We're enjoying a week of mild weather. I made plans to pick up some of the leaves and chop down perennials in the front garden. When I walked outside, I had a sudden realization -I just wanted to be in the back garden.. I don't think that is the case all year, Springtime brings me to the front.
Then summer scorch takes a toll, and this time of year brings the blah.
You put stickers on your bins, too?
Not pictured is the recycle can, it stays in the garage for easy access from the kitchen. Will share in a future post.
Anyway, in this tiny section by the driveway I noticed the Mangave 'Bad Hair Day' was flourishing. Despite this area getting doused by the neighbor's DAILY sprinklers. This area also gets run off from the sloped bed above. *My neighbor is a lovely person and isn't physically able to tend her garden. She has a service who loves sprinklers and blowers. Enough said. I'll clean up the area and fill with low growing succulents. We need good sightlines for bicyclers/walkers.
Come with me.
I stuck it in the back slope, I may move it but it will be safe here for now.
Ugh, I didn't remove all the leaves but I needed to clean out some. Unless I want 10 million earwigs in the spring. Also harshly trimmed down the Cotinus Royal Purple, it pushes fresh growth early spring.
I was reminded there are many things I DO love in the front. Each and every staghorn by Ivan.
This double mounted set recently started to fall, too heavy.
Look at that lip curl! Hello Mr. Handsome.
Bright aloe blooms popping off.
The monster Monstera Ivan moved outside is unfurling a new leaf. I'm hoping January & February temps aren't too mean.
Newer area leading to the porch -Pyrrosia, rocks, corten planters, Arenaria, Deuterochnia brevifolia, Pseudopanax crassifolius, etc.is holding nicely through the winter.
Pyrrosia lingua Keikan
So, I need to change it up out front. If I had thousands of dollars lying around, I would flip this into succulents/cacti/rocks. However, I think I will focus on subtle changes for year round beautification. Lol, I like the sound of that.
What is your go to with the leaves? Clean, leave or hybrid?
That's a lot of stickers but at least your bins won't go missing! I've been clearing out some leaves too. I leave some but throw "clean" leaves (bearing no sign of disease or nasty thrips) into my compost bins after shredding them. Anything debris that looks iffy - or that I'm simply too lazy to shred - goes in the green bins for recycling. The area on the back slope looks great!
ReplyDeleteIt all started with oversized googly eyes on one of the bins, which have since fallen off. I'm sure with the great size of your garden, you're doing considerably more clean up than I am. Thanks, I hope you didn't get that awful wind I'm hearing about!
DeleteOh, so you have earwigs too -- different environment, same pests.
ReplyDeleteUck, one of my least favorite!
DeleteI love your bins! I've never seen so many stickers on one.
ReplyDeleteAlso loved seeing your Pseudopanax doing so well!
I'm sure you can get your ultimate dream. It might just take some time. You've got lots going on there.
ReplyDeleteHa. Ha. Ha. I am laughing at all those fun stickers. I should do up our can. ;-)
ReplyDeleteEarwigs.. oh goodness gracious... they love my dahlias, sunflowers, marigolds, corn.... I am in hopes a few are finding their death here in the cold bare ground we have (no snow... but oh so cold) !!
Carla
Your springtime front garden is so gorgeous... I hope with minor tinkering you can have winter (more subdued) beauty as well as spring exuberance.
ReplyDeleteNew planted area by the shed is looking GOOD. So is the new succulents area in the front: very nice!
I need to give my 7' volunteer Cotinus (Royal Purple?) a good pruning. Seeing how low you keep yours I feel confident I can manage it without damage :-D
Chavli