Rose Garden
Once the perennial garden is complete we saw the need to create a path from the front walk to the side yard. We began building the path by outlining the edges in rock and laying weed barrier cloth as a base. For a nice stable, yet rustic surface we spread loads and loads of a combination of gravel and sand. The path is 5′ wide, big enough for the ATV (four wheeler) to traverse.
Next to the path and along side the driveway is an area of full sun, and a nice place for a rose garden. Unfortunately, the soil is as hard as concrete and revealed even more rocks. We made quite large holes for the rose plants, and filled them with potting soil. Hopefully we created a hospitable environment for these beautiful bushes. Each plant if full of buds, they are just starting to bloom.
The front is not finished, we still have a looming pile of topsoil to spread. There will be lawn from the rose garden and walkway all the way to the street and will surround the newly planted white spruce trees. In theory this sounds wonderful, in fact all these gardens are an experiment. I have been growing plants in Alaska for over 30 years and have had enough experience to know that you can’t count on anything surviving the long haul. I’ve had plants thrive for three or four years only to succumb to winter kill. Others, seemingly neglected, have grown into magnificient beauties. Gardening in Alaska is fun and full of challenges. And never boring. Just about the time you begin to feel that you have had enough gardening, fall arrives and leads to a whole new set of chores.
Gail Niebrugge, Alaska Artist
