Moving the Garden

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Last autumn, in late August, I began the move from one garden to the other. I was lucky to be only going around the block so to speak so I could lift and transport quickly without upsetting the garden plants too much. In total, it took about 10 loads in the car to bring everything up to their new locations. I placed each root ball in a plastic grocery bag or two, a wonderful temporary potting solution for plant transport when digging out and moving since the root ball doesn’t grow naturally in a potted shape….lol. I loved having the addition of handles when shuffling them about too. I moved them all to the new garden place I chose, as it gets the most sun throughout the day in summer. Then I could swiftly shift them around by the handles, placing the temporary positions to observe placement before I dug anything in. I moved all my stone and rock, wooden structures, like the gate and fencing, and I dismantled and rebuilt the greenhouse. Sadly, on review, I didn’t take one shot about that process. Jeez. I chose the small corner beds retained behind a grey stone wall as the first things to go. Any hardscaping needed to be done first, and do so love these corner beds as they were, putting right back in the new garden as they were. I had planted new Amelanchier in each corner that spring and they had done well. The bergenia was split from the other last year and noticeably caught a few of the Bidens seeds creating a better fall look than I expected.

Since the bank at the new house is also where the sunny spot is, I only dug in the corners of each and stacked the stone. It looks like I will need a few more stones to finish the back edges, but enough to put the beds in place. You can see my autumn red gooseberry and silverberry in the background. Both took longest to place, bouncing back and forth until ending up about where you see them here again…..lol.

Once the stone was in place, I put in the plants, making sure it was deep and wide enough for them. Between the two will go my prunus triloba, another spring bloomer. I can’t wait now for the snow to melt and to see that lovely spring show! The beds were refilled with soil from the old garden. I took as much during the process as possible, knowing that no one will be living there again. A pink roses and a sedum are already planted at the top center of the bank. It rained on and off the whole process, diminishing the plant shock I kept telling myself. :-)

With the prunus, just then starting to take on autumn gold, I brought both my azaleas placing in the damp before the stone walls. I’m hoping full morning sun in this damp protected position will help them to thrive. Ajuga for ground cover around them and dianthus to spread along the bank.

Next trip I decided to share a shot of the car loaded up with these fresh things right out of the ground, the rain wet stone adding even more beauty to the scene. I hadn’t realized how beautiful it would be to see all these things, my plants whisking on up the hill in a bunch like they have legs, to stand before my new house like they did the old. :-) Overly sentimental, but I am. :-)

And then more arrive, my little Mugo pine, Allium, Iris, Geranium.

A few steps back and you can see the shade portion just beside the front steps. This is the north side so this spot only gets morning sun, a position that ligularia loves and just above the roof runoff so no erosion but still the moisture. I hope it loves it! The tall and blooming aconite beside her may be the least pleased, moving when at its peak, but the cool weather was effecting it and I think it will come through alright.

Another day and I have dug them all in. The big silver artemisia commanding attention in the lower bed, now distinguishable from the upper bank by the curving path. Any stone work and sod removal will wait for spring. :-) I was flying to south Alaska just days after putting everything in. I just ran out of time. I plan a lilac in the far right corner beyond the artemisia.

The upper bank, all planted in you can see more of the things I could bring. I really had a full garden once I finished, everything condensed into one area instead of spread about the garden in the last area. As my garden needed more sun than the new area can supply, everything is together here on the sunny bank where sun comes 8-10 hours a day total, with a few breaks. Here that is just enough for a full sun plant, anything less needs to be southwest facing, a position I do not have here. I think they will do fine.

Everything in and the garden has had a day or two to settle. I know I’ll be gone for two weeks, and here that means the yellow in the background will be over and frost on the ground when I get back. Not always, but easily could be so I take some where did I put what shots before I leave. :-) This is from the walk outside the front door looking down the path and beyond into the wood.

Still lots of color in the lower garden, the poppies and these late blooming blackout lilies. Clematis olgae stands next to the artemisia, becoming a very cool blue. It was eaten to the ground by a moose this winter, but should come through that fine I think. I stuck my curling iron into the bed here for the brid feeder for winter. Not sure of a permanent place yet. I have a trellis wintered by the mugo, not pictured here…lol.

On the bank, the aconite and little dicentra keep some color going. I do hope to have the dicentra back next year. I haven’t had one winter well for me yet, but I haven’t tried this fern leaf variety before, fingers crossed. the pink rose on top of the bank started to bloom just as I left, frozen when I returned. In the back, those lavender dianthus I’n hoping seed across the area. I found a few volunteers in the grass in the old garden. I think they spread well.

On a sunny break in the rain clouds, I got a little glimpse of what the garden will look like next year. I love the silvers and reds over here, autumn coloring taking a strong place when I chose the position for everything of course.

And from the top. Hoping for new moments in the garden to share with all of you! :-)

• 12 Apr, 2013
• 10 likes

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