Remember when we built these? It’s finally time to fill them in! Inspired by a Japanese house design book, we built these “step gardens” to provide a beautiful view from our downstairs windows. Eventually we’ll be able to enjoy them from our soaking tub, but right now those rooms are our storage and workshop areas.
First step: get topsoil and moo-doo to fill in the wooden retaining walls! Two days of hard work with the wheelbarrow – topsoil may be the heaviest substance in the universe.
Went shopping for plants with the Garden Designer (aka Albo’s mum – she’s a genius!)… picked up our perennials from Rocky Dale Gardens, and annuals from New Leaf Organics. Also got a few transplants from our folks- a little bit of home.
The west side is very shady – we laid out woodland plants that don’t need much sun:
Dug in everything this morning.
[Click to View plant “Notes” at flickr]
Hostas, thyme, saxifrage and more for the sunnier side:
[Click to View plant “Notes” at flickr]
Containers for the front entry:
And a few for the sunny back garden – calibrachoa, impatiens and coleus.
We can’t wait to do more, but we don’t want to get in the way of building the deck and front steps – so the gardeners will tread carefully for now!
Cool! I’ve got some fuschia in pots on our deck. It’s accompanied by lobelia.
I was just showing my husband everything you’ve done with the Marmoleum. We are redoing our bathroom now and contemplating flooring choices. He’s under the impression that we’d have a hard time finding anyone to do such a small job. Think your guy would be willing to come up to Charlotte?
The installer we use is Vermont Carpet Gallery in Middlebury.
Dave Babcock is the owner, and Bernie is his main installer – they both do great work. Due to the distance they may add in a fuel charge, it still might be reasonable.
Vermont Carpet Gallery
(802) 388-7790
101 Exchange St, Middlebury, VT 05753