Friday, February 18, 2011

Our Latest Project

Thank you all for your kind comments about my last post. I hope you all have had a nice week, and that your weekend is great. I've read that a lot of you are having beautiful weather, that you are getting into your spring gardening frame of mind, and pretty soon, all of you will be out playing in the dirt.

This morning DH and I went out early to start on our latest project. DH got this idea the other night when I told him that the centerpiece in the garden, (which was an old pedestal fountain at one time,) was sinking into the ground and I needed a base under it. He thought of using a round cement table top that we weren't using. We measured the table top, measured the area, and realized we could make it work. We had some cement border blocks that we had found a long time ago that we could use underneath, we had gravel that we could put in the center for the water to drain into from this piece. We were ready to go.

I took up the brick border the other day and this morning dug up the plants that were in this area. Then I loosened up the dirt, we tamped the soil down, drew out a circle, laid the blocks, filled the area with gravel, rolled the heavy cement table top over to the space, and gingerly laid it down, hoping for no catastrophes. We are getting older and these heavy cement pieces are not something we want to deal with very often.

After the piece was in place, we put the pedestal fountain on top, then put the cement parrot on a block inside, and put the Basket Plants back into the basin area around the bird. I replanted iris divisions at the back, and Spiderwort at the front. That flower bed never was very good, I like this much better.

We're thinking of laying another layer of roll roofing on the paths, as these are starting to crumble up. They've been there several years now, and it's been nice not having to weed wack the paths. Next time we get out the pressure cleaner, we can do the cement base under the pedestal.

I'm working at my job again tomorrow, so no playing in my gardens until later.

Notice the humongous rain barrel at the back of the garden, another curbside found piece that we've had for several years now. DH is figuring out the best way to get the gutter system hooked up to it, with a leaf/debris screen, then we'll get what supplies we need and will be good to go to collect some serious rain water. I'll either paint the barrel house color, or do some other sort of camouflage.

Here are the stones laid in place. These we also found 'curbside' shopping some time ago. I was using them as a border elsewhere.


Gravel in the middle for drainage.

Some views from this evening.




I noticed that the Frangipani have new leaves appearing also flower buds. Crepe myrtle are also breaking out into greenery. Spring is in the air.

***

Every day may not be good,
but there's something good in every day.
Author Unknown

***

Zone 10 ~ s.e. FL

26 comments:

Marti said...

I think it is even more lovely with this base. Just think, if it hadn't been sinking, you wouldn't have thought of this.

gld said...

Wonderful redo! You have the axis and the focal point just like they recommend. Wait till the plants take hold and it will truly be a centerpiece.

Mama Mess said...

It's beautiful! You have such a flair, and your garden is someplace I'd love to sit and drink tea, possibly while knitting!

One Woman's Journey - a journal being written from Woodhaven - her cottage in the woods. said...

Beautiful -- I am so excited about Spring arrivig and working on my gardens and path through the woods.

Lona said...

What a wonderful idea. You will not have to fear it will sink into the ground ever again. It makes such a beautiful focal point in the garden paths.

Karen said...

What a lovely addition to your garden! It turned out so beautifully, and adds so much.

Rebecca said...

I really like the "personality" in your yard/garden. Your resourcefulness shines through!

I am MOST curious about the roll roofing for paths. What do you lay on top of the roofing? I really want to redo some paths and am looking for ideas... (I definitely don't want to add more weed-whacking to our list of tasks!)

Balisha said...

How perfect! You two work so well together. What one doesn't think of the other does. A wonderful blend for gardening...Balisha

Carla said...

This looks wonderful. I need something like this for the bird bath I bought last October. You have a beautiful stone path!

Meems said...

HiFlowerlady,
That was a perfect fix for the sinking issue. You two really can come up with some good stuff when you put your heads and muscles together. I enjoyed reading the previous post telling about your job. How nice to work in such a beautiful environment. It is a blessing during this down economy, too. Have a great rest of the weekend.
Meems

Sunita Mohan said...

Great idea! I think it really adds to the look too.

organicgardendreams said...

Great job, Flowerlady! The after photos look amazing! I am sure it was a lot of hard work, but it pays off. You and your husband have a very creative way to garden and your personalities come right through. Looking forward to seeing more...
Christina

shadesofidaho said...

This really looks nice. Amazing how all the pieces you already had just fit so nicely together. Good thinking for you two. Love the pretty shells too. Another two inches of snow yesterday and today. But I did finish my one ,so far, stepping stone. LOL I have faith I will get to use it.

Masha said...

What a lot of heavy lifting! You made it look very nice, and I hope your fix will work. Your garden looks so beautiful.

jerilanders said...

That is really great! I love using broken and used things in the garden in surprising ways. A good imagination goes a long way in the garden

Priscilla @ Homegrown Delight said...

What a beautiful garden and stone path. I wish I had your climate, it's already spring where you're at. We just had 2 feet of snow. I can't wait until spring!

Skeeter said...

That is a clever way to use an old cement table! Your hard work paid off with beautiful results. Job well done!

YayaOrchid said...

I want a blue bottle tree like yours! Oh! But your garden is perfect and breathtaking. I know my climate is way hotter than yours, and yet the recent freeze destroyed so many of my plants. My frangipannis did not survive. :( But a garden is always evolving anyway, so my hopes are high. And when I see the beauty of your garden, I am inspired yet again to try and rebuild it.

Val said...

A serene space you've both created there. And I love that last quote. :)

Susan said...

The two of you are so clever and resourceful. What a great solution...and it looks great. It always feel good to resolve a problem in such a nice way.

Gayle said...

What a wonderful eye you and DH have to imagine and bring to beauty something such as this. I think with my frantic days of children I don't have time for this...but one day I will and I will think of your gardens.

sweetbay said...

Your centerpiece looks lovely with its new base! The addition of the seashells is beautiful. What is the plant with the strappy leaves planted at the bottom? It's a really nice accent.

Sharon Lovejoy said...

WONDERFUL! It looks perfect and is just the right focal point.

Love across the miles,

Sharon Lovejoy Writes from Sunflower House and a Little Green Island

Bom said...

What a lovely garden. That was a lot of work so the end result must be quite fulfilling for you. Enjoy your coming spring!

Sandra said...

I just never get enough of seeing your beautiful garden. I only wish I had half the vision you do when it comes to this, you do such amazing work :)

Hugs,
Sandra

Val said...

'Hope you and yours are doing well, FlowerLady, and that you've just been too busy in your garden or (great-sounding!) workplace to write here. :)

Much Love,

Val