Garden Report: The First Flowers in May

At the end of May, the first flowers bloomed in the garden.

I had planted lupines around every tree because they are one of the best-known plants for working together with rhizobia who fix nitrogen from the air and make it available to nearby plants.

Chives were also an early flower.

The comfrey plants were already getting large so it was time to cut them back.

The cut leaves quickly wilt and decay providing valuable minerals to the soil.

With so many new beds I haven't been able to plant very many of them yet the bees are visiting looking for food. It was for the bees and other nectar seeking insects that I left a lot of comfrey plants to flower.

The bees love comfrey flowers and were too busy to stop for a quick photo op.

Next spring I plan to have a greater variety of flowers to attract a greater variety of insects.

Backyard Project: Completing the Last Few Tasks

Josh helps Dave adjust his mask before they get down to a stinky job.

Josh is ready

They apply a glue to the underside of the propagation table lining.

Meanwhile, Josh has hung the upper shelving unit in the Potting area...

...and he has hung the shelving unit in the Project area.

He is now working on the countertops.

The first one is in place.

Last year I planted a range of plants in the Gravel Bed garden as a trial to see which ones thrived in the sunny dry conditions with minimal watering. I had a few deaths (Corsican mint) but the majority are loving the conditions. The Wooly thyme has already grown together to make the first part of the path through the bed.

I had used empty pots to mark out where to put plants for the rest of the path.

Now it was time to plant more of the path. I have picked up ground-cover plants that can take being walked on, whenever I see them for sale. The garden bed is going to look spotty for another year so I just have to be patient.

Backyard Project: Pattern Language: #243 Sitting Wall Guides the Pergola Design

Another delivery of lumber for  a new project - Pergola seating

Brace support for a bench around the perimeter of the Pergola.

Pattern Language #243 Sitting Wall

Problem "In many places walls and fences between outdoor spaces are too high, but no boundary at all does injustice to the subtlety of the divisions of spaces." p. 1125.

Somewhere along the edge between the Pergola and the Arbour, "there is a need for a seam,  a place which unites the two, but does so without breaking down the fact that they are separate places. If there is a high wall or hedge, then people in the [pergola] have no way of being connected to the [arbour path]; the people in the [arbour] have no way of being connected to the [pergola]. But if there is no barrier at all - then the division between the two is hard to maintain." p.1125. 

Without a low wall it would feel uncomfortable sitting in the Pergola because one would have the feeling of being unprotected - a 'sitting duck'.

Josh continues to demonstrate his high level of wood working skill.

'The problem can only be solved by a kind of barrier which functions as a barrier which separates, and as a seam which joins at the same time." p.1126.

"A low wall or balustrade, just at the right height for sitting, is perfect. it creates a barrier which separates. But because it invites people to sit on it - invites them to sit first with their legs on one side, then with their legs on top, then to swivel around still further to the other side, or to side astride it - it also functions as a seam, which makes a positive connection between the two places." p. 1126.

The two different ground materials also help to define the separate rooms while at the same time the materials are connected by their common local source.

Dave applies a coat of sealer to protect the horizontal surface from moisture damage.

The Pattern Language is very specific about the height and width of a low wall for it to be successful. It needs to be 16 inches high and at least 12 inches wide.

This low wall/bench seat has made a big difference to the whole feel of this part of the backyard. It feels much more complete. The Pergola and even the Arbour feel more grounded.

Backyard Project: Progress Over 2 Weeks While I Was Away

Completed Pergola Paving

While I was away for 2 weeks visiting family work continued. On my return, it was exciting to go around the job site to see the progress.

The potting area cabinets

The project area cabinets

Electricians had been again and installed the outside lights.

The growth in the garden beds had taken off.

In some beds the comfrey was flowering. Normally this is the time when I cut it back but the bees are loving it and there are hardly any other flowers out for them to feed on so I left the comfrey to grow and flower.

The kale is nearly 6 feet high. I am leaving it to flower, seed and dry. The plants will be left in place to provide organic matter to the soil and I am hoping the seeds will germinate to keep us in greens over the winter again.

It was pretty exciting to see all of the changes after a break away. The progress doesn't feel as dramatic when observing it every day.

Backyard Project: Gravel Spreading, Rock Placing, Roof Making

Taylor moving the compactor in place

The gravel spreading continues on the last path

It is easy to move the gravel in place with the Bobcat on this last path.

