Work in progress: The circle garden
For Spring Break I did a week of hard labor, digging out grass and live-oak suckers, shaking dirt out of the turf in order to reduce my yard waste and conserve good soil, moving small boulders, and wheel-barrowing 5 cubic yards of soil (still moving the last yard or two today) from the street to the back yard. This is the hard part of making my new circle garden.
It was in the low 80s all last week, beautiful weather really, but I should live in Norway because I sweat buckets when working in temps above 70 degrees. In my grubby gardening clothes, soil-stained socks, and shapeless gardening hat, with dirt-sticky sunscreened arms and a red face from the heat and exhaustion—yeah, let’s just say I wasn’t going anywhere near a camera. In fact, I didn’t think anyone could be dirtier than I was at the end of each day, but my dirt-loving daughter proved me wrong. Those are her feet.
It’s a work in progress, but this is how it’s coming along. Since I took this picture, I got the remaining grass cleaned out and put the good soil in all the new beds. Today I’ll scrape up the last of the soil and top off the beds, mounding them (except under the live oaks, where I added only a thin layer of soil so as not to smother the root system) to allow for settling.
The biggest and choicest segment of the new circle garden is for the kids, who want a space of their own. I’m happy to encourage that, design be damned, though of course I will teach them about putting taller plants in the back and clustering them for impact. At this point we’re mostly working with freebies (seeds, divisions from my old garden and generous friends), and we’ll be trialing some Proven Winner plants in there too. (More on that later.) Money was spent on top-notch soil, which is what really counts. Later I can add cool plants and the stone edging I really want. For now the boulders that I found at the bottom of the garden will do to hold in the soil in most of the new beds. I didn’t have enough rocks to edge two sections, unfortunately, but it’ll work just to mound the soil for now, hold it in place with shredded hardwood mulch, and keep the grass from invading by spading the edge.
Whew. I’m tired. But I’ll leave you with a long shot of the lower garden, a naturalistic area along the back fence, which, if you’re interested, is chain-link disguised by wired-on skinny cedar posts. There are some great native Texas plants back here that we inherited with the house. That’s a Mexican buckeye on the left, crossvine on the fence, and the white trunks of two Texas persimmons on the right. Everything is growing under a dappled canopy of live oaks and the deciduous gum bumelia tree in the middle. The shrubs just in front of the crossvine are pyracantha and pineapple guava, also planted by the previous owners. I don’t recommend the pyracantha, as it’s on the invasives list for Austin, but the pineapple guava seems good so far.
The kids swam in the pool one time over Spring Break but declined to take a second dip. Still too cold, apparently. If I hadn’t been so dirty each evening, I’d have considered it myself.
All material © 2006-2009 by Pam Penick for Digging. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited.
Whew, I am worn out just reading your list of accomplishments Pam. I love watching the evolution of your garden. It is wonderful that your children help too. I can remember those days and I often
lament “where are my children when I need them”. tee hee… My daughter is a devoted gardener and my son is a man that doesn’t have to be prompted to mow the garden. So I guess I can say it does pay to have them help in the garden.
That’s good to hear, Lisa. You cultivated a passion in them while you were cultivating your garden. —Pam
Sounds like a lot of family work (and fun)! I look forward to your blog stories as your new garden blooms!
Cameron
Stay tuned, Cameron! —Pam
You have been a busy gardener…I found myself nodding yes when you said you ought to be from Norway…you sweat buckets. My German/Irish genetics scream “get me out of this heat” when the temperatures go above 80 degrees! You’ve accomplished a lot Pam and it really looks great..Is the crossvine as spectacular as it looks in this photo! Have a relaxing day…soon the pool will warm up and you will be cooling off with a swim! gail
Yes, the crossvine looks pretty great, even though it gets a good deal of shade. I’m impressed. —Pam
I know exactly what you mean about shaking out grass when you dig it up, before throwing it in the yard waste bin–somehow I thought I was the only one who did that, just because it gets quite tedious after a while. I also get really dirty and sweaty when I garden and prefer temps no higher than 70 for gardening (and really anything, frankly!). I sometimes volunteered at gardening workdays and was always amazed how most other people stayed more or less clean and I was dirty more or less head to toe! When I used to have gardening clients, I got really used to looking that way and went shopping on my way home in that state!
