It’s been a busy month around the Potting Shed!
We added some gravel paths to define the mulched areas and create a garden bed island in front of the shed to plant. Replacing the mulch with pea gravel paths will help reduce the amount of washing with heavy rain, inevitable from the slight grade and slope where the shed sits.
We relocated some flagstone from around our fire pit by the lake to add to the paths.
We’ve been sleeping very well at night with all the hauling, schlepping and digging ;)
Planting a perennial bed in front of the Potting Shed has been on my list of projects.
The Potting Shed sits so her back door is the most visible from the field and road.
Consequently, the front of the shed tends to be neglected or treated like the red-headed stepchild. ;)
A perennial island bed in front will change that!
Plants auditioned for their spots where they will be planted. The bed will get morning sun, with the bottom half of the bed shaded by the trees after about 1:00 in the afternoon.
We are in the process of adding a dry creek bed. Dry creek bed sounds better than ditch doesn’t it?
We have water that runs from the street to the lake via the ditch. From the ditch, it snakes its way through the mulch with a heavy rain. The stone will help direct the water run off and look prettier too.
Our neighbor has a small tractor which came in handy to move the stones.
A large flagstone was added as a bridge and to span the width of the dry creek bed.
Our list of projects is growing with plans to add some larger and smaller rock to make it the dry creek bed look more natural. More mulch will be added to cover up some of the mud and mess and top coat the existing mulch.
We spent the long Memorial Day weekend planting.
We pulled out a tent that rarely gets used to provide some much needed shade, moving it around as we worked.
My husband was ready to go back to work Tuesday to get some rest after the long holiday weekend. ;)
Reveal and new bed photos coming soon!
Thank you for your visit, I’m joining:
Metamorphosis Monday
Oh, wow, Mary, that’s at least three major projects from what I see! I hope it solves the water issues you’ve had….believe me, I feel the pain of what water damage can do, even when it’s landscape water. So smart to use that tent while you worked, and to have the neighbor’s equipment for hauling.
Good sleep prescription, indeed! (though sometimes I get restless legs when working hard like that, and have a hard time getting to sleep. I have a hard time knowing when to stop :/).
Happy June!
Oh my aching back! Mary, that is a whole lotta work, Honey…no wonder you’re both exhausted at night. It is going to be BEAUTIFUL when everything gets planted though. You are so creative & always have such great ideas in your head. I admire your energy, too! Yesterday I was at the library, Walmart, Bed/Bath & Beyond, donated stuff to GW, stopped to mail stuff at UPS…and one other place???…by the time I got home, I was pooped! However, I’ll take shopping over digging anyday.
That is going to be beautiful when complete! Love your shed! Inspired me and my hubs to build one!!!! I never thought of using the tent for shade when planting….fantastic idea! Thanks for sharing your project…more inspiration!!!
It looks so nice! Lots of work and it is always ongoing. Do you hire out!!!!! LOL
It’s going to b a stunner, as everything u do always is, I love love love the large flagstone bridge, what a gorgeous
piece of stone that is! U guys r amazing, how do u walk the next day(s)??? Thanx for sharing the latest project, we love your keen eye!
People often talk about their favorite garden “chore,” and mine is planting a new bed or reworking and existing one. I get excited just looking at yours! I envy your flagstone and gravel. Central Florida’s not really a mecca for flagstone, and when you make a gravel path the weeds sit on the side lines saying, “Just wait till she’s in bed and we’re in that gravel like a duck on a June bug. Everything’s going to be so lovely. I can’t wait for each potting shed post! They brighten my day.
Cindy, I live in Central FL too and know what you mean. I don’t like the black cloth, especially after the last time I used it. It’s covered in grass and I have to do it all over again. I prefer to use wet newspaper and pine bark.
Myrna, I’ve become a tree trimmer stalker…I listen for them in the early Spring as they trim my neighbor’s trees. I always ask for them to dump the trimmings in a pile for me and that’s what I use for mulch….even pathways. One of these days I’ll use some sort of pavers, but this seems like my best option for now!
