Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary

How does your garden grow? Mine? Not so well…

I created this flower bed in April of 2013 to spruce up the outside of my garage. There was grass there, so it required removing that and defining the bed before planting. It looked pretty good right after everything was planted.

Then it got too hot. And I didn’t water my pretty flowers enough. So 2 of the 3 types withered and died. The one that stuck it out was more of a ground cover than the upright flowering plant I desired for this space. And even it had seen better days…

So I hit up the garden center and bought some new beauties. But of course I had to clean out the old stuff first. And it looked better immediately.

I decided to use my cordless tiller to fluff up the old dirt and hopefully make it a more loving and nourishing environment for the new flowers.

Once that was done, I laid out the plants for a “dry fit”. And unfortunately I under-estimated how many plants I would need. I was majorly short! Last time I planted this bed I had too many, so I guess I over compensated in the other direction this time!

So back to the store I went. Well I guess I got the last of the bluish-purple flowers in the back, because they didn’t have any more at the store! I adjusted the game plan and started looking for ANY upright perennials that could compliment what I already had. And of course they didn’t have ANY at that store. Not a single upright perennial. So off to the other big box store I went.

There they had something very similar so I snatched them up. The original ones I bought are on the left and the second ones I bought are on the right. They are both in the same family of “salvia” perennials. I think it works.

Especially since I alternated them on the back row in the new lay out. I think I like it better than if I had 7 original salvias along the back. It gives it more dimension and interest.

I used a trowel to mark around each container as I planted them one by one, making sure each plant was still lined up before backfilling the hole. And with a little pine straw sprinkled around, I’m really liking the finished product!

And the best part is these flowers will come back year after year and they bloom in fall, spring, and summer so I’ll be able to enjoy my handy work year-round!

Anyone else enjoying planting new flowers and plants this time of year? Who else replants flower beds after a neglectful season? There’s always hope you’ll do better next time! Which is why I’m watering my new bed every single day!