Start small...

Where do I begin?

Tonight was my last landscape design class. I knew going into it, that I wouldn’t be done with my plan by the end of the four weeks. There have been moments where I think I know where I’m headed, followed by valleys of despair. How will we deal with the steep slope in the back? Do we have too much shade? How difficult will it be to replace the sod with more drought resistant plants and ground cover?

So… I’m still working on the master plan and will continue to hear my instructor say, “Spend at least a year on your master plan.” He also said it’s okay to start planting if you know that it’s part of your plan. I am now going to start small and watch the garden progress over the years.

My next task in the garden is to plant some evergreen ground cover in the back yard under the fern and junipers. Then I’ll do some sheet mulching to get rid of the St. John’s Wart where I’ll put in some evergreens and shade loving perennials. I now know what will work well between our side garden and the neighbors, and the garden is weeded and ready to go, so that will also be on this weekend’s list.

The garden will be my refuge as we are tearing out lathe and plaster in the house. Some day, they will both show the fruits of our labor.