Privacy Gardens going in

     A rogue landscaper decided to prune up the magnolias to make it easier to cut the yards. What he did was expose the neighbors yard, and all the cars, etc. in their back driveway.
      This is a wide view of the Back Privacy Beds which were planted in early July. Air layered camellias, hydrangeas grown from last year's cuttings on the grounds were planted at strategic points of view from the back of the house. Aspidistra cast iron plants were moved from the front sunny beds to fill in the back this shady area in the very back of the back yard.
     The camellias and hydrangeas should fill in and block the views of the neighbor while softening the back edge of the yard. The cast iron plants should love the deep shade, thrive and multiply greatly.

     This small planting went in just left of the wide view above. From the back porch of the house this area looked empty and lacking. The camelia is a Pink Perfection which blooms from late fall until late springtime, so as the bush grows it should fill this empty corner with light pink flowers. The hydrangeas surrounding it create a bed. Not sure what color blooms will come from this area of soil. Time will tell.
     I left all the empty pots in front of the newly planted bushes to protect them from lawnmower wheels and weed-eater operators. Better safe than sorry.

Front Steps of the Burt Stark House

 Planting has begun in the front flower beds on either side of the front steps. Begonias and dianthus are planted near the edge. Russian sage, tall verbena, tall salvia, and peonies all went in the ground in early June.

 Verbena borenensis was ordered from England. Should reach a height of 4 to 5 feet tall.

 Blue Salvia is a perennial and a favorite with pollinators and humming birds.

The west side bed showing hydrangeas and sprouting crape myrtle trees. The cut areas and mint whihc is HIGHLY invasive. Never plant mint people.

Dipper Gourd Supports

The heirloom dipper gourd vines are vigorously growing last year they pulled down the bamboo pole tee pees with every wind that blew. This year sturdy 4 X 4 supports have been installed. The upright supports will keep the gourds off the ground and serve as a green landscape blocker for the neighbor and their carport. The garden is slowly coming together.

Boxwood Paths and Begonias

This summer the boxwood paths have been hand pruned and the bed surrounding the restored cast iron urn was planted with white begonias. The view is looking from the back yard toward the back porch of the Burt Stark House.

Herb Garden - Summer Update

 Rear view above shows the completed fence and raised beds. The plant you see growing is the heirloom dipper gourd vines planted in early June. Weekly rain and horse manure have boosted them greatly. The next project is a trellis and upright support for these vigorous vines to grow upon.

 The mulch in the paths of the beds has leveled down greatly but is proving to be a good weed barrier. In the photos above and below you can see the gates added near the building. The final gate will need further thought. I want it to look like fence not gate, but still be able to open. Little by little things happen.

There is a rosemary plant in each of the four raised beds but you can't really see them yet. I am hoping they will take off and survive the winter. We will see.

January Update - BSH Old Kitchen Herb Garden

This is the rear view from behind the herb garden. We are filling the raised beds with layers of organic matter, but are still waiting on mulch to fill the paths and make walk-able paths.

This a shot from the corner looking across the beds. There is a little manure and topsoil still to be spread in the raised beds.

This final shot is a complete side view of the raised beds and the whole garden. We need to put down some more cardboard to block the weeds, and we still need bark mulch for the paths. Looking toward the siding on the house we may need to spray mold killer on the walls to clean that up.

Just a reminder that Burt Stark House Christmas ornaments are still available for a $10 donation. When you donate to the BSH and get an ornament you are supporting our efforts to build the Old Kitchen Herb Garden, as well as replanting flower beds and shrubs around the BSH property.

Christmas comes to the Burt Stark House

 The Ladies Parlor Christmas tree here at the BSH was created in honor of Miss Mary. Hats, shoes, hat boxes, passports, and cameras all illustrate her love of travel and enjoying life each day.

 a close up detail

 Men's and women's hats represent Miss Mary Stark Davis and her husband Thomas Lyles Davis.

 The Men's Parlor Tree and mantle is simple and adorned in a peacock theme.

 a wide shot of the entire room

 the mantle in peacock

 several details from the tree feature scented pinecones hung from ribbons and cast iron keys.

Remember that BSH Christmas Ornaments are available at the house each Friday and Saturday from 1:30 to 4:30 for a suggested $10.00 or more donation. All proceeds from the ornament sale helps to restore the flower beds and grounds here are the BSH.

BSH Old Kitchen Herb Garden Update - Fall 2016

Much activity has taken place in the new Herb Garden this Fall. The fence was finished. The weeds and grass were scalped and sprayed. Cardboard was laid to cover the entire ground area and weighted with bricks and sticks. The lumber for the raised beds was secured and delivered by the local Rose Garden Club. The lumber was screwed together and now sits awaiting filler inside the beds and wood mulch for the paths between the beds. Progress comes slowly. 

 Here is a photo of the finished raised beds.

 A rear shot shows the bigger picture. Paths are wide to allow for wheelchair access.

 Progress but miles to go.

 Four six foot by ten foot raised beds are going to take a lot filling soil.

The garden as it sits right now - starting to look like something great!

