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Garden Gate:  Cottage Garden  |
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HandmadeLife
Farmgirl in Training
47 Posts
Cheryl-Lynn
Columbus
Ohio
USA
47 Posts |
 Posted - Jun 20 2011 : 06:50:46 AM
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Hello everyone!
I am new to the Sisterhood so I'd like to say thanks for having me! 
I am in need of your wise advice. I moved into a lovely little cape cod style house last fall with a super sweet little yard. Luckily for me, the yard is a blank canvas and I have permission to do whatever I'd like with it (yay!). Thus far I have carved out some planting beds for flowers and veggies along the sides of the backyard fence line but one area in particular has been occupying my mind - the back of the backyard.
It formerly was the site of a swing set which means it has about 2 inches of gravel above 3 inches of sand above a weed barrier. And since the people who lived here before were not gardeners, there is also a 2 inch layer of weeds on top of all this!
Yesterday in a fit of passion I went outside (at about 4:00pm!) and commenced destruction! I have about 80% cleared out. As I was going inside last night I swear I heard the soil giggling with glee for finally being able to breathe!
But back to my original query:
My vision for this space is a cottage-type garden with wispy, naturalistic plantings, taller plants towards the back and diminutive, sweet plants in the front. I'm thinking of lining the back with white trellises so that I can plant climbers. I also have a spare bit of picket fencing that I'd like to somehow incorporate.
What kinds of plants would you all suggest? The area is shaded in the morning with full to dappled sun in the afternoon. I'm in central Ohio.
Your thoughts, ideas, suggestions, etc are much appreciated!
All my best,
Cheryl-Lynn
No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted. ~Aesop |
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kristin sherrill
True Blue Farmgirl
11303 Posts
kristin
chickamauga
ga
USA
11303 Posts |
Posted - Jun 20 2011 : 07:03:36 AM
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Hello. I just bought an Abelia plant. There are bees and butterflies all over it. It takes shade to sun. Mine will get morning shade then some afternoon sun. It is an old fashioned bush that just begs to be put in a cottage garden. I also found a blue wisteria vine. That would look pretty with a yellow vining plant too on that trellis. Maybe soem wigelia bushes and butterfly bush. You could even do some hostas and daylillies up front. Be sure to take pictures as you go along. I would love to see what you come up with. You can also get great planting advice from a good nursery. Good luck and have fun! Oh, you'll need a pretty little wrought iron bench to sit in ( or wicker with cushy cussions) and enjoy it with a cup of tea or coffee in the morning shade.
Kris
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
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HandmadeLife
Farmgirl in Training
47 Posts
Cheryl-Lynn
Columbus
Ohio
USA
47 Posts |
Posted - Jun 20 2011 : 07:11:19 AM
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Dear Kris,
Thanks for your reply! I love your ideas! Anything attracting birds and butterflies would be lovely. The yard is seriously lacking in color and wildlife. There are birds all over the place but they have no place to siesta in my yard so for this garden I'd love to create a little oasis for them. I need to get a hook to hang a bird feeder (or two) back there.
The fence that runs along the back of the space is currently covered in a messy assortment of weedy vines but given that on the other side of the fence is a garage/shed I'm thinking of just leaving them in situ, staking the trellises in front and calling the viney weeds a "verdant background" for the garden. I also think there may be some poison ivy on that fence which is another reason why I'm not particularly fond of the idea of clearing it all off.
I do have some heirloom morning glory seeds from Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds that I have yet to plant so I'm thinking of adding them to the space. I also have a "Wand Flower" that I found at a local nursery that is waiting to get planted.
Wisteria would be grand! How big do they get?
When I get home tonight I'll take a picture of the space in all its shabby glory. I'm anxious for the transformation to begin!
No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted. ~Aesop |
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embchicken
True Blue Farmgirl
1487 Posts
Elaine
Ocean
NJ
USA
1487 Posts |
Posted - Jun 20 2011 : 10:11:09 AM
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I can't wai to see pictures - it sounds like it is going to be lovely. I would positively leave that ivy alone and put some trellises in front - no need to have the misery of poison ivy!