You’re braver than I am, Monica. I try very hard not to venture out in my dirty gardening clothes. I don’t want to scare anyone. —Pam
It looks great! I don’t mind sweating and getting dirty while I am working in the yard. It is not as humid here so 80 is the perfect temperature for me. When it gets 100+ then I don’t enjoy it as much! It is great your kids take an interest too!!!
Thanks, Cindee. Low humidity does make a big difference. Alas, our air is usually saturated. —Pam
Pam- that is an amazing amount of soil to move. I’m glad you had some help! I bet you felt good about your accomplishment at the end of the toil and I hope someone else made dinner. I know the pyracantha if invasive but I have espaliered on the wall and it is too gorgeous to do away with. Usually the cedar waxwings get the berries but this year the squirrel had everyone during the dry summer. I guess they provided some moisture. Either that or he just discovered it.
Looking forward to seeing what you plant in those new beds,
Jenny
Oops, I just realized that I typed the wrong amount. It was actually five yards of soil, and I finally finished it up this morning. Yea! No, no one else makes dinner, and on these kinds of work days, mine is likely to come out of a can or a box. —Pam
“Pigpen” from the Charlie Brown comics should be our mascot! Love what you are doing in your backyard. I’m inspired now to gather up the boulders (boulderettes?)from around this yard to border the new flower beds in my dog’s yard. (the one place the deer won’t go)why didn’t I think of that myself? The pineapple guava is almost impossible to kill but I found out last year that it will succumb to severe drought. They have cute flowers. Pyracantha is a great source of food for the birds..just don’t go barefoot near it.
“Boulderettes”—I love it. You’re right about the pineapple guava. I didn’t water mine regularly last fall, and they got pretty wilted. —Pam
I’m tired thinking about everything that you have accomplished. That is a lot of physical labor, but it will be so worth it. It already looks great!
I always shake my dirt loose too. On this hard clay, I’m not going to waste a speck of good dirt if I can help it.
Gardeners recognize the value of good dirt, don’t we? —Pam
I see things are moving right on along! I’m excited to see the finished project.:-)I can’t wait until it’s all planted and grown in some.
Oh, me too, Randy! —Pam
Pam, that is going to be a lovely circle garden! Isn’t there something satisfying about removing tired old grass and introducing structure and form? I look forward to watching the progress!
Thanks, Sheila. Yes, structure makes such a difference in the experience of a garden. —Pam
It’s looking great already. I admire your ability to allow the kids to claim some prime real estate, but that is the best way to encourage them. I’m thinking of giving my daughter some space out front, as the area she has in the back garden is too shady for her to grow what she wants.
You should, MMD. Too much shade isn’t fun for any gardener, even budding ones. I’d love to see what she does with it. —Pam
There is such a feeling of accomplishment when you can see your progress. You’ve got a beautiful spread, Pam. I like the cedar wired to the fence.
Thanks, Grace. I like that fence too. It was such a great idea, and even better, I didn’t have to do it! —Pam
Oooh! That Circle Garden is gonna be nice! I enjoy watching the transformation – please keep posting updated pics. I also was outside working in the garden this weekend and burnt myself all lobster-like. I was only out there for an hour! Gotta remember that sunscreen….
Thanks, Michelle. You can be sure I’ll keep posting pics of the evolving circle garden. Ouch about the sunburn, and so early in the season. —Pam
That is one heckuva lot of soil to haul around. My back hurts just thinking about it! But it looks like very lovely soil. That circle garden is really going to be great. Gotta run – need to get outside and sweat some too.
Oh, Jean, I wish you could feel this soil. It’s wonderful! Have fun gardening too. —Pam
Looks great! I always told my friends that the reason I drove a van was that it gave me an excuse to sweat like a truckdriver. No sweat, no gain …
Good one! But a pickup would be even better because you could haul dirt around in it while you sweat. 😉 —Pam
Love the dirty feet picture – it looks very familiar, as my kiddos love to play in the dirt as well. Last year my preschooler picked up a pruned leaf, planted it upright in the sandy digging area (not quite a sandbox), and declared it growing! Your circle area is going to be lovely. I’m enjoying watching the transformation.
Your preschooler sounds like he’s ready to start gardening. Cute story about the leaf. —Pam
So two questions occur to me: First, have you drawn out a master plan for this yard or are you playing it by ear?
