At our Artist studio/residence the yard beyond the vegetable garden away from the lake has been a kind-of no man’s land, we put a gravel path in several years ago and spread wood chips on both sides but it was soon overrun by horsetail, dandelions, and clover. My Artist Garden is on the Valley Garden Club Garden Tour this year and has spurred my interest in resolving at least a part of this messy conundrum. Throughout the years we’ve planted 30 or more trees in this area with a vision to someday have a neat, tidy little forest. In the meantime I want to make the area look a little nicer and easier to maintain.
The space is an endless weed machine, I’ve spent weeks pulling them and am only half done. It is killing me. So, I came up with a plan to put in a little lawn on either side of the Artist Garden Path, something with irregular edges and bordered with river rock. Above the river rock a small area of wood chips will serve as a planting bed for some larger, bushy perennials. We can mow the lawn keeping the weeds to a minimum, and the bushes might smother a few more. A crew of strong young men began clearing weeds today, raking and preparing the area for topsoil.
Here is the progress after a few hours. It will look nice, but now I still have to deal with the forest of weeds beyond. One step at a time….I remind myself.
Gail Niebrugge, Alaska artist
I know it will look just wonderful when completed, Gail. I am still feeling so happy you can stay in your beautiful surroundings and neighbourhood for now. Hugs xxx
Hope you are feeling better Noella, thanks for the moral support.