I struck on the idea that I should keep track of the changes in my backyard efforts. I took a number of "before" pictures to set the benchmark. I also drew a rough diagram of the backyard so that as I refer to various zones and post pictures those of you who are interested can follow more easily. Eventually, I'd like to repost each of the "before" pictures with the "after" pictures. Knowing how plants develop as they mature, pictures beyond the "after" pictures would be cool, too.
First, is my diagram. Although the picture is not to scale, I have a fair sense of space so it is accurate for this purpose.
The vegetable garden was the first of my tasks. I felt it was important to get it opened and extended given the nature of annual vegetables and herbs. Too bad there isn't a true "before" picture.
This garden had been allowed to go to weeds and grass. All that was left of the original vegetable garden was a row of rhubarb. My husband insisted on having several tomato plants and added a 4 foot extention east of the rhubarb during my hiatus from the garden.
We found surviving strawberry plants this spring and weeded carefully around those and the rhubarb. Hubby and I weeded vociferously one night and the tomato "wing" emerged quickly.
Then I went about reopening the west side so that I could move my herbs to that corner. We used to have beans and peas - sometimes corn - in that area. Since we will be tearing down our retaining wall on the southeast corner, my herbs must find a new home - at least temporarily.
In the next two pictures you see, the view is looking toward the south, or the house.
My vegetable garden extended all the way to the evergreen at the north end of the lawn. The current garden is about half of what it used to be four or five years ago. This shot is from the deck looking down over the west side of the backyard.
From left to right, the west row is dedicated to herbs - both annual and perennial, working east, the next row is miniature pear-shaped, yellow tomatoes, then the strawberry patch. The rhubarb are easily seen. Still moving west is a beginning patch of asparagus, and then the slicing tomatoes. There is still much to do in this garden, but I feel I can move on for now. Most of what I need to do will happen this fall or next spring.
I don't want asparagus in the garden and the rhubarb must be split up and some of it moved or given away. I also want to get a gardening "ties" around the perimeter. We started with them on the side with the slicing tomatoes, but haven't continued with them as yet.
Zone 3 is the area with the logs and wildflowers (you see it in the picture below with the blue tarp in front of it). I've decided to make this into a butterfly and cutting garden. Something a little more self-sustaining than a vegetable garden.
Oh, Nan, if I am interpreting your sketch correctly, you are making me jealous. Hunky Husband would go crazy if I mentioned the possibility of cutting up the lawn to have distinct gardens that are surrounded by grass. He wants to be able to mindlessly go back-and-forth on the mower without having to dodge anything.
Beyond that, your plan looks wonderful, and the photos make your existing gardens look lush. I'm anxious to see the "finished" product!
Way to go, sis! Pictures and links are a cinch. I'll be eager to see all this first hand when we visit this fall. Keep up the good work.
My neighbor has a hubby like that. He mowes over the surprise lilies and it drives me nuts. Of course, I think he's a little off balance anyway. Remember the Navy's penchant for things that we're "two-blocked"? I have to admit that the idea is completely foreign to me. There are some things that must be in complete order, but NOT a garden or a backyard!
Scuze the typo's and other grammatical errors - I'm still very sleep deprived. . . see the current posts at buffy's site, Arrrgh!!
No, Nan, I don't recall ever running into your "two-blocked" expression. Would you care to enlighten me? I get the meaning of what your are saying, however, and agree. I'm just lucky that HH doesn't think that I must keep my den ship-shape, I guess!