And you, and you, and you! In the past weeks I have written about a critter or critters or bugs eating my pansies……..The bugs were earwigs and thanks to the Propagator, who told me that I had earwigs in my pansies, I soon remedied that problem, I think. But, I also had mature big plants that had been pulled out of the soil and thrown aside…. Allotmenteering suggested I get a camera and set it up in my garden….and I thought this was a good idea. Now, it looks like I am stocking big game in my front cottage garden! I just got the camera up overnight and am looking forward to seeing what I find.
In the meantime, I am checking daily and willing my daffs, allium, grape hyacinths and whatever else, up! I have never planted bulbs, and these are my babies planted last fall. I feel like a mother hen!
My, when you get down close and personal to check buds out, the leaves and mulch look huge! I don’t notice them when I just glance this way and that…………
But, aren’t they all darling?
And look at this big boy! I have six of these and my tag says I planted three Chestnut Flowers (double hyacinths from the 1880’s) here, along with 15 Dutch Vintage Bubble Blend Ornamental Onions. Hmmmmmmmmm……. Are those onions? It’s so confusing even with tags! I planted 15 Bubbles and 3 Chestnut flowers, but I have six plants here, that all look like this!
So, while I ponder the sprouts I have been contemplating what I am going to do here in the Woodland Garden. My grass used to grow like crazy in this spot, but in the past few years it has turned to this. In the Fall we had the trees trimmed way back, since the limbs were hitting the cottage and this will allow more light in. But, this area will, more likely than not, remain in complete shade. I am thinking of adding new soil and a new grass seed for shady yards. Also, I want a lush, full, creeping flower to put along that retaining wall on the right. I am in Zone 7b and it gets very hot, (90’s) and humid in the summer, which starts in March and lasts through September. I would want a perennial too. Any suggestions? Let me know!
Won’t you join us with your SOS?
The instructions for SOS are easy. The photos can be flowers, vegetables, a garden design, whatever, as long as it’s garden related and posted on Saturday! So, it’s six photos . Of Gardens. On Saturday. Easy Peasy. To see all the SOS’s look at SIX ON SATURDAY, hosted by the Propagator, to check out all of them each Saturday! See you next week in another spot!
ThatTravelLadyInHerShoes 
Good luck bulb mama! I am toying with planting a periwinkle as they make good ground cover but are something of a thug. Pretty sure they survive in all climes – might that work for you?
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This time of year I have to get on my knees to see the hopeful things.
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I’m so looking forward to the release of your movie, sure to be a blockbuster! Do you have any idea who the stars might be? Would osteospermums or lampranthus be any good for your retaining wall? Alliums and mystery are doing well. Also spotted some interesting oak leaves, is it red oak? Questions, questions! 🙂
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Thank you for the suggestions! I laughed and laughed when I read your reply! I looked yesterday morning at the photos and the taped movie (OMG) on the garden camera…..so far I have the data and photos when my neighbor opens and closes their garage door and turns on their outside lights and I have a photo of everyone that came up my front stairs……I can’t believe how sensitive that camera is! I am beginning to think it will make a good security camera too…….until I move it. No critters last night though. I don’t know the type of oak tree that is in the woods around our cottage. In our Woodland Garden we have the dreaded Gumball Trees and those gumballs fall everywhere! I will keep you posted on the movies……
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Hmmm … wonder what Elizabeth Lawrence would say, were she still here? Perhaps ajuga and ferns, certainly English ivy if you prune it back periodically. Garden ferns should do well in your area; we used to have large Sword Ferns on the north side of our Orlando house when we lived in Florida, and for all I know they’re still flourishing after 40+ years. Is your path heavily traveled? I’d suggest spreading a very fine bark mulch to blend with the woods on the right and the plantings on the left for cohesiveness.
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I used to have ajuga between the stones on the path on the side Cottage Garden. Last year I replanted it. The area with the layered stones around it is now my Fern Reserve. I think I would like the fine bark mulch the best too. I am not opposed to the English ivy either, now if I can just convince the hub.
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Good luck with the camera!
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Oh, I am loving that camera already and haven’t even seen a critter!
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My daughter suggests that “If it’s always shaded, thick moss to y’all on would be nice. Otherwise, something like mulch or fine gravel for a pathway.”
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I considered gravel and mulch too, but just can’t make up my mind. There is a slope down to the Woodland Garden that I did not show on my photo and when I suggested a fine gravel my landscaper said “no way,” because we’d just roll on down the hill with it. More to think about and ponder!
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No sliding down the pea gravel allowed!
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Seeing your close proximity to the woods do you get wild boar, lynx, mongoose or other critters? I’d love to set up a camera to see what gets on my roof at night. We are sure it is a mongoose but how he gets up there is a mystery
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Oh my gosh, I’ve never seen any of those animals, anywhere! Believe it or not we are in the city limits…….but our property is backed into a large natural woodland park. We have seen the deer and of course squirrels and one time we had a dead possum. I am hoping our critters are the more domestic types. Ha ha!
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Looks like you have plenty of fine bulbs to look forward to, especially the mysteries. Love that camera ready to catch the action. We have night visitors, mainly raccoons that bother the bird feeders, but thankfully not the chickens.
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March Picker, I read your SOS post, but did not see where I could comment on it. Do you put most of your bulbs in containers? I know bamboo and I am with you, it takes an army to get rid of it, so good for you! I’m envious of your indoor seedlings too! I want to know more about that platform that sits on your cut tree trunk base. Is it another cut up tree or did you buy something that looks like a cut tree? I think my camera is awesome! It is very sensitive to the surroundings!
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First, thanks for your comment, Cady! I’ve heard from a couple fellow bloggers that they can’t find the place to “Like” or comment on this post. I’ve learned that readers needs to first click on the title above and open the actual post to view comments, etc. If a reader stays on the main page of the site, comments don’t appear. Also, on the Propagator’s site in the comments, if you click on the link provided and not the poster’s profile pic, it will take you to the actual post and not the main page. Hope this clears things up. About bulbs: crocus, hyacinth and all narcissus are inground here, but I treat tulips as annuals for our deck and plant hundreds each year in pots. That table by our waterfall is indeed a slice of a western red cedar placed on a stump. The stump was present when we arrived; the slice was salvaged from a giant tree my husband saw folks removing at his work. He asked ad they freely gave! We enjoy using it as a holder for cocktails… Have a beautiful Sunday! 🙂
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Ok, I will have this post as a reminder as how to read yours! Ha Ha! I wonder how many more I am missing! Most of the time in the SOS comments I do click on the profile, thinking I can read more!
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I spy crocus and maybe alliums? Always exciting to see new bulbs coming through, and to welcome.back return visitors from prior years.
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