~ Elaine
Farmgirl sister #2822
"Find yourself a cup of tea; the teapot is behind you. Now tell me about hundreds of things." ~Saki
http://embchicken.blogspot.com
http://gusandtrudy.blogspot.com |
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CMac
True Blue Farmgirl
1074 Posts
Connie
Ashland City
TN
USA
1074 Posts |
Posted - Jun 20 2011 : 10:20:54 AM
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Be sure to plan for color for all seasons. As you are planting remember bulbs. There are some you can plant now that wlll have time to be up before fall. Glads and the like. Put in some spring flowering bulbs this fall. Nothing like starting the spring with flowers! How much sun does it get?
Connie
"I have three chairs in my house: one for solitude, two for friendship, three for company."
Author: Henry David Thoreau |
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StrawHouseRanch
True Blue Farmgirl
1044 Posts
Paula
Holt
Missouri
USA
1044 Posts |
Posted - Jun 20 2011 : 11:12:32 AM
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The hummingbirds love scarlet runner beans! Butterflies and bees like bee balm. There are all kinds of varieties of it and it fills in quickly. It is a perennial too, so no replanting required!! There are also some varieties of lavender now which tolerate more loamy soil, as long as it has fairly good drainage, and the bees love it. Sedum (or "live forever" as my mother calls it, also attracts scores of bees and butterflies, it is a perennial and is really easy to grow with many color variety selections.)
Beautiful garden and a pollinator's paradise!!
Paula
Farmgirl Sister #3090
A Beehive is the ultimate Home Sweet Home
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HandmadeLife
Farmgirl in Training
47 Posts
Cheryl-Lynn
Columbus
Ohio
USA
47 Posts |
Posted - Jun 20 2011 : 11:44:40 AM
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Ladies! You have me daydreaming at work about my garden now! I love all of your ideas.
Elaine, thanks for the words of wisdom. I will leave the poison ivy alone. After I place the pretty white trellises in front of the fence it will be as though it doesn't even exist! 
Paula - scarlet runner beans, great idea!! And I had forgotten about sedum. I am making a list, can't wait to get to the nursery!
Connie - the garden gets mostly afternoon sun. It's shaded in the morning. Thanks for reminding me about fall color. I have a deck in the backyard that faces that area so it would be nice to have as much visual interest as possible for the longest period of time! I've so enjoyed this house because it's the first one I've lived in with a deck. It's so nice to eat outside on nice days and soak in the outdoors. Having this garden space complete will make the yard so enjoyable! And bulbs are a great idea to round out the plantings.
Ah, so excited for this space!! Now, what to do with the spare garden gate?! I have this vision in my head of things growing on it and it artfully placed somewhere but hmmm....! Ah gardening, it really is food for the soul!
No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted. ~Aesop |
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CMac
True Blue Farmgirl
1074 Posts
Connie
Ashland City
TN
USA
1074 Posts |
Posted - Jun 20 2011 : 12:10:43 PM
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It is fun to hear someone enjoying the process! Thanks for sharing!
Connie
"I have three chairs in my house: one for solitude, two for friendship, three for company."
Author: Henry David Thoreau |
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Penny Wise
True Blue Farmgirl
1903 Posts
Margo
Elyria
OH
USA
1903 Posts |
Posted - Jun 20 2011 : 2:50:25 PM
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we created a flower bed last summer-built a rockwall about a foot tall around it and at one end have a gate-behind the gate is a rose bush and the garden...in front of the gate some low herbs..
a thought- plant some red osier dogwood or something-a small evergreen...something for the birds to hide in when it snows!specially if you plan to feed in winter!
i'll be anxious to see photos!!!!!!!!!!
have fun!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Farmgirl # 2139
~*~ counting my pennies and biding my time; my dreams are adding up!~*~ |
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Garden Gate: Cottage Garden |
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Cottage Garden