Burt Stark House Christmas Ornament 2016 now available

The 2016 Burt Stark House Christmas Ornament is now available. The ornaments are available for a minimum $10.00 donation or larger. The ornament is clear glass with either a black and white or color photo image of the Burt Stark House encased with the ornament. Ornaments are available at the Burt Stark House each Friday and Saturday afternoon from 1:30  to 4:30. All proceeds from the sale of these ornaments goes to fund restoration of the gardens and flower beds on the Burt Stark House grounds.

Boxwood Restoration Fall Update - 36 new plants

This spring the healthy boxwood shrubs on the west side of the front lawn were air layered. A process wounding a small branch and packing moist rooting medium around it. The wound sits all summer long and in the fall the plant begins to produce roots at the wounded area. The packing material begins to feel tighter and tighter, and that is when you know the roots are forming. 

 One cool morning after a slight rain all the air layers were removed from the shrubs. If done carefully this leaves the plant looking as if it were simply pruned and thinned, but you have new plants with roots for your efforts. The hardest part is the patience it takes to wait out the new roots.

 Here are the finished air layered clippings. The Piedmont region of South Carolina had one of the driest summers we have had in decades. A few of the air layers did not survive the trauma, but many did.

 Here is a close up of the finished product. The roots are wrapped in spagnum moss, plastic, and then aluminum foil so the roots are formed in complete darkness. The bottom of the original branch is clipped off of the bottom of the root mass. The new plant is planted in plain garden top soil from the big box store.

The final boxwood plants. This year there are 36 new plants with roots that will be allowed to grow roots and fill in over the winter if it ever rains again. The reason all this trouble is taken is because we have the same plants to fill in the holes from shrubs lost through the decades, and we have no fear of boxwood blight. No new plant material will be brought onto the property so the original boxwood shrubs are completely safe.

Herb Garden Fence

The fence around the Old Kitchen Herb Garden is finally completed. The weather has been too hot to dig, and the ground was hardened by weeks lacking of rain. The fence is done and the real work on the ground and the flower beds can finally begin. The local garden club has offered help, so cardboard and lumber is coming to begin the raised beds.

 This is a wide view showing the garden space from a corner.

 This is a distant shot, looks pretty good.

 This is going to be a nice addition to the grounds. It is visible from the both side roads, and the windows of the old kitchen look directly out into this space. Going to be pretty.

Rear view of the garden space, after everything is in place a fence/gate will need to enclose the whole space. Two small entrance gates are planned next to the building for ease of access.

Flag Pole flower bed

The plan was to create a red, white, and blue flower bed for this round brick flag pole bed. The red is verbena, the white is full sun caladiums, and the blue never worked out. I tried blue salvia but the seed would not grow. Maybe next year. It does look good from the intersection as cars drive by.

Kitchen Herb Garden Fence is going up

Sorry for the hazy photo, it was really steamy and hot when the first posts were set. The space near the house will be for a gate. 

Here is a shot of the final two sections added to the fence. I think the fence looks fabulous!!!

Summer Projects and Future Plans

This summer work has continued in the front flower beds on either side of the front steps here at the Burt Stark House. The photo above is the left side of the front steps. Some Crepe Myrtle shoots are there behind that Hydrangea. They will be encouraged and will eventually shade this sunny bed nicely.

This is a closer shot of the front left bed closer to the front steps. The little weedy patch in the middle of the bed is some old daylilies that will need to be lifted and divided this fall. 

Here is a picture of the flower bed to the right side of the front steps. These Aspidistra "Cast Iron" plants need to be moved to a shadier bed in the back yard. At one time there were huge ancient magnolia trees that put all this area in deep shade. But they are gone and this plants need a move to some cooler shadier area.  

Rubble Pile Put to Good Use

The large pile of fill dirt and rubble that was removed from the yard behind the Old Kitchen to make way for the new Herb Garden has been put to good use. The picture above shows the small loads dumped over electrical wires and exposed tree roots behind the Burt Stark House. 

Here is a wider shot showing that this was a small area behind the house. To the right of this area is a large grassy yard often rented out for social functions and as a wedding venue. Exposed wires and roots needed to be covered and the view improved. 

Everything was smoothed out and raked as level as possible. Ten bales of pine straw should cover and clean this little project up nicely. Mission accomplished. 

Nobody knows ...

To you this is just a photo of a couple of old boxwood shrubs. But it really is the final product of two days work on hands and knees. Ivy was pulled. Lots and lots of ivy was pulled. Weeds are clipped. Dead branches were sawed off. This is not a photo of two old boxwood shrubs. This was a major accomplishment. 

So Excited!

The one ton pile of fill dirt and rubble has been removed from behind the Old Kitchen building and so work on the Kitchen - Herb Garden can begin in earnest. 

The soil behind the Old Kitchen looks pretty good, and was leveled nice and smooth, it should make a superb foundation for the Herb Garden.  

Here is a better view from behind the Old Kitchen showing how level the new garden bed is going to be. You can also see how much good full sunlight this yard gets from early morning until late afternoon, so it should be a good spot for herbs and flowers. 

One last look of the before of the Old Kitchen Herb Garden at the Burt Stark House July 2016. Can't wait to get started!