WOW, what a monumental project you and your hubby undertook…but boy, oh boy, what you two achieved was awesome! I just love what you have created around the shed. I can hardly wait to see how it looks when the plants are planted and everything is in it’s full bloom. Keep that camera close by as I’m waiting on lots and lots of pics! I look forward to each of your posts~!
Mary, you have been very busy with lots of hard work! Can’t wait to see it all finished! Pam @ Everyday Living
Nothing like a little manual labor to help you sleep! ;P Your walkways look so pretty. Good job, Mary!
Can’t wait to see the finished project!!! What a lot of work, but well worth it! xoxo
Oh! I can’t wait to see it!!!
Just beautiful! So much work. I love the flagstone and the dry creek bed. How many pots of flowers did you plant? Can’t wait to see it all finished.
Can’t wait for the reveal. Everything already looks beautiful.
Wow…that is quiet a project. Looks so good now, I can’t even imagine what it will look like when it is finished.
you are an energizer bunny~! I need to get off my backside and get to work on some of my beds too,times a wasting! Your planting and paths are beautiful.!
Well, my favorite potting shed is about to get even more beautiful with the perennial bed,the flagstone path and the dry creek bed. I look forward to seeing the big reveal, but it already looks so pretty. Thanks for taking us along on the process.
Your creativity and level of energy are amazing…and having a hubby who will roll his sleeves up and help is a big bonus! It won’t be long before everything looks lush and full!
I don’t have a tent, but I do have a huge colorful beach umbrella I sometimes use and move around while working in the yard on hot days when the relentless sun is pitiless… I sit on a tiny little blue stool and dig away!
It looks so beautiful! What a great idea to use the tent for shade while working.
Exhausted! I’m exhausted just looking at all these projects and the things you accomplished over the weekend. Wow! This really puts the potting shed in a new light. The pea gravel makes a nice path. I did that in my herb garden. The perennial island is going to be fabulous. Giggling at the term, auditioning for their spot. ;-)
You are amazing, my friend! You have wonderful vision!
Now rest up this week!
Another beautiful post. Can you tell us what you are using to hold all your wonderful watering cans?
Thank you Kathy! The watering cans are hanging on a length of chain. You can see a close up of them here.
It is so beautiful. You should write a small book about the potting shed–beginning to end although it hasn’t ended yet. The perennial garden is going to be beautiful. Love everything you’ve done.
Stunning pictures of a lot of beauty! WOW…talk about hard work! Lordy.. You cracked me up with “dry creek beds”. LOL~ YEP…my man would say…”It’s a ditch”! Hugs and blessings, Cindy
Wonderful job, looks fantastic so far. Luv the dry creek bed w the rock bridge. Handy husbands are a godsend, mine is that way too.
Your piece of flagstone is so beautiful!! I’m very much looking forward to your future posts of your charming potting shed and beautiful surrounding areas. Thank you for sharing the journey with us, what an inspirational treat.
I love the looks of this perennial garden. I love perennials, but don’t know much about selection. Would you be able to tell me the names of the
plants you have decided to use there.
Hi Rose Marie, yes I’ll share all the plants in my reveal post :)
Projects begat projects, etc. etc etc. This is going to be SO WORTH IT!! franki
Enchanting
Excited to see how your creekbed turns out. you yard and garden are lovely.
Wow, hope you’ve been eating your Wheaties! While it’s a ton of work I know you’ll love it when it’s done-enjoy:@)
It gonna be beautiful~ I have a perennial garden in my back yard~ just a little note of advice as I saw your plants placed to plant just remember they will get big and you will lose your appeal in front of your adorable potting shed! I have been out digging some of my plants and hydrangea and moving them as they have gotten so big I couldn’t see the plants to enjoy the real view from my patio.
