White Bee Balm and pink/purple Bee Balm

 

The annuals in my pots this year - month two

Here is where they all are, today -

Rectangle garden photos

If you missed them, there are four posts, previous to this one, showing the work on this flower bed.

Again, here is the before photo -

Taken June 16 and June 17, 2024 -

Section 1 (Great Blue Lobelia and dark purple irises) -

Section 2 (day lilies, dark purple irises, two sections of bee balm) -

Section 3 (anise hyysop, hibiscus, day lilies, clematis, Siberian irises)

Section 4 (Siberian irises, bearded irises, salvia, cone flowers, phlox, Stokes asters)

More photos from a different view/side - 

And from the other side - 

Sections 3 and 4

The back half of the rectangular bed, sections 3 and 4, was heavily planted, and contained a lot of weeds.

A word about thistles and dandelions. If I can, I aggressively dig. If it is deep in a grouping, where I can not dig, I carefully paint the leaves with round up concentrate. 

I do better with like plants together. I do better with large groupings of identical plants, so they have good definition. 

This (weeds and definition) meant we dug up and moved a lot of plants in sections 3 and 4. Often it was easier to dig up an area and replant it. I pitched a lot in sections 3 and 4. I only kept what I loved that likes this bed. 

One of the hardest factors was well established Irises, with no weeds in them, were right in the way of the path. At first I thought these were Japanese Irises. But now I think Siberian.

I knew there were two colors of the Siberian irises, white and purple, I did not know where they met. I could not find any old photos to help. 

I just had to make a guess and hope I moved all the white ones successfully. I will make corrections next year. 

I used rabbit wire to help mark several groupings of plants.  These rabbit wire fences define the plants for me as something special. The rabbit fences are generous in size. There is room for the plants to grow. I want them to spread, I may have to increase/change the rabbit wire over time. The rabbit wire also prevents rabbits from demolishing special plants. 

I bought 8 bags of dirt (Lowe’s) to help with this project. It filled in holes, from where we aggressively removed weeds, and it helped level the path. I only use this brand, it is very clean dirt.

My husband used a very long 2x4, on its side, with a level on top, to create the level paths. He is very good at it. 

Sections 1 and 2

I have numbered the quadrants of the rectangular bed for convenience. The string helped me visualize the four quadrants of the bed and the middle sections that needed cleared for the path.

Great Blue Lobelia abounds in section 1 of the  rectangle garden. I think it started as three individual plants and spread. (I normally plant in 3’s.) 

It loves this flower bed. 

In the redo, it was awarded most of section 1, its own corner. It will make a big statement when it blooms in the fall.

I started by weeding the Great Blue Lobelia corner, there were thistles. Then I looked for Great Blue Lobelia starts all over the other parts of the rectangular bed and moved them all to the corner. I used the strings as my guide. 

This is a good example of doing the easiest thing first, to gain momentum. 

In the second front corner, section 2, I concentrated on day lilies first. There were already several day lilies planted in Section 2. I located and dug up daylilies from all over this rectanglar bed. So many day lilies! Every time I thought I had them all, I found a couple more. 

Spring blooming, small, dark purple irises were added to both section 1 and 2. 

I dug them from all over the bed, every time I thought I had all of them, I found more. (I think these are all identical, if there are mismatches, next spring, I will simply move them.)

In section 1, the irises are planted in a L shape next to the path. 

In section 2, the irises are scattered among the day lilies. 

These small dark purple irises will be the first thing up and blooming next spring. They should show nicely in sections 1 and 2. 

Two separate clumps of Bee Balm were right in the way of two lengths of the pathway bordering section 2. This was tough. I did not know what color either Bee Balm was. I love Bee Balm. We kept each set separate and moved them to opposite sides of section 2. (There is also red Bee Balm in section 3.)

Having a plan made a huge difference

 

https://newayscenter.com/action-is-the-antidote-to-despair

The rectangular flower bed in our backyard has been neglected every year. I simply never have the time to get to it. Other beds are always the priority. 

I would not say I have despaired over this bed. It also has not made me sad, mad or frustrated. 

It is more that I recognized it as a lost opportunity, every single year. I sigh over it, but I do not cry over it. 

I have always looked at it as a whole unit - messy, unorganized, weeds, no vision, daunting. It seemed impossible to find the time to make this garden tidy.

This year, I thought - if I really am never going to get to this bed, maybe I should take it apart and grass over the area. Use it or lose it. 

That thought was painful. We put a lot of time creating this walled bed. 

This year, contemplating dismantling it, inspiration hit. 

What made the difference? This year? 

Having a great plan.

In May, talking to my dog neighbor, we realized that if I divided the bed into quarters, I would have four tiny gardens. 

This changed my perspective immediately. 

Small flower beds felt doable.

Small beds felt darling. 

I am very visual. My flower beds are very visual. 

We realized two intersecting paths down the middle of this flower bed would divide the garden into four tiny flower beds. 

We realized the pathways needed to be very defined/visual. 

We contemplated pea gravel, mulch, river rock. In the end we settled on large rectangular pavers. 

We already had seven large identical rectangular pavers (Mennards, $12 each). We bought 5 more, identical. We also bought one round paver for the center. The round paver was middle’s idea to handle the directionality of the rectangular pavers and the math. 

This concept had a lot of pluses -

- create visual interest/art with the geometric shapes of the large pavers

- allow easy walking in the garden. 

- allow easy maintenance in the garden. 

- make this flower bed a source of pride.

