Ah, January. I have created a new folder in Photoshop Bridge entitled Garden 2011. I have one single photo in it, but it’s an important one—a shot of where we’ll be creating a woodland garden.
Out of necessity came opportunity. We had the local tree guys out to take down a large tulip tree that was in imminent danger of falling onto the chicken coop and across the driveway. It was a tricky undertaking because of its location. The older of the father/son pair is in his 60s, but you wouldn’t know it by the way he scampered up that tree. Starting at the top he sawed off limbs and then he topped it. I was in the house when the top 10 feet of the tree came down. There was a huge crash, which I would have been worried about except I heard the two men erupt into whoops of glee. Isn’t it great to take joy in your work?
Anyway, the rest of the tree came down, as did another in the way. I will also have to move a lot of the hostas I planted there in the past two years since they will now likely scorch in the sun. I’m not showing you photos of it all because the whole process made a humongous mess that I will have to deal with when the thermometer climbs above freezing.
While the tree guys were here they made me a good deal offer to clear some of the woods. I hopped on the chance to get this section of the woods cleared of underbrush and trash trees. It is the area near the house that we look on when we eat dinner outside in the summer. Without all the tangle of underbrush and trash trees, we’ll get a better view into the woods. We’ll also put in a path and a bench to overlook a ravine that you can’t see very well in the photo.
Whatever else goes in the woodland garden, I am determined that it will be low maintenance. We already have a healthy crop of moss. I like moss. Some of the hostas will also find a new home there. Then there will be bulbs. And a hammock. And my bottle tree.
So here you have it, the first view of the new woodland garden.
Hi! I'm Robin Ripley author of Wisdom for Home Preservers, published by Taunton Press. I am also co-author of Grocery Gardening. Bumblebee is about my life in rural Maryland, my garden and my love of food, my little dogs and pet chickens. You can follow me on Twitter, Pinterest and Facebook. Thank you for visiting!
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Robin, How exciting! A new garden with a fairly clean slate…I can see you now, swaying in the hammock while the feathered girls and their protector are walking about! gail
You know I love woodland gardens, so I’m going to be following your progress with great interest. I can’t recommend highly enough the native Hepaticas, which are not ephemeral.
.-= Mr. McGregor’s Daughter´s last blog ..Wordless Wednesday- A Midwinter Days Dream =-.
Sounds like this is going to be a lovely garden spot. I look forward to seeing more posts about it as spring arrives and you get started on it.
.-= Carol´s last blog ..When a Gardener Plays Cards =-.
A woodland garden! What a fantastic idea! I can see it already! It’s going to look like a bit of a fairytale!
I am so very happy that you have posted after such a long time! I’ve been checking back every week or so, hoping and preying that you posted, only to see “Autumn Chickens with Sage” again. I’m excited to see your woodland garden, which I bet will be as mystical as it is beautiful!
I haven’t taken a before picture yet, but I should make up a folder too for the Woodland Garden cum Windbreak that we are planning. We have to plant trees, not take any down, but I’m also thinking about some flowers that can go there too.
.-= commonweeder´s last blog ..Ice Persists =-.
What a lovely blank slate you have there. And growing plans for its development. It all sounds fabulous. But I have to say – the woods are beautiful by themselves, as well.
.-= Diana´s last blog ..Growing goodies in the garden =-.
You are such a tease. I love the simplicity of the woods as is and can only imagine how you will improve the view. Possibilities abound.
Sounds like a great place for hostas. And lovely, it sounds lovely.
.-= Karen´s last blog ..BBR Photo Shoot Reveals =-.
Hi Robin
How good it is to find somebody else with a love of Moss; I’ve loved it since I was a kid.
I look forward to reading about your Woodland Garden as it grows…
Hi Robin,
I just found you via a search for garden blogs. I used to live in MD and still have family there (live in NC now).
I have a few pet chickens and some other farm critters. Love them all but loads of work.
I’ll be back again.
Woodland gardens are my favorite, and the possibilities endless once you start looking into them. It will be stunning!
Looking forward to seeing what you do with your woodland garden, What a wonderful undertaking and one that will be better every year.
I’m with Karyl-woodland is the favorite type of garden. Your plans sound beautiful, and make me wish I could plant something like that. There is something almost reverential about a garden in a dense stand of trees.