Recent Garden Acquisitions

[Roland Deschain]

You have a very nice garden there, Pieces. It appears that V is a wannabe Capability Brown, and a very good one, too. Why you no pose for photos?

Oh, and just in case you don't already know, using quicklime will hide the smell of the bodies, and allow for a faster decomposition rate. Allegedly.

[Opsa]

Yeah, but that powder on the soil is a dead giveaway to the cops. I (just for the sake of argument, mind you) prefer a cement slab with a nice patio built on top. If you grill with lots of onions, that covers the smell quite nicely as well. Of course, you'll be grilling a lot of onions over the next few months, so plant plenty in your veg patch.

[Roland Deschain]

^ Sometimes I find both myself and others quite disturbing.

[pieces o nine]

I'll pass on the tips to her; there *is* a really nice grill in the lower patio deck, so we're h alfway there...   

[pieces o nine]

So, my herb "garden" is rubbish next to Roland's dedicated work, but they've settled into the planters V ordered me to use offered and have survived their first hailstorm and hard rains.  I've always jammed herbs into small spaces and had abundant harvests. You can tell what I like to cook or brew non-commercial tea with!


back, counterclockwise from 12:00:
Lavender, Apple Mint, Orange Mint, Peppermint, Spearmint, Tri-color Sage.
center, (3!) plants:  Chocolate Mint -- on sunny days the aroma is fantastic!

front, counterclockwise from 12:00:
Boxwood Basil, Cinnamon Basil, Lemon Basil, Purple Basil, [edit] Sweet Basil [/edit], Thai Basil, Variegated Basil.
center:  Italian Parsley, Curly Parsley, Greek Oregano.



The chives by the front step are three summers established now and buzzing with bees this morning.

[pieces o nine]

And here is the finished re-worked pond:




V, Benji (chihuahua), and Yoda enjoying their work.




And here is Dom contemplating one of the trees she received for Mother's Day. This one was selected and carefully sited by her plant specialist to shade the deck when full grown; its roots won't interfere with retaining wall, electrical or plumbing, and the branches won't pose any threat to the roof in windstorms.

Why the sink, you ask? I have asked that as well.   
I have threatened to half-sink an old bathtub on end and create a Virgin Mary Grotto as a counterpoint.  (The simulated grotto is one of those inexplicable folk traditions in rural Catholic areas of Merka.)

[Roland Deschain]

So, my herb "garden" is rubbish next to Roland's dedicated work...

You've still done some sterling work, and managed to fit an awful lot into little space.

...but they've settled into the planters V ordered me to use offered...

PoN ----> <---- V

You can tell what I like to cook or brew non-commercial tea with!

Lavender? (I know it's mint)

And here is the finished re-worked pond

Very nice work there. You and V should be proud of what's been achieved. Now for the upkeep.

And here is Dom contemplating one of the trees she received for Mother's Day.

I think he's rather contemplating doing this in the new ground ---->

Why the sink, you ask? I have asked that as well.   

For washing hands?

I have threatened to half-sink an old bathtub on end and create a Virgin Mary Grotto as a counterpoint.  (The simulated grotto is one of those inexplicable folk traditions in rural Catholic areas of Merka.)

There's only one statue that your could possibly put into there... You know it's the way forward.

[Opsa]

Ha! I rather like the sink. I'm a fan of eccentric gardens. It would make a great bird bath.

Pieces is so talented, I'm sure she could come up with an amazing statue. Maybe a cross between the Blessed Virgin and the Great Squid.

[Swatopluk]

Not a statue but an image
http://www.regretsy.com/2009/12/09/calimari-full-of-grace/

[pieces o nine]

    *someone* insisted on dumping handfuls of chicken manure ON TOP OF (not around the base of) all my herbs, then buried half the longer stems under an 1-1/2" of mulch. Yes, the trees love this. Hello. These are not 4 foot trees.

So, about one plant in four is a dessicated, leafless twig today, another fourth I have carefully pulled longer stems from under the mulch to try and save them, as well as unburied all the plastic identifiers. I am not a happy sibling.

But there is no point in saying anything; I know this from past experience. I will have to see if I can find replacements (the "good" plants are already gone, and those remaining have doubled or tripled in price at this point in the season).   

[Darlica]

Holy Basil!

I thought she of all people would know better...  

I hope you find replacements for the lost ones.

Perhaps you should adopt a corner of the garden as yours and make clear that this area is of limits of any body else? 

[pieces o nine]

Alas, that will not work. I did find two replacements, but at this point I just have to wait out her zealous, total conversion to 'chikken-pooing' anything that is poking above the ground. Meanwhile, I will be methodically (slowly, carefully) removing all contaminated leaves before harvesting anything for human consumption. Fortunately, the dogs are only too happy to eat them, so plants won't be wasted.

[Roland Deschain]

I'm sorry to hear of your herb loss, PoN. They should come back again, but it'll take some time for that to happen, especially if they aren't yet established. Look upon this as a learning experience in what not to do. Maybe some sort of cage around them would stop unwanted poo covering?

[Opsa]

Hi ho. (According to Roz Chast, that's the "call of the mild".)

At our fundraiser this weekend I bought some plants from a local native plant vendor. They are:

1) a good size Salix purpurea, or purple willow bush. I have a place in the garden where I can spy an old, rusty unused water tank from two properties over, and I hope to use this to screen it.

2) a pair of Mazus reptans, a blossoming, low growing ground cover. Not sure exactly where I'll put these, but she gave me a 1/2 price deal on them. I might try them near my walkway from the driveway to the back garden.

[Roland Deschain]

I'm loving the new plants. The Mazus will make a beautiful groundcover for you, especially when it flowers, and the Salix has some lovely flower heads and bush shape.