Here (below) is my starting point, a “before” photo with digital lines added.

 

This concept had a lot of things going for it. The first big one is would reduce the volume of plants in the bed. I would have to move/remove plants to make way for the pavers. 

This would force me to take a hard look at everything in the garden. Many plants would be rearranged. Some things might go to other gardens in our yard. Other things would be rehomed. Some plants would be pitched. 

We hunted in the garage and came up with one 3’ rebar. We purchased three more at 4’ each.

Middle measured and pounded them in at the half way point on all four sides.  

We looped heavy string to mark the center lines, both directions. This string (below) showed me where the path would be located. The purple irises, we moved in late May, were directly on this path, so I had a head start. 

Then I continued removing/rearranging plants from all over this bed. I dug, my husband planted.

Note - diagonal paths would be much more interesting, but made no sense in view of where plants were already established. And middle and I both think this bed is not large enough to handle diagonal lines. If it was a huge garden, starting from scratch, diagonal would be lovely.

The first step in what evolved into a large project

This was the first step in what turned out to be a big project. I will explain the big project in tomorrow’s post. 

May 2024, the tall double bearded irises were in bloom, in several different areas in my flower beds.

I plant/put like things together. So my identical irises are mostly planted together. 

There are multiple/different shades of purple irises in the rectangular bed (above). The only time to tell them apart is when they are in bloom. 

I tied orange ribbons around identical/specific two toned purple irises the Friday morning of Memorial Day weekend. I did not have enough orange ribbon for all them so I carefully marked the perimeter of the grouping. The orange ribbon is on the irises in the above photo. One has to zoom in and have an eagle eye to see it. 

We went to help youngest unpack over the holiday weekend. When we returned, all the irises were spent. It was impossible to tell the different purple/colors apart. The ribbons saved me. 

The two toned purple irises moved to join their identical mates in the front yard. 

My husband helped me move all of them on May 31. He took the day off work to help me garden. (Between us we make up one person. I can still dig. He can still plant.)

These (white circle below) are all the ones we moved. 

The irises now create a large curved border around the edge of the mass of Stella Dora’s. 

This border also helps us “take back” our property, the irises extend this bed closer to the string marking the property line. 

Knock on wood, this grouping should be fabulous next year. 

This is how I like to design/plant. I love very large groupings of identical plants, so when they bloom, there is a wow factor. 

I am pretty confident all these irises are identical. If I have a surprise next year, I will simply move the mismatch. 

Below are two photos of the irises in bloom earlier this spring - 

Butterfly weed

 

Rachel Joyce

Note one -  

Rachel Joyce is a British author I enjoy, her writing is excellent. 

I would not likely have found her on my own. 

This is why book groups are very good for me. 

Note two - 

I listen to all books. I use the library audio book loan systems and also Audible. I use the words “read” and “listen” interchangeably as I write. But every book is “read” in the audio format. I read no hardcopy books. 

Background - 

I have belonged to other book groups in the past. They are all gone now. I currently belong to three new-to-me book groups. One of the groups meets twice each month. So I read four books a month and then attend the groups to talk about them. They meet at different locations - a library, two different coffee shops, a community meeting house. All the groups are facilitated by librarians. The librarians chose all the books. 

My youngest daughter attends one in person book group a month where she lives. It is at a library and organized by a librarian. It is a big active group. They have a carry in holiday party, in December, at the librarian’s home. Each monthly book is chosen by the group. They pick the books for the whole year in advance. A different member facilitates each book. 

My other daughter attends one book group that meets in a group call every Sunday night. They read a few chapters at a time. These are all people she knows, who live around the country. The rest of the members are all guys, she is the only female. She gardens or cleans while they chat. 

Today’s post -

One of my book groups assigned Maureen by Rachel Joyce. 

I was super pleased to discover Rachel Joyce is a British author. British books, in audio format, are a treat for me. Love the accents. Love the vocabulary. 

Here is the list of Rachel Joyce’s books - 

Rachel Joyce has short stories and novelettes also. 

Maureen is the third in a series. I read the first two Harold Fry books before I read the assignment/Maureen. 

I am someone who prefers to read books in chronological order. With this Harold Fry series, it is vital they are read in order. 

The librarian did not realize Maureen was part of a series when she assigned it. I was the only person to read all three books in order before the meeting. 

Note - Maureen was originally published as Maureen Fry and the Angel of the North. The book lists I found online were confusing until I realized the title had been changed.

So I started with The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry. I struggled for the equivalent of just a couple pages, then settled in beautifully. It was well written. Although, I did not like the main character, I really liked the book. 

The Love Song of Miss Queenie Hennessy was an outstanding book, really excellent.

Maureen was also very good. 

These three books would make a great subject for a college literature class. Yes, I do recommend them, but be forewarned if you are triggered by cancer/death.

The Harold Fry series/writing/story reminded me a little bit of another series. 

Because I read at least four books a month, and read book club books so I finish just before the meeting, it is a delicate balance to fit all my reading in order. 

If I like a book club book, I usually read all the books by that author. I usually read books in chronological order. With book club finds, the order becomes tricky. 

I listened to the Harold Fry series (great series) and Perfect (below) before the book club meeting. Perfect was good, but not outstanding. 

Then I listed to another book for one of my other book groups. 

Then I listened to The Bookstore (below), which was good, but not outstanding.

Then there was another book for one of my other book groups, and then I finished Miss Benson’s Beetle, which was really excellent.