Bouncingbet Bends My Back...

I’m no acrobat, but when it comes to weeding, I should be. A year ago, I agreed to have a local garden club tour my garden in mid-June. That, of course, meant weeding, weeding, weeding. Our bark-chip mulch had long ago decomposed, enhancing the soil and making perfect growing conditions for weeds of every kind among my trees, shrubs and groundcover swaths. I had trained myself not to notice, but with visitors scheduled to tour the premises, I could no longer ignore those unwelcome plants. Add to that a new patio projecting into the park-like bed design, and I...

First Look at Finished Patio...

Ta-da! Here’s a peek at my finished patio surrounded by new plantings. Note the small retaining wall. It holds back the soil from the downward slope of the property. The patio’s irregular curving shape, rather like a mitten-shaped sassafras leaf, harmonizes with curved beds and retaining walls elsewhere in the landscape. How thrilling! I adore watching the plants grow and soften the hardscape. By the way, if you’re near Raleigh, NC tomorrow, I’ll be speaking at Quail Ridge Books in the Ridgewood Shopping Center, 3522 Wade Avenue, at 7:30 PM. Drop...