Everything looks magnificent….you two surely have worked very hard….I cannot wait to see that Perennial garden. Take care of yourselves!…Don’t work too hard!
Mary, I love seeing your bigger garden being put together! Your potting shed is so perfect and now I think the surrounding garden will be just as perfect, love it!
Mary, WOW! My back aches for you two! What a terrific job you are doing! Rest well tonight!
Love the dry creek bedI Did one of those myself a few years back – they are a labor of love with a heavy accent on the labor. Good for you and your husband!
~Mary~
What two “busy BEES” you and hubby were for sure !! I can’t wait to see it all finished its going to look perfect, just like all things you do , and eager to see what you all planted !! I put a pea gravel path in one of my areas and it is amazing those darn weeds can grow in it, and I even put down that weed guard fabric !!
Paula-IN
p.s Savannah was wonderful, and of course ate to much but thankfully all that walking !! one afternoon at Tybee Island for lunch and sitting at the beach, the weather was beautiful all week !!
You go girl! It will be beautiful! Hard work is good for the soul and for the love we have for potatoes! ha ha Can’t wait to see! how exciting!
The garden surrounding the Potting shed (surely the most glamourous potting shed ever) is looking wonderful, all your hard work has transformed it beyond belief. Feeling serious garden envy now!
I just adore your potting shed Mary! The new perennial garden will be beautiful…and the walkways and stone are just perfect! Cannot wait to see the big reveal! Hugs to Chloe and Gracie!!
Wow! Looks great! Hard work always pays off!
Wow Mary you really have been busy digging in the dirt!! That is quite a project and when you are finished and everything is growing and blooming, you will have your own fairytale village with your potting shed reigning over all! I know we are all excited about watching your progress as it turns into magic. I know your husband was happy to get back to work, wow, I can’t believe you are doing all that by yourselves!
Jenna
Can’t wait for the reveal, Mary! I can tell you love gardening! I love it myself. I just put in a perennial garden. Lots of work, but the beauty of it pays off.
Wow, my back is hurting just reading about your hard work. What a great plan and will be so much fun to have more flowers to arrange and photograph. Looking forward to seeing the reveal.
I admire your energy and foresight to solve your water problem and obtain a new garden at the same time.
I eagerly await watching your garden grow and develop.
This is fantastic Mary! What a great idea. All those perennials look great and as time goes by and they fill in more it’s going to be quite the garden! My husband used to say that about going back to work so he could take it easy after one of our long weekends of work around the yard. The dry creek bed looks great too!
Mary, this looks so great! I love your shed and the beautiful garden you’re installing in front. The pea gravel paths are great, love hearing those crunch under foot. I know what you mean about sleeping soundly at night after working in the yard! :)
Oh my gosh! How did I miss this post? What you are creating is going to be amazing! And I love how your ditch got dressed up!
i am so excitied for you to get such a wonderful new garden space! it looks fabulous, you are having fun fun fun! and i thought you even bought your very own tractor! i have been looking for a new home/land for a year, so frustrated i can find nothing, i am so eager to start all over again i have pangs thinking of the joy you are experiencing… aren’t my blue eyes green!
I can’t wait to see your perennial garden! Now that we have some SUN we are planting more perennials. Your place is going to look spectacular! We had 2 dry creek beds at the other house. Our rocks were not as large as yours, I LOVE the look of your larger stones. Ours would get full of leaves in the Fall and it looked awful, so we had to not only blow it out but hand pick stuff out. You 2 are such hard workers and it will all be worth it in the end!!!!
Wow! Cindy I have to say that I love your shed! I want one!!! Such a beautiful place…
Hi Mary, I’m slowly working my way through your posts and savoring every little bit of them, and this is just heaven!! I can’t wait to see what it looks like after planting. I love the stone bridge over the dry creek bed and the birdbath and sun dial! I can’t wait to see more!! Your hubby is so good to use his time off to help you create this space. I hope you both went for a serious massage and pampering! Linda