fairy garden

or more like a bird viewing, sit and read & maybe you'll see a fairy-garden!

We've managed to do a lot of work to it; Mother Nature blessed us with some unusually warm weather earlier this month so we took advantage of it.

I now have a well defined path, covered in mulch, some areas that are clear of debris, fall leaves, twigs and dead undergrowth. There are a lot of wild roses that are a nuisance really, so we trimmed back quite a lot of them. I also planted some seeds at a few tree bases. Hopefully some flowers will come up from them.

Mike helped me create a natural wood arbor for the climbing roses that are coming in a few weeks. We had a design in mind and from the damaged limb from the hickory tree, we sawed off some branches, laid them out and decided which would be best for a trellis. It's a simple  archway design with the natural small twig & branches left attached.
After "securing" it to the ground, we twist tied it in some hidden places and took a few photographs. There is a John Clayton honeysuckle nearby that is leafing out nicely and it already reaching for the arbor.

Digging holes for the climbing roses will be a challenge. The area is quite rocky. What rocks needed to be removed, we got rid of and used as pathway borders. A lot of rocks stayed and we simply worked around them. If you put your shovel about 4 inches into the dirt, you are guaranteed to hit a rock. Probably a large one.

I think I may did a few inches down, just to clear a space of rocks and tree roots as there are some saplings nearby, and create a raised  bed of sorts for the roses. I'll surround the bed with a wide circle of rocks to make it look as part of the natural landscape.

Eventually I would like to add a bird bath and a bench in the garden as it is becoming a popular place for mourning doves, downey wood peckers, titmice, chickadees, juncos and cardinals. I have 2 feeders in there hanging from an iron hanging basked stand that are quite popular amongst our feathered friends.

Photographs to come very soon!

I sit in my garden, gazing upon a beauty that cannot gaze upon itself.  And I find sufficient purpose for my day.  ~Robert Brault.

First rose purchase of the year!

Spring is in exactly 16 days.
Clocks go forward on Sunday, March 11.
The weather calls for temperatures in the 40s and high 50s next week.
It's so tempting to get out in the garden and at least do some clean-up but I keep reminding myself that is is only March and no real planting should be attempted until the end of April.

But I couldn't resist at least purchasing a rose or 2.

I ordered 2 beautiful roses for a trellis I plan on building.
The first one is called 'Aimee Vibert', a white climber, repeat bloomer that will grow 15' -20'.

The second is an unusual rose called 'The Magician.' I discovered it on Heirloom Roses website who have a great selection and good advice for rose growers. Below is an image from the site; the only one I could find on the internet.

Looking forward to a combination of both on a trellis. I have some trees on either side of where I want to build the trellis that can be some added support for both roses. This will make a cool entrance to the fairy garden that I'll work on this summer.

'Cmon Spring!

The first day of spring is one thing, and the first spring day is another.  The difference between them is sometimes as great as a month.  ~Henry Van Dyke