Gardening dreams
Here, for your perusal, is my "Idea Book" for my entire yard. Pity the poor landscaping company who agrees to help me; I do.
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- Rain garden: http://midwestpermaculture.com/self-study-more/permaculture-photos/our-permaculture-home-transformation/front-yard-rain-garden-and-berm/
I like that the walkway is helped to remain dry with this set-up, as well as the obvious benefit of capturing and storing rainwater instead of letting it run off and contribute to the city’s polluted water and further erode the eco-system in the river. I also like that the rain gardens are strategically placed all the way around the property, not just in one section of yard. We don’t have a rain barrel but I am intrigued by the idea of a cistern—would like to learn more first.
- Perhaps look into porous pavement in future.
- Rosalind Creasy’s front yard pics are lovely…all that color! I love color, as well as year round interest. My husband would likely object to too much encroachment on the sidewalk or leaves-on-his-head, jungle-like atmosphere. He is very tolerant, dear man.
- Hollyhocks by the front walk light, perhaps, adding to the height and providing color?
- Jesse will insist on a small patch of lawn in front to begin with. Why not make it fun? He doesn’t spend time in the yard…how about ground-hugging thyme instead of grass, and turning it into an inviting seating area that may not be immediately visible to the street owing to the way plantings fall around it? He and I can practice for old age—the dream of sitting side by side in our 80s, reading and holding hands, occasionally just watching the world go by.
(I just love this idea of an outdoor rug in mosaic form, but on a much smaller scale…no stepping stones, for one.)
- Possible front yard living fence (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1881527689) of espaliered step-over apple trees, preferably heirloom, native to the region, and definitely different varieties to produce during different seasons for (hopefully) near-year round fresh apples. Maybe going as high as three or four tiers on one side of the front lawn—serving as visual blockers to the rental next door.
- Even though I seek to visually block (and hopefully buffer noise from) the rental on one side, I would like to maintain a children’s opening in the front yard—possibly Fragonard-“Tangled”-inspired in color and design; Aria likes to play with her princesses in the front yard, after all. And is it possible to buffer noise with plants on a 2nd floor? How tall do hollyhocks really grow?
- Guilding of all trees and shrubs. Companion planting (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1580178294) of everything where possible. Extremely dense planting everywhere…not of one plant, but of dozens of plants per square foot beneficial to one another, with different root systems and growing seasons. The ultimate goal is to keep the need to weed to a minimum.
- Dandelions are welcome in my yard. If they aren’t growing of their own accord, I may have to plant some.
- Guidance on reviving the grape that seems to be original to the home.
- Living hedge for the backyard fence. Not suggesting taking out the fence…just planting and cropping in front of it. Would like it Scottish-strong and impenetrable to all creatures (including 4 legged varieties) on one side and along back; with arch of trees and climbers, or passionfruit, or other edible pretty covering, over the double-gated back fence opening. Would like it shorter along the Carels’ intact short fence line, but brimming with neighbor-friendly delights like non-hybrid, heirloom flowers to cut and tasty beans to eat. Carels’ line is not as important to make impenetrable. They do weed-whack, though, and may occasionally use stuff I don’t want in my lawn.
- Must hedges be only of one plant? Wouldn’t it be more to the purpose of this endeavor to mix thorny climbers and shade-loving, berry producing brambles, making the hedgerow as diverse as the yard it hides?
- I intend for the entire backyard to be considered an adventure for the children, but they do need a spot set aside just for them…preferably a “secret garden” where they can hide and play. (Is there a “weeping” fruit or non-poisonous flower bearing tree? Perhaps just a double circle of tall perennials?) Would also like to incorporate space either in front or back for specialty children’s garden that can change year to year if desired, (like a moon garden, pizza garden or sunflower house.) (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0761110569)
- Would like grilling spot for hubby, and perhaps surprise seating throughout, adding dimension.
- I love color and am intrigued by ideas that incorporate plants into places we don’t otherwise think of. Below are some wall boxes:
- Compost bin (perhaps multiples?) needs to be very near kitchen door for convenience, but also incorporated or tidy for my husband’s sake. Should also be large enough and/or active enough to accommodate a *lot* of paper waste. Pre-school and Kindergarten aged children love playing with paper. Needs to have ability to be closed off, owing to the two 4-legged old farts. Finally, would *really* like to incorporate cold compost area for dog manure (see Gene Logsdon's book http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1603582517 for reference.)
- Would like all raised beds to be hugelkultur (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/160358370X). Children don’t give me much control over the garden hose in the warm months. I will put effort into my garden, but I don’t have hours to spend daily weeding, watering and hoeing. Am also a fan of Sepp Holzer and Masanobu Fukuoka, with their firm stance that we should feed the soil, not crush it. Raised beds do not have to be boxed off with wood; WV climate does not make it necessary either except in special cases. Soil is healthier in berm/trench hugelkultur raised bed with climbers planted to keep erosion in check. Speaking of hoeing, I’m not keen on disturbing the soil much. I would prefer to build the soil, not dig into and deplete it. The initial layout, I get. Digging or turning over beds every year, I don’t.
