Loving The Life and Times In Lebanon , Connecticut
Anniversary Garden
The
The idea to do this was inspired by some of the beautiful perennial gardens that Kelly and I saw at the Mansions in Newport, R.I. while celebrating 25 years of marriage on May 28, '08. This project began for us during our vacation that week so I thought it was appropriate to call this the "anniversary garden".
Of course in the beginning my intentions were only to pull out the trees with the backhoe and clear this area to plant grass seed and maybe a shrub or two around the stones and umm well... as usual, here I go again with a touch of overkill.
My plan for this area now is to have peastone walkways through the various flower beds, a 12' x 14' red cedar pole arbor with a shaded sitting area and then another sitting area adjacent to the arbor for the spring and fall months when you want that sun and warmth. Also in the plans is a large kidney
shaped water pond with a fountain and waterfall.
Wish us luck !
As long as Kelly does not throw me out and have me committed for the ridiculous amount of hours I have spent on this garden...Im thinking that this will be a nice place to share many more anniversaries ! Enjoy the photos...
Looking South... The Beginning
Taken last year, this photo of Kelly playing with Penny-goat shows the tree patch behind her that I cleared for the garden. From the middle of this patch I removed an old cast iron tub, a short run of old field fence with barbed wire and a host of other junk. The white goats name is Zoey and she is quite a character !
Looking North... The trees are gone !
This is my new best friend, John Deere. His help has been invaluable in removing the trees , stones and stumps. In the foreground is the new Azalea bed that Kelly made this spring. She loaded up the tractor with stone and did a beautiful job edging it and mulching it. There is just something about a woman driving a tractor that tingles the senses !
Sorry, had to say it !
The First Corner Of The Garden
I cant move them or bury them and I am sick of mowing around them , so the large buried stone's are really the driving force behind this garden. Lets just plant around them I thought to myself. At that time this wasnt quite what I intended...LOL
Eventually I will also be adding a stone edge all around the entire perimeter of the garden to define the edges with loose stones such as seen in this photo.
Adding to the Floor Plan
The arbor corner poles are 3 feet in the ground with 2 bags of cement in each. I havent decided on the roof yet because on one hand I would like to be able to sit out here during a soft summer rain but I can also see a well groomed concorde grape arbor providing both shade and fruit ! Maybe I will do both ?
In the front you can see the outline of the lower sitting area. I dug it out with the backhoe to create a step into the arbor. To the right you can see what will be my first peastone pathway between beds.
Looking East
The fill on the right is the topsoil I dug out of the sitting area to create the step. That pile is the base that will continue the outer garden edge. This angle also shows the height difference between the arbor floor and the lower sitting area. Where the wheelbarrow is will be the front entrance to the garden.
Pathways and Sitting Areas will be a thick peastone base.
Stone Border
Map Legend
Yellow - wooden structure
Brown - plant beds
White - peastone gravel
Gray - large stone
Blue - water of course !
July 4.08
The stone work is done on the front edge, plants doing well.
35 FT
Aint decided yet !
North
East
South
West
Sitting Area
Entrance To Arbor
This plan view map below is a layout of what I am trying to achieve. Dimensions are always subject to change and so far I am on track.
Arbor
12' x 14'
July 6.08
Today I cut in the railings for the cedar poles for the clematis to climb on and we added some more plant varieties to the garden. I placed an order yesterday at the saw mill for the rough cut lumber to finish the arbor area. Its all starting to come together.
July 15.08
I have the top roughed in for the arbor and I added a tree garden behind the sitting area to neaten up the back and create an edge. The trees were transplanted from around the property. In the center surrounded by stone is the European Beech Tree seedling we collected in Newport , R.I. from the mansion "The Elms". I will try to grow it in Bonsai fashion.
The tree to the left is a Washington Hawthorn we planted 3 years ago from the Arbor Day Foundation.
The miniature fir tree Im guessing to be about 10 years old (or more) and was moved from its ridiculous location elsewhere in the yard. Hopefully the transplants will be successful.
July 22.08
The fencing and the wood top is now primed and I also finished the retaining wall for the hosta bed. The back bed is planted with various daylilies, siberian iris's , russian sage , hibiscus and clematis.
August 12.08 Throw Out The Watering Cans !
We have an old shallow well that was the original water supply for the house that is no longer being used so I am going to make it a dedicated well for the gardens. The water pipe and electrical conduit is laid for the perennial garden and the trench is filled back in. The open trench goes up to our vegetable garden.
With both gardens tied in it will be 280 ft of water pipe. The electrical is only going to the perennial garden to power lighting and the water pumps in the pond.
I am going to build a small pump house for over the well.
Also, this is a seasonal system, the water pipes will be drained for the winter months to avoid freeze-ups since I only buried the lines 18" down..
First Canna bloom and Elephant Ears...
August 20.08
Front Garden Entry Added !
I layed more stone and built up the beds that will make up the entry way into the garden from the front yard. Its just roughed in and needs some fine tuning but Im way ahead of my own schedule !
Kelly won 2 Spirea japonica 'Magic Carpet' bushes in a raffle and I planted one on each side to fill in the entry corners. They should do well in these spots getting plenty of sun.
Front View
View from inside the garden looking out at the new entry and Spirea Bushes on each corner.
