Flower Beds – Fill ‘er up

I happen to love a wandering flowerbed.  That feeling that it almost “just happened” that way.  Like if you go around a bend you might find a secret garden or something.  Now my yard is clearly not big enough to have any of that but that’s what a wandering pathway or flowerbed puts me in mind of.  Sure it makes it harder for mowing and for putting in your edging but it’s worth it in the end 🙂

At first I just made my shape, pulled out all the sod and weeds and rocks and planted a couple perennials because I wasn’t positive what I wanted to do with the patio yet.  

Everything was so tiny that I used some pots and urns to create a little visual interest and height variation the first season and added some red mulch.  Mulch always makes everything look better!

It wasn’t long before I didn’t have a crisp edge anymore and I had grass creeping back into my flowerbed.  I knew I was going to have to put in some edging – I had planned to all along.  I just didn’t know exactly WHAT sort of edging I wanted to put in.  My favorite is brick.  I have a thing for bricks.  I envision a beautiful herringbone brick border along this winding flowerbed someday…..or at least a lovely wide brick border…..at that moment I had to just get something in and so I dug a trench to get the bricks the correct height for my lawn mower, laid them in there and stood on them to pack them down a little.  I know, really a pro job!  It was temporary…..3 years ago lol.

Need a little reminder of the improvement a little sweat equity and mulch can make?

Fast forward a little and we are at the present.  I still plan to widen my brick border and re-level it since it has settled in places and not in others making it a wee bit “wonky”.  I’m filling in the perennials a little each year and have gotten a much better idea of what I want to do with this front patio.  SO many plans!  I’m not going to let the cat out of the bag on everything but suffice it so say there may be a bit more of a set entrance as well as a water feature!  Can you picture it?  I sure can….

This patio and front flowerbed is shaded by the house for most of the day with its sun being a few hours first thing in the morning.  Clearly I need a few more peonies and hydrangeas – am I right?

Oh!  And a new load of red mulch!