Week Two in the Garden; or How to Flood your Courtyard

Over the weekend I used some blocks that were stacked in our yard to outline where the future walkway will be. I thought this would help me to see where the walkway ends and the future lawn will begin. It did just that, but it also showed me a design flaw.

 

If you look closely you can see the rut in the middle of the one-day walkway where water was rushing toward the house. Not good.

We have been receiving a lot of rain due to Hurricane Isaac. My house is downhill from the road and rainwater runs down our driveway toward the house. There is a drain installed near the Maple tree, one in front of the garage door, and another in the courtyard. These drains do an ok job of diverting water from our home- we haven't flooded yet and a good portion of our county flooded in 2009.

After I placed the blocks outlining my future walkway the rainwater is funneled toward the courtyard gate and pools in front of the courtyard. Really pools. I ran out into the rain yesterday to remove two of the blocks near the fence, and that allowed the water to keep flowing...seriously, with the blocks funneling water down the future walkway and then the opening near the fence I created a waterfall down the path and a small river flowing to the left in front of our lounge window!

We won't be keeping the blocks. But before this experiment one option up for consideration was to line the walkway with nice rocks and fill it in with pea gravel. Scratch that.

Now we are looking at placing large pavers to create stepping stones, or pave the area to match the driveway. Stepping stones would be nice and would keep a woodsy feel to our home, as if we lived in the 'Shire. On the other hand, paving would be low maintenance and if we one day needed to be motor to the front door in our power chair a walkway would accomodate that need. Not that I plan on being in a wheelchair but I am not blind to how many wheelchairs are used in my family.

 

Found this pic on the web today at examiner.com in a story about Bellvue Gardens. Of course, with our downhill slope I would be riding the brakes the whole way to the door.

I had mown the back garden before placing the blocks in my one-day walkway; and was thinking that one of the nice things about having a pine straw front garden is that I don't have to mow. I may look into some no-mow or low-mow options for our small front garden. We get about 4 hours of sunlight a day on that spot; I contacted the Master Gardeners of Carroll County and was told that with that our best bet will be Fescue grass. I think Fescue may be one of the grasses that turn brown in the winter. I may check and see if there is any type of low growing mondo or liriope that I could use also. I am really digging not mowing.

Today's entry seems to be more about things I am ruling out than what I am putting in- so to share everything I did do in the courtyard; I painted the front door blue, planted monkey grass (liriope big blue) around the interior perimeter of the courtyard, and picked up some cute wall art at Hobby Lobby that looks like outlines of topiaries. I think the art will give a nod to the Charleston/New Orleans feel I like and the monkey grass will add year round greenery. We also added a large pot in the corner to balance the blue door. Pictures are coming soon!

Introduction

 

The beginning of my garden blog: an introduction to me, my family, and our home.

 

 

 

Not the best picture of us, but a good example of the face I make when I think a terrier is going to put his tongue up my nose.

My name is Christina and I live with my husband and our two dogs in Fairfield Plantation. We have been in our home for a couple of years and have personalized the interior of our cozy nest, created a private retreat in our back garden, and totally neglected our front garden. I think it is time to show some love to our front garden and this blog will document my ideas, readings, field trips, and creative endevours toward creating a garden that suits our home and vision.

 

This is what the front of our home looks like right now. Mister installed the picket fence to help keep our dogs out of the road...in my mind it is a lovely courtyard; in real life we refer to it as the dog-catcher.

Mister and I spent a few days in St. Augustine, Florida earlier this week and were told we must go to Harry's to see the courtyard (and try the seafood, of course). OMGeee!! Exactly the mood I want to create. The flooring was neutral, there was black wrought iron tables and chairs, fairy lights overhead, and evergreen plantings around the parameters. I think this may have been a Creole look, I have seen many of the same type of gardens in both Charleston, SC, and Savannah, GA.

I don't plan to open a restaurant out front, but I would like my courtyard to have similar features. I also want to add some foundation plantings but don't want to spend lots of time trimming; and I want to define the Japanese Maple bed that is to the left of the picture above. You can't tell it from the picture (or in real life) but I use the area next to the Maple bed as a walkway to the front gate and I would like for it to be more defined with maybe stepping stones or paving- depending on budget.

Anyway...that is me, my family, and our front garden. Wish me luck!