My garden odyssey: No room to grow

EPISODE VI

Just in case you forgot what our little urban garden looked like when we moved in, the photo below should refresh your memory. We started with the fence erected by the previous homeowners, a lone tree which we moved from one side of the yard to the other (the small circle of dead grass marks its prior location), a flat expanse of grass and some crumbling sidewalks. I'm standing in for the sculpture that my husband, Mark, proposed to create as a centerpiece to give the garden focus and scale. 

BEFORE:

AFTER: 

You can see from the picture above that we accomplished our dream: The sculpture's in place, we installed all the brick hardscaping we'd designed, and had areas at each end of the garden where we could sit and enjoy our handiwork. The garden was lush and lovely and every inch of space was full — from the borders to the raised rock garden located at the far left in the above photo.

So we began to work our way around the house. The planting areas were not large but they offered micro climates — like shade (above) on the north side of the house. It didn't take long before they, too, were full. Here, the ferns and Hostas hide an old, unused cistern in the jog of the house while the goatsbeard (Aruncus dioicus) hides the utility box.

We also managed to create ideal growing conditions for a variety of plants, including creeping thymes and sedums, that liked the sharp drainage (above) in our raised rock garden, which we built on top of discarded clumps of concrete. 

We also grew our best crop of prickly pear cactus (Opuntia species) at this garden (above). The cactus thrived in the rock garden, which was not only in full sun but baked in reflected heat from our huge blacktopped driveway. We even managed to get bear's breeches (Acanthus mollis) to bloom next to the driveway one especially hot summer — a feat never since repeated!

MIKE DeVRIES PHOTO

I was in my full English border phase in this garden: growing red Valerian (Centranthus ruber), pink Dianthus and Lady's mantle (Alchemilla mollis). The Valerian died numerous times and I just kept replanting it until I finally admitted it was one of the plants that was unsuited to the garden and the climate. 

At the end of three years, we'd accomplished our Five Year Plan. Actually, we'd gone beyond it and were gardening on all sides of the house. For the next couple of years we found ourselves growing vines up the fire escape and filling a Victorian wire plant stand on the back porch with potted plants.

Eventually there was only one place left to go and that was up — onto the roof of our garage (above). We decided we could either add crenellations a la White Castle or huge pots that could hold more plants. We now found ourselves watering plants above our heads. 

And that brought up the question: Just how far were we willing to go to garden?

To read more about how I started gardening, my first garden and the history of this garden, click on My Garden Odyssey in the Categories list.

Comments

[Les]

Your garden looks lush and full, and the cactus was a surprise. I particularly like the garage-top urns. The take a utilitarian structure and turn it into something else. Do you get soaked when they are watered?

[LINDA FROM EACH LITTLE WORLD]

Thanks for the nice comments. It is not at all unusual to find prickly pear cactus growing on the bluffs in Wisconsin which is why I decided to give it a try. And yes, we did get wet more often than not. We never figured out a good way to water the pots without watering ourselves.

[Jim/ArtofGardening.org]

I've had decent luck with over-wintering cactus here in Buffalo too.

Do you ever get back to see your old garden?

[LINDA FROM EACH LITTLE WORLD]

I am trying to grow cactus in my current garden but have not found a spot where it is really happy.

We drive by the house and they still have the same paint job we did 14 years ago! I have not seen the garden but I have heard about it. I think there have been 2 or 3 owners, plus dogs, hot tubs, and children so I am guessing it looks more like it did when we moved in than when we left. I decided when we moved that it was probably best to just keep the memories and not ruin them with a visit!

[Jim/ArtofGardening.org]

It might be too sad to see what state it's in today. I'd love to see photos of what it looks like after different owners, hot tubs, etc.

When we sold my last house (which was my first house & garden) we made the new owners promise to stay on the Garden Walk tour. They were not gardeners previously. They not only stayed on the Walk, but encouraged more neighbors to get on and they've gone from one house on the block (mine/theirs) to 18 houses on the garden tour.

They've done lots to change the garden. Some it needed, some I would have done and other projects I might have done differently. But they love the yard and are extremely happy with it. I guess that is all that matters.

[LINDA FROM EACH LITTLE WORLD]

That is very impressive progress on the block. I think our garden — being mainly in the rear and so dense with perennials — was not a good model for others (new owners or neighbors) to follow. Only a couple people in the neighborhood gardened seriously but that has changed in the years we've been gone.

At this house we are gardening right to the curb and our neighbor has finally linked their garden to ours and reduced the size of their lawn. Lots of folks on the block are now growing a mix of plants — esp. daylilies — across their sloping front yards that run down to the street.

I'm now convinced that neighbors and passers-by need to see the garden out front to get hooked. And, if you are doing it, they are more likely to give it a try. And I've never even had anyone pick a flower as they walk by which is the really amazing thing.

[Angela (In the Cottage Garden)]

I'm loving this series! I'm inspired now to document my journey, too! What a great idea. Do you have a name for it (Wednesday Wackiness or whatever)?

~Angela :-)

[LINDA FROM EACH LITTLE WORLD]

Angela — I don't have a name other than My Garden Odyssey. I'm glad you are enjoying it because I really liked seeing pictures of what you are doing. There is nothing like seeing a garden in progress to get construction tips as well as design ideas.

Stay tuned — as we are about to start documenting the design of our current garden next week.

[Pam/Digging]

This is a great post. It's amazing to me, though I've done it myself, to see what can be accomplished in just a few years of diligent gardening. You really created a lovely garden.

But I understand the impulse to move and start over, having just done the same thing. I'll be following along to see what you tackle next.

[LINDA FROM EACH LITTLE WORLD]

Pam — I'm following along with you, too. If we hadn't documented it all with photos, I think it would be hard to remember how much we actually accomplished. And the blog is so nice because you can explain why you did what you did — and how. No longer do we all have to keep inventing the wheel!