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PROGRESS ON THE CIRCLE GARDEN

April 25, 2017

There are so many things happening in the garden at this time of year that it’s nearly impossible to report on it all here. But it is certainly blog-worthy when actual progress is made on a project!

Most of the weekend was dedicated to working in the circle garden, to the detriment, of course, of the rest of the garden, which is sorely in need of attention. But there is real pleasure in getting some actual gardening done in this area, which I’ve been renovating since last fall.

When we last left the circle garden, I had ripped out the existing paths and created new ones with metal edging and paver base, which will be topped with decorative gray gravel when all the planting is finished, weeded it like crazy and shared the design plan.

Somehow there was a lot of excessive soil after the path project last year but I left most of it in the beds assuming it would settle a bit. As it turned out, it didn’t, and the better part of three hours was spent hauling very nice soil to a pile. I’m guessing it was about a yard and a half if not two yards just judging from the size of the pile.

Then I was able to get back to my beloved, if not quirky, chive hedge. I dug up everything that was already planted on the edges, just to inspect it and make sure it was weed free (a worthy effort judging by the pile of weeds I had), and then divided everything to outline every section of the garden in chives. I don’t know that they’ll grow together this year yet to form a proper hedge, but probably next year.

Rhubarb from grandma’s garden that probably originally came from her parents’ farm.

The next day I picked up four boxwood (‘Baby Gem’ which is a cultivar I’ve not used before and not the one I went to pick up—I had been planning to buy ‘Winter Gem’), one for the center of each section. Then I laid out all my stakes and string again and created each planting area. I rehomed some rhubarb from my 100-year-old grandmother’s house for the rhubarb area, but I’m sad that I won’t be able to harvest any this year. And I also replanted the Egyptian walking onions I overwintered last year. I’m a little light on those so I’m hoping to find someone in my master gardeners group who can spare a few.

From here on out, it’s really just planting left to do in that garden and I’ll take on that project as I get plants or as things are ready to transplant. It’s lovely to see progress though. And for a few precious moments I know that there is one weed-free spot in my yard.

chive hedge circle garden planting spring
by Erin @ The Impatient Gardener 
4 Comments

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Comments

  1. LINDA from Each Little World says: April 25, 2017 at 8:54 pm

    Looks terrific. It's really hard to stay on task when there is so much to do in the garden, both work and fun. I am trying not to run hither and yon but I keep wanting to see what's up.

    Reply
  2. Lisa Greenbow says: April 25, 2017 at 10:44 pm

    This has been a lot of work. It is looking goood. You are going to be so happy with it when you are finished…as you should be.

    Reply
  3. Rusthawk says: April 26, 2017 at 3:45 pm

    Looking so good!

    Reply

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The Impatient Gardener

Do you love gardening? Me too! I'm Erin and I garden in Southeastern Wisconsin, zone 5. The Impatient Gardener is all about real-life gardening: the good parts, the bad bits and even the funny stuff. It's part information, part inspiration and a little bit commiseration. Thanks for visiting.

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E R I N 🌿 The Impatient Gardener
I had a rather unpleasant realization last night w I had a rather unpleasant realization last night when I remembered that I’d not yet ordered tomato seeds. And I’m not going to rectify that until I dig into my seed stash, because I don’t go through tomato seeds quickly so there are definitely some lurking down there. 

I never used to grow tomatoes from seed because there are great varieties to be had in garden centers (including many heirloom varieties). But it’s almost non-negotiable for me now that I’m a convert to dwarf tomatoes. If you’re not familiar with the #dwarftomatoproject championed by @nctomatoman and others, these are heirloom varieties that are crossed with dwarf varieties to create plant that produces all the flavor and interest of an heirloom in a short (usually less than 4 feet) plant. 

They are particularly great in my tall raised beds. Of course I leave room to try new non-dwarf varieties every year (I loved Sun Dipper from @panamseed last year and I’ll grow it again).

Last year was a good tomato year and the photo shows some of the varieties I harvested in one day. I hope this summer will be equally good for the tomato harvest. 

One of my favorite questions to ask gardeners is: What is your favorite tomato variety to grow? So have at it in the comments because inquiring minds want to know!
And this is why I leave my winter containers assem And this is why I leave my winter containers assembled until at least March. A dusting of snow gives them a whole new look (even if it’s shades of gray). Also, I think I love my Limelight hydrangea even more in winter. Fabulous winter interest!
I’m going to look for opportunities to add more I’m going to look for opportunities to add more ferns to my garden this year. They are such interesting plants and often real problem solvers, bringing texture and color to places that many plants aren’t interested in. Athyrium niponicum (Japanese painted fern) ‘Crested Surf’ grows well for me in part shade (even pushing a bit into part sun) and looks great next to Persicaria ‘Golden Arrow’.
Birds chirping, glorious fresh (i.e. not nibbled o Birds chirping, glorious fresh (i.e. not nibbled on) foliage, and texture galore. I can’t wait to have moments like this again. The star, by the way is Hakonechloa ‘All Gold’ which looks so good with the bold foliage of Ligularia dentata ‘Desdemona’ next to it. 

With the new path, this area will be getting a small revamp. It’s the next spot I’ll be focusing my planning on.
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