Crew waits for my directions

Taylor moves rocks to make a nice curved edge from the forest track to the gravel edge and cedar fence.

Josh and Dave work on the other side placing rocks between the gravel path and the garden bed.

The clear corrugated plastic sheets are put in place to complete the Garden Shed area roof.

Josh and Taylor at work on the roof.

Backyard Project: Pattern Language #120 Paths & Goals, #121 Path Shape

Pattern Language #120 Paths and Goals

"The layout of paths will seem right and comfortable only when it is compatible with the process of walking. And the process of walking is far more subtle than one might think." p. 586.

The location of this path to the studio front door is tied in with Pattern Language #110 Main Entrance. "Place the main entrance of the building at a point where it can be seen immediately from the main avenues of approach and give it a bold visible shape which stands out in front of the building." p. 544.

This middle-sized walking path leads directly to the front door of the studio making the door's location obvious.

"To lay out paths, first place goals at natural points of interest. Then connect the goals to one another to form the paths." pp 587-8.

I know I did not follow this pattern advice when developing the conceptual design for the Backyard Project. My priority for moving around the space was to provide access for the lawn tractor with its trailer to move from one side to the other. If the path was in a straight line across the back the house it would have been an eyesore. Instead, I planned a curving path that helps disguise its purpose while connecting with all of the other functional paths.

I plan to work towards this pattern with plantings, seating, art and other focal points.

Pattern Language #121 Path Shape

"Streets should be for staying in, and not just for moving through..." p. 590.

'Make a bulge in the middle of a public path, and make the ends narrower, so the path forms an enclosure which is a place to stay, not just a place to pass through." p. 591.

The smaller path going to my studio has a narrow entrance restricted by rocks to stop people thinking it is the main path to the front door. It bulges out where there is a bird bath (to be installed on the green septic tank cover) and is the place for a coiled hose. One can stop and enjoy the calming activity of watering plants and filling the birdbath.

Valerie Easton's book 'A Pattern Garden, The Essential Elements of Garden Making' contains detailed guidance on designing paths according to Pattern Language principles.

'One uniform material, no matter how lovely, probably doesn't fit all garden situations equally well. Using a single material for paths misses the chance to stir up some excitement and interest underfoot, as well as the opportunity to cue the garden experience by slowing or accelerating one's passage through it.' p. 75.

 The path of the tractor had to have a material that would stand up to its use in all weather conditions but I did wonder if that meant there was just too much gravel and its qualities would dominate the space. 

This shorter, curved path going up the hill made from large rocks in contrast with the gravel path of the same stone provides some break from the mass of gravel.

The 'gardener's paths' following the shapes of the Hugelkultur beds are marked with rounds of cut logs. It is important these alternative 'pathway materials can and should be varied, provided that affinity of colour, texture, and basic nature is kept in mind.' Easton p. 75.

The ground surface of the Pergola will be pieces of hard slate interplanted with plants while the meandering path through the Gravel Bed garden will be soft ground cover plants.

These 2 patterns for paths are ones I will continue to work on as I develop the garden because I know I haven't fully realised them yet.

Backyard Project: Work Continues on the Pathways

How to move gravel efficiently. 

Josh, in the Bobcat, Dave and Taylor, behind the wheelbarrows, have come up with an efficient way to move a lot of gravel.

Josh loads up the bucket with gravel while Dave and Taylor line up their wheelbarrows. Josh then empties the bucket into both wheelbarrows at once. 

The Arbour is large enough for Josh to get the Bobcat into where the gravel is needed next.

Another mid-sized pathway is covered with gravel.

Josh has levelled out the soil and rocks on the pathway up to the Garden Sheds, cutting and filling as needed.

Dave marks on the rock the depth of gravel needed.

Excess loose stones and rocks are placed on the west side of the path to build a random rock edge.

The lawn tractor has to be able to get up this path so I used the longest path-guide stick to mark out its boundaries. While keeping out of the way of others I made an edge of interlocked rock to contain the gravel and define the garden edge. This edge of larger placed rocks contrasts with the small random rock wall on the other side of the path.

The placing of the gravel gets easier as the crew work closer to where the gravel was dumped.

The Bobcat can reach up to the Garden Sheds to drop loads for the flat work area.

In the meantime, Sammy has made the first delivery of local slate he sourced from a quarry in Sooke. 

It is called Renfrew slate and has lots of greys and browns in it. Perfect.

They have started laying the slate on the bridge to the Pergola.

The changes seem to happen so quickly this week.