“It is more blessed to give than to receive. [Acts 20:35]“
Taking cuttings from my garden and transplanting them into a friends garden, this is a Giving Garden. After deciding on a Zen Garden Design (see previous blog about Stepping into Zen), I designed a plant-scape of symmetry and flow. By grouping plant varieties together, it gave the tiered planters an organized eye candy appeal. This project took several carloads of clippings from my succulent, aloe, euphorbia,and cacti plants from my yard. Before transplanting, I dipped each plant into Root Tone/Rooting Hormone to help stimulate root growth as soon as possible. The weaving rocks (placed with landscaping fabric underneath) created a nice visual separation between the plants; giving each section distinction. The right side of the yard gets more shade, so I placed a few flats of impatiens and ferns for that area. The top of the hill stays dry and sunny; a perfect home for the cactus and aloe. Other additions to create a Zen atmosphere of peace were 1) The painted stepping stone 2) A bird feeder that I bought on clearance at Target. 3) Home made bird bath (see previous blog) 4) River Rock . The project took several days in September (during that heat wave we had in California) and was a labor of love. The final photos were taken three weeks later to allow the plants to fill in.
Sharing plant cuttings is a great way to help inspire gardening and also help a friend “Reclaim her yard!”
Thank you for visiting my blog: www.nadiaknows.com “I know I want to Create-Grow-Inspire”
This is MY backyard and I LOVE LOVE LOVE it.
Nadia was like a little garden fairy showing up in my yard transforming it into a beautiful picture for me to see everyday.
Before she added her magic touch I struggled for 7+ years trying to get something to just grow there. I’d given up and it was a wreck. A few plants were “survivors” which she re-purposed to better locations. Nadia would come over with tons of cuttings from her own (gorgeous) backyard and thoughtful place each one into my yard. She also added her simple backyard projects, like the reclaimed painted step stone. She purchased only a very few new plants and bark, for a total cost of maybe $125.
My yard brings me happiness everyday now. I am enjoying soo much watching it grow and fill in each day. It has sparked an interest in doing more gardening myself and gets me away from my home office desk and outside in the yard daily.
I plan to let me garden grow and mature for the next year and then take cutting from my yard to help out someone else. Also, I’m going to make little terrariums from cuttings, like the one Nadia posted in her blog, for gifts this Christmas.
The garden that keeps on giving!
Thanks Jill
You deserve it!!!!!
in one word…awesome! I can see you doing something like that in my side yard.
O.K. are you inspired enough to get it going? Just think of all those beautiful herbs that you could cook with!