Final Garden Project of 2019
Saturday, December 28, 2019 at 6:00AM I am happy to report that I have completed my final garden project of 2019. It was a lot of heavy work, and nothing brings satisfaction like being able to say "Done!"
This project came to my mind in late October when I looked at a picture of the garden space I had begun in August, 2018. Here is the photo that started it all:
It was at the end of a very hot, prolonged summer drought. Few plants are blooming. What plant wants to bloom in triple digit heat? Some of them are dead! However, the majority did survive the drought, but most in this year-old garden space are still small and have little impact.
Here is the question: Do you see the paths? The planting beds are covered in pine straw, and the paths are mulched with small pine bark nuggets. This photo showed me what my eyes had overlooked. Because pine straw and pine bark mulch are similar colors, the entire area lacked definition. Maybe when the plants matured enough to fill the beds, the issue would disappear. But many of the plants go dormant for winter, so the garden needed something else.
The solution was two-fold: First, I put in some evergreens and other shrubs of various heights, so there will be some winter interest. Variegated gardenia, podocarpus, weigela, and a potted arborvitae were some of the larger specimens I added. Then I outlined my paths with stone. This space covers over 3000 square feet. It was a LOT of rocks. Here is a view of the garden space now that the paths are defined:
Many of the plants are dormant, and the leaves have fallen from the trees. (I am making progress on raking. The garden has advanced from 'completely buried under a sea of leaves' to 'needs raking badly.') I am looking forward to spring when the plants reappear!
An unexpected bonus: When I was selecting stones from the huge pile I had purchased, I found one that looks exactly like the outline of my home state of Alabama! 
I decided to incorporate the Alabama rock into a low wall in the adjacent arbor garden:
That one rock resulted in a great deal of extra labor for myself, because to make it fit I had to rebuild that entire section of wall, which is about 20' across.
In my rock shopping I also came across an 'Indian rock.' The colorful lichens and its history appealed to me. 
Long ago this large, heavy stone was used by Native Americans in our area for grinding corn or perhaps for making tools or arrows. More recently, it was passed down through the same family for about 75 years. The last owner had a dog who kept hauling his feeding bowl off. (I once had a dog who did this, so I know how frustrating that habit can be.) So the man started feeding his dog in the large depression in the Indian rock. Problem solved!
Reader Comments (11)
That IS a lot of rock! And I know from recent experience just how heavy even stones that look "manageable" can be, especially after you've hauled in and positioned your twentieth one. Congratulations Deb!
Daunting project - but so satisfying to enjoy the difference it makes to that part of your garden!
Great job you did. Laying out the rocks to define your paths are looking great and kudos on all that hard work you did to incorporate your "Alabama" rock and having to redo the wall to fit it in.
It’s lovely, Deb! How satisfying it will be to look out at your pathways during the Winter months!
Well done Deb. It seems like an awful lot of work. I love the rocks.
Your effort to get the "Alabama" stone in place was worth it. That looks so cool! Your craftsmanship on the wall is excellent.
The rock edging on the pathways looks really good, too.
Curious: which Podocarpus does well in your climate?
That last rock is really special! I like what you've done with the paths: I always enjoy your posts about your woodland, but now it definitely has even more winter interest! Happy New Year!
I know exactly how much hard work moving all that stone is. The result is worth it. Your area looks great and I am a fan of defined walkways and beds. Happy New Year!
I would say your Alabama stone is your lucky rock! Have you considered chiseling or painting in the state capitol?
Hi Everyone, and happy New Year! To answer a couple of questions: hb, the selection of podocarpus I planted is Podocarpus macrophyllus 'Emerald Flame.' It will grow in hardiness zones 7-10. I am on the border of 7b and 8a. There probably are other selections that also will grow here. And Jason, I did not think of marking the state capital on my Alabama rock, but I am considering marking the location of Deb's Garden! Thanks to all for your comments! Deb
Congratulations on finishing your project! (Wow! That was a big project; I think it would take me years, rather than weeks, for a project of this size.)