Garden update

The late summer can be rough on gardens, but ours is doing well this year. We created a stepping stone path on one side using granite from family property, and ground covers (both chosen and volunteer) are filling in much of the path. Snapdragons have been popping up non-stop for the past several weeks, and we've had an unexpected second spring for many of our plants. Our only loss in front to the August drought was an azalea, and the drought may actually have slowed the cedar apple rust on our new apple tree. We planted a lot this summer to see what would take, and indications so far are that almost everything is doing well. I'm starting to think that we'll be able to fill several planting beds in the back next spring with the excess from the front garden. A lot will depend on how harsh the winter is.

It has been a real joy to grow so many new plants amongst the maturing plantings form the previous summers. The blend of familiar and strange gives us new patterns every few weeks as the plants grow, bloom, fade, and die back.

We do have one small plant by the steps that appears not to have changed at all since we planted it. I'm not sure yet if it is sleeping, slow-growing, or plastic. It replaces the "alien bush" (a native wild hydrangea, we eventually discovered) that we had in that location, which every summer grew like a St. Bernard puppy. It's quite the contrast.

Despite all of the plant changes, the biggest difference this summer has definitely been the retaining wall around the perimeter of the garden. It's now half the height, allowing in much more sun, and topped with granite instead of brick. The wall now feels like a border rather than a barricade. And while there are many different ways to have a good garden, none of my favorites involve a barricade.