- Coming off of my soapbox, I would like to know if very tall, narrow shelf-sized raised boxes for peanut planting and rotation would be a good idea. Is there a non-box way to raise peanuts easily in this climate? If not, how many raised beds or plant boxes would be needed to ensure healthy rotation?
- Am seeking wide diversity in the overall plantings: edible flowers, herbs, fruit, nuts, seeds, berries, legumes, mushrooms and vegetables. Year round food and homes for birds, beneficials, and the squirrels who inhabit our street-front pin oaks. As close to 4 season as I can get without resorting to hoop houses. Attractions for toads and other slug-foragers. Permanent beds for asparagus, artichoke, rhubarb. Green manure crops. Occasional micro cereal crops for harvesting. (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1890132608)
- Most landscaping plans I’ve seen focus only on curb appeal…what it looks like from the curb. What the house looks like from the street is important to me for the sake of my neighbors, but it’s equally important that the view from our front picture window be filled with color and critters so that we can enjoy it during rainy days or sick seasons. If we must do low-growing to tall flowers, could we do it in miniature from the front yard back, and in earnest from the picture window out, so that there is an element of privacy in the middle of the front yard? (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1604691999)
- Are there plantings we can do under the pin oaks to help them thrive, as well as to add more visual interest? Grapes like to climb pin oak trees, right? And comfrey is a good giver? What else can we plant that will not fall afoul of the right-of-way? And that will still leave an easily accessible area for the recycling bins?
- What can be planted along retaining wall front? Will espaliered trees grow there? If so, can we do another TALL arch over the top of the stairs? Jesse is 6’2”.
- Also if so, is it possible to intersperse snacking plants among the trees without harming the crops? Cherry tomatoes, sugar snap peas, and other child faves? I’d really like to provide healthful snack options to those walking home from school and passing our yard.
- If step-over apples need more depth than what is afforded in the ground around the retaining wall, what would work best in that space that could also serve to provide relative screening for the seating area in front?
A bench could be tucked in here anywhere. What a wonderfully vibrant front yard!
- Need homes for carpenter bees (front of house) and mason bees (back of house.) Preferably so inviting that they leave the gingerbread over our window alone for good and all. Perhaps home for wasps, as well, since they seemed to be beginning something by our front door.
- Would a Martin house be good to keep down the bloodsucker population? Backyard in summer currently is uninhabitable come dusk, as hordes of biters rise up from the grass. I don’t want one type of bird scaring away all others, but we need to restore stability to the yard badly.
- Would like an inviting bat house (or 2 or 3) to help keep down mouse population as well, especially considering the condition of the neighboring property.
- What would it take to make stable and attractive the “little house”? I think it should stay, but need to convince Jesse of the wisdom of that. Also need to look into building storage shelves, turning it into an extension of the microscopic kitchen pantry, as well as an inviting work area for Jesse.
- Am very interested in a bird bath/fountain that does not use electricity. Must be extremely sturdy as curious munchkins like to climb on, lean on and otherwise topple things.
- How to incorporate all the trees desired? Cherry, peach, plum, apple, fig, apricot, pear, almond, pistachio, Siberian dwarf pine nut. Any and all citrus possible if at all possible. (I love cooking with dried limes and we no longer have an international food store.) Cinnamon tree if possible, too, as pure cinnamon ground from its bark is unsurpassed in taste. one plum and one cherry (both dwarf), one on each patch of lawn flanking the sidewalk? And the shrubs covering the base of our home…would it be better to replace them with dwarf Siberian pine nut trees underplanted with strawberries and whatever else thrives in conjunction with them?
- Along the same lines, vanilla beans would be a great cost saver, too. Can coffee beans be grown here?
- Every edible herb possible. Herbs are essential! Cilantro and rosemary, in particular, should be so strongly installed that they become perennials.
- Love flowers, but nothing dangerously poisonous should be allowed. The children may swipe a bite. There are a few exceptions, like spring bulbs. They just like to pick those. In fact, hoping that a few spring bulbs here and there will morph into a fully carpeted, glorious riot of colour across the entire front of the house.
- Scents are important. Find a way to incorporate lilac, honeysuckle or its starflower-like strongly vanilla scented twin, heirloom roses and other strongly scented flowers.
- Untreated wood chip paths, perhaps, onestrawrob style (http://onestrawrob.com/?p=1333 and http://onestrawrob.com/?p=2006) to connect areas? Pebbles will NOT work as the children will simply play with them all over the yard. (Sand and pebbles may provide extra fun in their play space, though.)
- Would like potted goods on the front porch. What is the best non-slip yet pretty material for front porch? Really like Mexican pots—so full of fun and colour!
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