The Gardener's Palette

A gardener's dream is coming true. Last March, when we had the cedar fence built, it suddenly created a space that could become an intimate tribute to nature with the right components. Previous grass turf and ancient foundation shrubbery gave way to stripped sod and a spring and summer attempting to amend the soil and garden here. Midway thru the summer, with plants not germinating and weeds proliferating I had an epiphany - this was not going to one of those recycle and reuse projects. It would take YEARS to amend the soil to something that would support plant life other than weeds - I mean, it was clay. Yuck.

I hired a garden designer who took my desire for color and ease and came up with a sketch and plant list. And her first suggestion was to take out 6 inches of soil and put in 8 inches of new top soil.

Ok, that may look like a small gardening space to you, but when you're talking about moving this quantity of soil by hand in wheelbarrows it becomes a hard, sweaty, daunting task. I knew I couldn't do it on my own - and I knew Stephen would murder me if I assigned the task.

I have some very talented, smart, gardening-type friends who lead interesting lives - which include making just enough money to live and having the rest of your time to yourself to pursue your passions, whatever they may be. I don't mind financially supporting this idealogy, and both are very hard workers, native plant stewards, and experienced gardeners. They also had strong backs and were willing to work on the weekends.

So I want to thank Katie Kadwell and Steve Richmond for helping me achieve this dream. And also my husband, Stephen, who was another back and set of legs abused but not broken.

At the front of this photo will be a cedar arbor to match the fence - it is here and waiting to be assembled. The trumpet honey suckle currently draped over the water barrel I have had here and we are relocating so it will climb over the arbor. My dad surprised me with a garden bench as a birthday gift that I just received last weekend - I have an idea for where I am going to put it. And of course Katie wants to come and help me plant the plants - that's the most fun part! After all that sweat and back-breaking work, planting the plants is good closure to such a tough process.

So here it is in all its beautiful glory - about 7 yards of top-grade top soil, with extra steer manure thrown in. You should have seen it steaming as we filled this area in yesterday, in a freakin' rain storm. Steve Richmond remarked how beautiful the dirt was and "if you can't get any plants to grow in THIS stuff...". "there is something wrong with me" I finished for him.

Thanks everyone! This is truly an amazing feat.

Wendy