Second, how will you cope with all the tree roots you must have all around the huge trees? You will have to put something in those places for the eyes to rest on and those areas are my challenge as well!
Chris, I’m drawing mini-plans for certain sections of the garden-to-be, but that’s mostly for the front yard, which I haven’t started on yet. But in the back, I’ve just been thinking it all through in my head and using marking paint to experiment with bed lines on the ground. Before I plant I usually sketch various options out on paper and think it over a while. But I don’t worry about it too much in my own garden because I know I can always move something if it doesn’t work.
I’m being very careful with the live-oak roots, spreading only an inch or so of composted soil over them. I plan to use mostly ground covers there (sedges, heuchera, heartleaf skullcap, etc.), and I’ll just buy very small plants so as not to disturb the roots any more than absolutely necessary. Focal points can come from garden ornament or a potted plant. —Pam
I love the look of your rustic Adirondacks. Wish I could find some like that. Can’t wait to see the finished garden!
Brenda
The Adirondacks looked fresh and new a few years ago. Time and weather have given them that rustic look. —Pam
Hi Pam, that is some good looking soil! Good thing you got this heavy lifting out of the way before the truly hot temps come, or is it too late and they are already there? It was a little later than this when we were in Austin and the weather seemed quite nice. 🙂
Frances
Oh no, the hot weather isn’t even here yet. It usually settles in around May. But I find 80 degrees to be plenty hot when I’m working in the garden. See? This is why I should live in Norway. 🙂 —Pam
I can almost feel the sweat dripping in sympathy for all your hard work. I think you might consider finding a corner for an outside shower so you can rinse then dive in the pool. What a relief that would be. Love the circle garden and the pool area.
Thanks, Layanee. I guess next time I could just hose off and then jump in. That would be easier than putting in an outdoor shower and just as effective. 😉 —Pam
Love the circle!
Thanks, Becky. —Pam
It all looks so good. I’m tired just reading what you have accomplished in the last 2 days in particular.
Gracious, I thought I was the only one with feet that looked like that. Oh, but it feels good.
Thanks, Lola. I’m taking today to do inside work, of which I have plenty, to give my aching muscles time to recover. Planting can wait a few days. —Pam
It’s looking great, Pam. That soil looks awesome, wish I could get some of it here!
I wish you could too, Cindy. It’s good stuff! —Pam
Lovely garden Pam. It’s been awfully humid the last week or so, but at least it’s not in the 90s. I would be interested in knowing more about your decorated chain link fence. I’ve got an ugly old fence in my garden over near Mueller that needs some hiding!
“At least it’s not in the 90s.” Quite right, Patrick! If one can say that, then it’s all good. Unless that means it’s in the 100s. 😉
As for the fence, tall, skinny cedar poles are wired in a line in front of the chain-link fence, effectively hiding it from view and creating a dark, naturalistic screen. I love it. I’ve also seen this technique with rolled bamboo fencing placed in front of chain-link. It’s easy and works great. —Pam
Wow, Pam – I’m still recovering from last Saturday’s Divas of the Dirt project – your work sounds like a whole week of Diva Days! You may be a secret Norwegian, but you’re acting like a Texas cowgirl – managing to put the “Digging” brand on that yard full of dogies already. It’s a pleasure to see the shapes emerge on your new landscape, with the chairs starting to look at home and an iconic Crossvine adding burnt orange to your spring photos.
A couple of the Divas have pyracanthas and some of our projects involved pruning them. So even though I don’t grow them, I know them. The chance to demolish a couple of Pyracanthas as part of last Saturday’s project was a source of great pleasure to me.
I bet you did enjoy hacking back that pyracantha, Annie. They have devilish thorns though. I hope you wore adequate protection and gave as good as you got. —Pam
Annie at the Transplantable Rose
Awesome, and that’s a nice big circle if the spade is an indication. I came away thinking it was smaller in earlier pictures (maybe because my own garden is so small, I tend to personalize pictures by mentally translating the scene in to a smaller space). It’s 80 in my garden right now, but dry.
Didn’t you like how I left the spade, trash bin, and sweat-mopping towel in the picture for scale? 😉 The circle is 16 and 1/2 feet in diameter. —Pam