More Mulch Please...

So, as I've said, I'm making my way through Gaia's Garden, this time slowly, as I apply what's needed in order to transform my lot, make it more sustainable, tackle problems and consider healing and restoring the soil.

How about this cool old bench? I love Davey's Trees...that's where all this cedar mulch came from, for free! The bench was sentenced to death by mulcher, but I saved it and am having the talented Bob Pool of Draco Gardens make me a metal stand. I also had my neighbor Dana get the same ginormous load for her house so we could mulch the trees across the street at the church. It's become disgustingly obvious that even though the minister apologized and said they would do "whatever was necessary to remedy the situation"...they intend to do NOTHING, and have done NOTHING.

Back to my story...chapter 4 "Bringing the Soil to Life" is fascinating and I'm taking it to heart. This load is just one of several I plan on using. The idea, for those of you who don't get the beauty of mulching, is to pile 8-12 inches, YES that much, to both stop the light completely from reaching weed/seed and to cool thoroughly the ground-bringing the microbes, earth worms and bugs to the surface to begin munching, tunneling, pooping, dying and generally aerating and packing your soil with nutrients while you do...nothing. We are giving one last deep watering before piling the mulch up, then watering the mulch on top as well.
There are fabulous stories about the genius of sheet mulching but I quit getting the newspaper years ago (I'm not a fan of the Statesman, and can read the Times online) and just don't accumulate enough cardboard and other stuff quick enough...plus Davey's is FREE. Just had to say that again...and here's the way to get some for you:

email Daniel at treemd@msn.com; be nice, be patient...they get it to you when they can, so know where you want it dumped, and how much.

The next chapter in the book discusses 5 steps to "Catching, Conserving and Using Water." How about this little lake that was the result of the giant mulch pile stopping the mad rush of rain from leaving my property? It would otherwise be wasted down the drain storm system of our fair city...taken out to sea, when we so desperately need to keep this free, clean water. At this point we have 6, 55 gallon drums that go bone dry very quickly...the best place to store water is in rich soil...which we don't have so we mulch...mulch...mulch...

Then....SWALE!!!

We are planing on digging 3 additional "fish scale" style swales in an attempt to stop the rush at varying intervals...the photo above shows the location of one such swale, yet to be built.

This is the same rain, there will be a fish scale swale in front of this gate, which right now creates a waterfall into the greens garden below.

Here's my loving spouse watching the Crocks set sail in our upper lake. This rain was only 3 inches. The phrase I've taken out of this chapter, that makes the most practical sense is "the cheapest place to store water is in the soil." Storing above ground is expensive, storing in the ground is labor intensive.

This photo may be confusing but, it's showing the far side of the front lawn...missing, yea! We have been letting the St. Augustine die for nearly 2 years...silly, silly grass in the wrong place...now that the Sycamore isn't providing full shade. This is a long term plan to turn the front yard into an edible forest!

And this is what lawn I have left. I recently moved the steppingstones, which led to the church but that friendship is long gone...whereas the path leading to the next door, that the postman, neighbors and I use, is beaten down so, use dictates change here.

We're having a huge graduation party next Saturday for my oldest daughter so the sprucing up of the garden continues, amid transformation. I will try to snap a few photos of the merriment...until next time...happy mulching

and...

Happy Gardening!

What the Rain Brings

Dorothy Belle has been keeping a sharp eye on my garden. She hates getting wet and it's killing her to see all the squirrels, birds, bugs and butterflies out enjoying the break. Word has it that we are in for a long wet winter and after the brutal summers we've had the past two years, I'm ready.

Randy's rose, neither of us know what variety she is? Rose experts...what's her name?

I just can't get enough of Datura Metal. The Brugmansia is covered in as many blooms but droops and only smells lovely at night.

The Cannas think it's Spring

There are hundreds of funky molds and fungi every morning. Dog Vomit, Fuligo Septica is my favorite though...I check on it several times a day when it pops up just to see it grow and change color.

In just a few hours it's lost it's brightness but spread by several inches.

Can anyone identify this golden pear? I think it's Hobis Lobbis Craftian Gold? I've had quite a few visitors in the past week and no one has noticed it... smack dab in the middle of my yard. This is a peculiar little tree that hasn't grown in 13 years. I think it's a Buckeye, well...I know it is but it drops it's leaves in early Fall, buds out and remains a stick until March when it puts on a garish show. This is first time it's created a seed pod, which never fell off.

I'm just tickled about the Guest Haus. I hadn't foreseen the curtain pattern but otherwise the colors and window boxes are as I saw in my minds eye over a year ago. The plants below are not as tall, due to the drought.

I captured the shot below when I was up on the ladder hanging a chime. When I look at a property for the first time, the image I see immediately is a downward flow of either color and texture or both, and then the birds eye view of curvilinear flow, and that's what sticks. I'm not one to question or understand how it happens. It just does. Two years ago when I set out on this new business venture, I imagined myself doing elaborate landscape design drawings and was elated by the idea of marrying my art skills and gardening passion. I have one class left in my National Certification from the National Gardener and Texas A&M's Landscape Design Course and what I've learned is that if I have to sit down and color green circles I WILL go mad. It will choke the passion right out of me. So, what to do?

East side of my front yard facing the street. The rock line is a functional swale.

This little mushroom at 3 days old.

The same mushroom at 7 days, from below.

The rains have brought so many cool things but mostly a change of direction for Conscious Gardening. I'm looking into designing a new business model specifically for the DYI's that span a year of consulting, one on site hour each season with computer and telephone support. I've looked at several 'landscape design' businesses and I feel that what I have to offer is unique but for a specific kind of person. I want to collaborate with solid people who want to learn about sustainable, ecological best gardening practices, those who recognize that they need an artists touch, and respect the developing process. The amount of work necessary for success in this climate enormous.

There is no such thing as a low maintenance garden.

I can't remember who said it...Skip Richter maybe, that "there are gardeners and there are yardners.."I think yardners hire out, and believe things like "low maintenance" and gardeners have dirty hands, deep smile wrinkles and curious minds. I hope to work with gardeners and perhaps inspire yardners to come outside and discover the magic that living in your own private Eden holds.

Happy Gardening