Some cardboard I've been gathering, at the ready for when I need it...
Dug out 2"-4" for the path, then soaked it with boiling water to make sure any seeds that had made it onto the top got cooked and-HOW. Paid special attention to the blasted crape myrtle roots.
Covered "sterilized" path with weed cloth with the help of a few earth staples.
Here's the cardboard - just an extra layer of protection against the weeds, and for FREE! Sure, it'll eventually decompose, but then again, so will the Space Shuttle.
And now, adding the mulch. Five or 6 inches = 5 or 6 bags, and DONE!
Taa DAAAA! Much easier on the feet than pavers in the summer. Will also help keep the soil cooler in the summer. Provides drainage. If weeds do get started in it, they'll be super easy to pull. Eventually, when the mulch starts to break down and become more "soil-like", I can dig it out and add it to my compost bin (yet to be built) to break down completely, and can add more bark mulch to the path!
These zinnias didn't do so hot this summer, but have taken off now that the weather has mellowed. And the dianthus look AMAZING! That's a lavendar sort of squeezed in between the pinks and the orange zinnias. And there's another in the middle of the pic, and off to the left. Hope they'll bloom...
So MUCH color!!
Hard to see, but there are a ton of buds on this rose bush. I've NEVER seen this many. I'll get this one last riot of color before it goes to sleep for the winter. So lovely.
Intoxicating.
Technicolor!
Playing with a new style of garden stake. The others were pushed into the soil, standing only an inch or so over it. I like these because they stand about 2 feet tall, and can actually be SEEN. For this one, I wrapped the end into a wide coil and wound it into the ground. It's not a perfect solution. I almost think if I can just push them far enough in, they'll be anchored enough so that they don't lean and cut into the plants.
"GARLIC"
"ARUGULA"
I'm working on cleaning up this mint-and-strawberries mess. It's going to take some doing!
"RADISHES"
A Halloween-y button bouquet. Dark Opal Basil (the purply green leaves and purple bottle-brush flowers), yellow marigolds, orange marigolds, multi-colored marigolds (from seed)...
Happy Halloween!
I don't know where to start. I love the flowers, first and foremost. Your bouquets are adorable and I am so jealous of your "English garden" beds. You know I took some of the seeds from your dead zinnias and I hope mine do half as well as yours did.
ReplyDeleteNow, for your contest. I definitely see a pill bug in the bed so what do I win? A pretty bouquet, maybe?
Your gardens right now look like mine, as if they have been napalmed. I am sure some will come back so don't be discouraged. You inspire me to work more in my own gardens. Good luck in the spring - I love your blog and can't wait for more updates. You can mail my flowers to me... Sweetpea