Down the Growlery Path

(Originally posted on 1410 OakWood) 

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2012

Visitors (and myself) have been walking through dirt to get to the Growlery. I had some old 6 x 8s that had laid in the weeds out back for a couple of years. Early in the season I fashioned some primitive steps to keep from slip-sliding on the grass. I like to recycle things - I had further plans, but not much material with which to execute them. Then a couple of months ago I hit the mother lode; Lorna's sister, Linda and Larry committed to building a house next door and there were old bricks that suddenly needed a new home. The bricks had been a patio which over the years had become covered in moss and soil, so it was hard to tell how many there were. Lorna and I went into action, digging them out and wheelbarrowing them over and stacking them on the side of the Growlery. They were from the same tower as my existing path bricks, but they were various sized wedges and arcs. This made it a little challenging, but I think it gives the path more character. After I get some plants to soften the edges and moss growing in the cracks I think it will be pretty fine. 

On a run to the City Dump I noticed a particularly harsh colored flamingo sticking out of a bin, calling my name. Flamingos are nice - they are classic kitsch and they help my garden from becoming too rarefied.

Next year I'm going to put a little pocket garden in it's location, lay the pile of cement bricks, and build a couple of facing Gabus benches with wide, flat arms to set bottles on outside the Growlery door.

Drought Daylilies

It's been very dry the past few weeks. The grass crackles as I walk down to the Growlery and perennial garden. Of course I water the perennials, but they are not fooled. They know it is not rainwater and they react in kind - they grow, they bloom, but it is controlled flowering, not the freewheeling there-is-no-tomorrow lushness they have with real rain.

And thank you to Tom Gahr for stopping in for the beer, garden and Growlery tour ("It looks a lot bigger in the photos".)

Overcast Sunday Afternoon

overcast Sunday

Memorial Day Garden Walk

Table

For MEllen. I made this last Fall out of cedar. It's exactly the same size as our dining room table.

Overcast Wednesday Noon

Sunday Afternoon Garden

The roses are just starting - a lot of hardy climbers and small shubby ones - all pink, because I think roses should be pink and a little loose in the blossom ... and it's my garden.

I tend to like small flowered Irises - referred to as "miniature tall bearded" in the trade. They are more graceful and stand up to wind and rain better. Looking at the garden the other day, I made mental note to get rid of most of the extreme patterned ones, and concentrate on the blues, purples and whites. There are also some native species and the Siberian Irises are just starting. At the bottom of the far top picture is a stunning little Iris Setosa Nana , which will stop visitors in their tracks but it really doesn't photograph well - or  I can't photograph it well.