My Little Xeric Garden Corner

by Countrymouse

The garden project is what we worked on yesterday. It's still a bit "naked", I have some Sedum, thyme and a whole wack of Semps to add. I'm also looking for more interesting rocks, stumps etc.

The big clay pot had the bottom broken out of it, so I put the smaller pot inside and plan to plant Sempervivum in the space between the two of them.
Feel free to make suggestions.

*Note the big log filled with semps. in the foreground.
I WISH I'd thought to take a "before" photo. The lattice was completely buried under Honey Suckle and the space below was a jungle of weeds and a few desirable plants that were buried under weeds. It occurred to me at the end of the day that I should have taken a "before" photo, but Alison absolutely refused to put everything back. (smirk)

Actually, it was a huge job for such a tiny spot. The ground is clay so was really hard in spite of all the rain we've had. It was over 30 degrees yesterday, with the humidity factor taking it to 38... and that piece gets full sun all day.

We ripped out the foliage, and wheelbarrowed it to the back of the property where I have an area that I put all the "large compostibles" There were about 20 loads I'd think.

We then worked up the ground and removed several wheelbarrows of soil to the same spot. Then, off to my parents farm and shovelled a load of gravel onto their trailer, drove back home, shoveled the gravel off the trailer onto about 15 - 16 wheelbarrow loads and put that over the landscaping cloth we'd laid down, returned to the farm, got a load of bigger rocks and repeated the process.

We started around 11 a.m. and finished close to 7 p.m. It was a lot of work, but a great feeling of accomplishment. I'm SO grateful to my sister and 9 yr. old niece, both of whom worked tirelessly and didn't even want to stop for lunch. They eventually agreed to a bit of sliced cucumbers in Caesar salad dressing.... but turned down everything I offered, including pizza, subs, macaroni salad, sandwiches etc. etc.
No wonder they're so slim!!

This morning I got up and put in some semps. but will continue to work at it over the next couple of months. It's a start.

Alison is convinced the Honey Suckle will push it's way up in the spring but I'd be amazed, there's a good 4 in. of gravel, PLUS some really heavy rocks over where it was AND we got out a lot of the root. There are a few places under the porch where it had rooted, but if I keep cutting it off where it emerges for light it SHOULD just give up and die - shouldn't it? She was also not convinced we'd seen the last of the Mallow.
Ah well, time will tell.

I still have to replant a Japanese Maple, couple of iris's and peony tubers that were in the overgrown spot. I swear I could use a staff of six some days!