The Bad and Ugly, Part 2

The weather this weekend was gorgeous! I couldn't have asked for better. It barely got up to 90 with a slight cooling breeze all weekend. Partly cloudy, so we got relief from the sun every once in a while. It threatened to rain on Saturday afternoon, but it missed us. We were out in the yard all day Saturday and Sunday. Chip was off this weekend, and I was excited to have a helper.

I inhereted a bed that spans the entire right edge of my backyard. Only a small corner of the bed gets sun throughout the day, and that's where I planted my herb garden. The rest of the bed is either full shade or part shade.



The back corner of this bed was like the other bed. Some good looking azaleas and many dead ones. The top photo is what it looked like after I dug out all the dead ones and added an Adam's Needle yucca (passalong from my mother) under the tree.

When we moved in we planted a "Little Gem" magnolia in the middle of the bed in between the two palms. The long fence really needed something to draw the eye to in the middle of the bed. Well, that tree died, so we are back at square one. The soil there is in major need of help. Hard, compacted, and depleted.The second photo is what it looked like after we dug out the dead magnolia. The last photo is what it looked like after we cleared some space.

Some space for what, you ask? We've decided to add a brick patio area where the magnolia was. Nothing seemed to be growing well there. The soil was just too compacted. A patio seemed like a good idea. Definitely something that will draw the eye to the middle of the bed. I think we'll probably add a bench and a grouping of container plants. Chip has already done a good bit of work on the patio, and I can't wait until it is all done. I'll post photos then.

As for the back corner, I added edgers this weekend to help define the area a bit better. I am short about 12 blocks, but I'll finish it up eventually. Chip added some mulch.


Already this is looking better. I obviously need more plants. On my short list are hydrangeas, camillias for winter interest, and possible another Japanese Magnolia (aka tulip tree) on the right side of the big tree.

I am so happy this is finally coming together! More photos of the patio to come soon.