Hostas

Dream garden gets closer to reality

We Found the perfect gate for the dream garden. On Craigslist no less. Its cast iron, 58 inches tall from the bottom of post to top of arch, 42 inches wide from post to post with bolt action locking/closing mechanism. Doors swing both ways. She came from historic St. Louis Gaslight Square.

Grounds

In our attempt to create less waste/trash not only have I gone commando on recycling, but all vegetable matter is going out onto our OLD and overgrown compost pile or to the birds, and we re-purpose our used coffee grounds. I add them to the flower beds, the gopher holes, etc... two folks with two different types of coffee ends up being a bit of grounds weekly and the plants are happy.

Dream garden

The dream garden is a project that will be started HOPEFULLY this fall. I just completed the plans for it.

The left side is the dog area & Rv access- full fence & (I hope) a beautiful iron gate. The dog area will be either road base or decomposed granite.

The center is the Garden - the rowed areas are food based planting, the trees mainly fruits with a flowering dog wood here and there, the rest fun plants etc...

To the right is the children's play area including a pirate ship, swing set, fort & another play house structure.

In the center of the garden, on a raised plot is another aviary for our Ring neck offspring and the chickens will be in a portable A frame chicken tractor that will move about.

The fireplace has a landing/sitting area (the fireplace is 2 sided).

All paths & landings will be decomposed granite. A few places will have slate along it (we have 15 pieces and will incorporate them).

The basics

We have recently decided to become as self sustaining as we can. We have 6 chicks who in 4-5 months will provide us & the neighbors with eggs. We have:

1 Ameraucana - Black-Brown-White (named by the boy) - lays green blue eggs
1 Black Sex-links - Snow White
1 Buff Orpington - Sunshine
1 Rhode Island Red - Ariel too (the first Ariel passed on) - large eggs
2 Blue Cochins - Bluis (also named by the boy) & Cinderella

We are also growing as much produce as possible. We have planted:

Fruit:

2 lemons
1 pink lemon
1 Orange
1 Concord Grape
2 Blueberries
1 Asian Pear
1 Fuji Apple
1 Wonderful Pomegranate
1 Stella Cherry

2 Olive trees

I still would like to get plums, white flesh nectarines, and a peach of our own. The neighbors also grow peaches, plums, and a few other fruits and generously share their bounty. I will be learning to can, and will also be making our own jams.

The veggie garden will have:

cilantro
basil (2 kinds)
green beans
lettuce
carrots
kale
onion
leeks
Brussels sprouts
watermelon radish
Jade & Italian white sunflowers
golden beets
eggplant
peas
parsley

Again, the neighbors have quite a harvest and share their squashes, zucchini, patty pans (My fav). The sunflowers will not only be for the wildlife, but for our two Blue Indian Ring Neck parrots. The Pomegranate is also for them. Imagine blue + red = purple birds

All waste will go to the chickens (sans onion and garlic - that would be some nasty eggs), and in turn they will grace our garden with a wealth of manure.

Due to the awful conditions commercial animals are raised treated etc... we are hoping to get our beef & pork via 4-H auction. At least then we know that the animal was loved, and the money goes to a good cause- a childs education. We hope to find a cow that is grass fed.

Outside of the practical, we have our indulgences, including:

2 Koi ponds
3 pygmy goats (show goats)
2 indian ring necks previously mentioned - breeding pair & currently nesting
a collection of Japanese Maples including 10 seedlings
4 or 5 different Magnolia trees
a hammock
and a growing Dahlia collection