So I've wanted to do something for awhile, and my first thought was to start pulling up the rocks that the previous owner left on the short side of the house to make a walking labyrinth. But I would have to pull them all out so that I could pick and choose to decide what I wanted. Then I got the great idea of putting in a mint garden where the rocks were. So I thought I would start that first. I thought it would take me about a weekend to get things ready - obviously I was mistaken. :-)
First I started to rake and sweep all the leaves from the rocks - get those in the bins. Then I had noticed some nice plants by the house - I trimmed all dead matter from it and gently took any debris from around them. I got on my hands and knees and scooped all the leaves and such from between the house and the tree, and then scooped out from under the porch as well. Then I started moving the rocks to a pile nearby.
First hurdle - some of the rocks that are about fist size are too firm in the earth to grab with my hands
Yes the photo is horrid - I didn't realize I had it on the wrong setting until after I had moved these rocks.
Turns out after getting out my trusty shovel this is what those fist sized rocks really were.
I'm calling them icebergs rocks - some were easily 30-40 pounds each. So I spent time each day digging out rocks. Until I found some dirt. Ahhh. I started trying to dig up the dirt - ahem, I found more rocks.
Once the rocks were found and moved - yea that's about 7 feet long; about 3 feet high and spreads over 3-4 feet - what was I thinking?
I started to dig - excited that the rocks were gone. Yea, I was excited too soon. Instead of rocks, this time, I hit root masses. Roots of old ivy and crabgrass between 2-5 inches thick over the entire area. More digging - a lot more digging and the roots filled 4 metal trash cans, AFTER I pounded off the dirt. Finally I hit dirt.
Then I began to trim back the overhanging and dead branches from the two trees. I wasn't happy climbing the ladder and using the clippers but I got most of it done.
Hubby suggested that I sand and repaint the house before planting, but, um no :-)
After getting the branches up, I laid several bag of dirt mixed with bat guano, compost and other good things over the tree roots, and began mapping out in my head what I wanted. Then I tilled, and picked out ivy/crabgrass roots, and tilled again and more roots. Another till and a couple of rakes and the garden could begin.
First a path - we grabbed a great set of stones we found, and then after playing with them decided to completely redo my first plan, so back to the store for more stones - luckily they were 15% off!
Now the kitchen porch and the back stoop connect. Next plants went in. The back row is now 5 kinds of mint - Spearmint, Mojito Mint, Chocolate Mint, Peppermint and Apple Mint. My goal is to let them spread a bit and harvest them to dry for teas.
The next row are catnip plants with catnip seeds between them - hopefully many will come up - the cats are already loving it.
3rd row is Chamomile with Chamomile seeds in front of them and at the outer edge to make a nice blanket of it.
I put my planting boxes of strawberries in temporarily for their better growing.
Around the trees I added the groundcover Veronica - I'm hoping that it will cover that area.
I also added my dad's Irish setter lawn ornament as well as my mom's stone bunnies.
Finally I think it may be done!!!
That's one project!!!!
