathway to the Wood/Mower and Garden Sheds. And also, we collect debris and keep it in that area by the sheds as well. We also drive the truck down this grassy path. So at this point, I think this area will remain as is.

Now to the other side of this Walk-thru island. It is time to connect the Island, Swing and Wishing Well Garden.

Once again, Free Brick and lots of digging in the dirt. I spent one day in high heat and humidity taking out the grass. I took it out as sod so as to fill in sunken holes on the east side of the house. That was a tough day and ended with a headache.

Back to work the next day and again, in heat and humidity.

It was tough work in the heat but I was not going to stop until I completed this project. Gravel was laid into place on the third day.

My only mistake, I should have put a curve on this instead of making it straight. But when making it, I was thinking of mowing the grass and how easier it is to keep a straight line trimmed verses a curve. Oh well, I can always go back later on and change this up. But for now, we shall live with it. See that Bald Cypress tree now? It was taking over the butterfly bushes and now it is taking over the Angel Trumpet. The Trumpet shall be moved next spring. Tina, look how your Trumpet is growing this year! It loved the early spring and hot temps.

I do not like the white gravel but that is all we could find in our area. Of course, I could have gotten a truck load of brown tone gravel and it would have been cheaper then a pallet of bags. As I mentioned on Tuesdays post, it is much easier for me to work with bags. I am trying to get Clematis to grow up the arbor of the swing. You can also see faded Castle Rocks used to the left of the swing. I had to get some new ones and they will fade in time.   

With this view, you can see I have yet another garden to attach up with to the left.

The middle of the Wishing Well Garden and looking towards the Fire Pit, Patio and Rock Garden.

I have a vision of an arched bridge and dry creek bed as this area becomes soggy during heavy rains. Which, we have not seen in 3 years! Ha...

You would see the Rock Garden as you walk over the Bridge.

The stepping stones you see in this shot lead from the house to the patio. The Saint has an idea to build a boardwalk of sorts from the house to the patio. Which would now become a deck instead of concrete patio. I think a creek bed running from this area past a bridge connection would tie in together. But for now, no more EXTENDING PATHWAYS, In the Garden...

Extending Pathways Pt.1

BY SKEETER

After tramping through the leaves on the outskirts of the Semi-Formal Garden, I decided it was time to extend the pathway. I had stepping stones in place from the pea gravel path in order to get to the bench. But I would find myself always going out through the leaves verses the path. This was a bit of a short cut in my Georgia Garden.

This project started back in November with the removal of weeds, leaves and pine needles. I then used these free Stones that my parents had left over from a project and passed along to me. The area around the pine tree is a bit higher then the rest of this garden. I used the stones to build a sort of retaining wall.

It was January before I worked on this project again. Next, I removed the stepping stones and started to make a border with more free bricks that I found on Freecycle.

There is a lot of sandy soil in this area which was not difficult for brick embedding. But the many roots from the nearby pine tree made it an ever painful process. I hate tree roots!

This project was once again put on hold. In early April, I was back at it and had one side of bricks embedded all the way to the bench.

I was on the lookout for matching pea gravel to extend the path. I could not find any rocks in the natural brown colors. So once again, this project was put on hold.

I could not find the pea gravel in bags but in bulk yes. Even though gravel is cheaper by the truck load, it would be more difficult for me to move it around. With bags, I can easily handle the gravel. So I just went ahead and mulch in areas and once again, left this project aside.

It was late April and I was back at it. The Saint had a solution for me. He suggested that I remove the same color pea gravel from other areas of my gardens and put it into this path and then we would add the different colored gravel to the old paths. Hum, I went with his idea and the match was perfect! Here you cannot even tell where the old meets the new old. That Saint of mine also put a fresh coat of paint and stain on the bench.

With this expansion, the area to the left and right of the bench are new plantings. In this picture, the mulch has yet to be put into place (across the path) from the front of the bench.

Now we move to the present time and things have changed even more since April. That bird cage is a bargain purchase from last year that I have yet to talk about. $5.00 cage and put in place with an old Shepard hook lying around. She now has a Clematis growing up her.

Zooming in below the Pine Tree, we find Solomon's Seal surrounded by Clumping Liriope, Sage and Scotch Broom. I once had Hosta planted here but the deer and voles munched until I had to move them.

The other side of the bench has a new Hydrangea and Russian Sage. Along with Blackeye Susan, Moss Phlox, Lavender and other fun stuff. In the back, I planted Silverberry Bushes to hide the fence from next door. I chose Silverberry as this area is mostly shaded. In front of the Silverberry is one Howard Ligustrum bush.

When sitting on the bench, you see this area. Butterfly Weed, Lantana, Salvia's, Balloon Flower, Clematis, Summer & Moss Phlox, Red Hot Poker, Spirea, Primrose, Penstemon, Gaura and of course, Susan.

View from standing to the back of the Ligustrum. The Ligustrum is planted where I once had a beautiful Japanese Loquat. (Click HERE to read about that sad loss.)

Looking down the path, to the right you will find the Liriope area under the pine tree, then an area with Verbena and the Mailbox I recently showed you.

This is the long shot of the Semi-Formal Garden. Hum, how do I bring those two pathways together? Or do I just leave this area as is? This grassy area leads to the Wood/Mower Shed and also the area where we collect debris. We would like to leave this area a grassy pathway if possible. Thursday, I shall show you more EXTENDING PATHWAYS, In the Garden...
Words and Photos Property of In the Garden Blog Team, In the Garden