Swapping Huckleberries
Himalayan Honeysuckle ( Vaccinium glauco album) Himalayan Honeysuckle ( Vaccinium glauco album) has been an attractive feature along our north-facing foundation since I planted it in 2016. You will have to take my word for it since I cannot locate a photo although I know one exists somewhere in the realm of the Internet or floating on a cloud somewhere. I did locate a photo of how it looked when it was first planted - It took a few years to fill out but it did so nicely to an attractive mound about 2 feet high by 3 feet wide. Last year, it started to look bad. I cut it back but it had not improved and this is how it looked a few weeks ago - I decided to rip it out and plant another huckleberry - this time Vaccinium ovatum , more commonly known as the "Evergreen Huckleberry". This is a plant that I've wanted for ages and kept putting off getting one because I could not find a good place for it. By most accounts, this is an amazing plant, a native one and excellent for
The work may never end but the results are dramatic. You have turned this yard into a beautiful garden. I have so enjoyed seeing the transformation. Just WOW.
ReplyDeleteP.S. When I say 'you' I mean You and Michael. I know he has helped tremendously. :)
ReplyDeleteHe is doing a tremendous amount of work and he keeps it weeded. It would be a huge mess if I had to do it all because my work schedule is pretty full right now.
DeleteYour garden is looking fabulous ! You've done so much since last year . I love your woodland path .
ReplyDeleteAnd we are pretty much out of places to plant things there. Sigh!
DeleteYour garden looks wonderful! All your hard work is paying off. It's true, the work never stops with a garden.
ReplyDeleteIt truly does not. And when you think you have it finished, you start re-doing it.
DeleteOh Phillip, your garden looks amazing. All that hard work has transformed the space into something really special!
ReplyDeleteThank you Peter!
DeleteSo beautiful! You've done so much work, made so many good changes in the little time you've been on this property. I especially like the statue and the Pan garaden (very original) and all the steps with plantings.
ReplyDeleteI know where all your good weather went. Down here. We are having best May weather we've seen in years, cloudy days, cool nights) and it is making the flowers last a long time.
Thank you - Enjoy the weather!
DeleteI'm so glad to see a few overview shots of your garden, it looks amazing. I wonder how you'll mow the grass on the center steps. It could be a challenge.
ReplyDeleteYeah, that is what Michael says. Maybe a reel mower or weed eater? Not sure, but perhaps I should think more on this.
DeleteI found success with wooly thyme: good coverage and no mowing.
DeleteYes, I don't think I would put grass on the steps, but then I like removing grass much better than planting it. I think you do, too? Corsican mint used to be a popular ground cover, though it often died out on me. I remember what I think was called Kenilworth ivy in my Portland back yard - it was easy to pull but it did spread. It was very light and airy - not dense like regular ivy. I'm so glad you showed these areas in the back yard - I've been keeping my fingers crossed that they would show up soon in a post. Do you have 3 sets of steps? It all looks magnificent. Great job, Phillip!
ReplyDeleteLooks awesome! Did you build the gravel patio yourselves? I'm thinking to replace the (slowly decaying) wood deck out back with a gravel patio, but haven't the faintest idea how/where to begin...
ReplyDeleteIt is actually just a pathway covered with gravel. :)
DeleteHm. At risk of revealing my ignorance (too late?) do you mean it was originally just a dirt pathway and then you covered it in gravel? If so, did you do any prep work to the pathway (e.g., grading or leveling) or did you literally just pour some gravel on top and rake it level? And how deep is the gravel? (Yep, I'm an ignoramus when it comes to gravel paths and patios!)
DeleteIt was just lawn at the bottom of the slope. We removed the grass, leveled it up and then covered it with gravel. Right now it is only about 1-2 inches thick. We keep borrowing it to put in other places and at the bottom of pots. I will probably add more to it over time.
DeleteThank you for diminishing my ignorance a little, Phillip! :)
Deleteit is amazing how far you have come with your garden in such a short time! I wish I had you energy and ability. Hopefully I'm done with foot and knee aliments so I can get really busy in my garden. Love seeing what all ya'll have done! Hugs
ReplyDeleteThank you Carol. I know I don't have the energy that I used to have!
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