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! 

Herbs for the Kitchen Herb Garden

The summer plant sale at Wayside Gardens helped us score two types of rosemary, sage, and several phlox plants for the herb garden.

Restoration of the boxwood hedge begins

Several days a week or two ago the boxwood shrubs on the healthy side of the drive were air layered to begin the process of restoring the full ring around the driveway.  

 The process is really not that complicated. A branch of boxwood smaller than a number 2 pencil is stripped of leaves. Two cuts are made around the branch about one inch apart. The outer layer of bark is removed.

 The now wounded area of bark is packed in moist sphagnum moss, and wrapped in plastic to help hold moisture.

 Press and Seal is a kitchen product but really makes this step easier.

 The final package is tightly sealed and twisted.

 The plastic is too tempting for birds so the whole thing is encased in an aluminum foil wrapping to give protection from birds searching for nesting materials, and to create a dark area for new roots to form.

The final product. This is a slow process. By the end of summer when the temperatures are beginning to drop the sphagnum moss should be completely full of new roots. The new plants will be cut from the shrub and potted up to grow over the winter in a sheltered area, usually under a tree or foundation shrubs for a year or so. Then they will be ready to plant.

The Kitchen Herb Garden begins

 We went to the local big box store and purchased fencing to surround the area for the new Kitchen Herb Garden behind the Old Kitchen here on the property of the BSH. Near the back corner of the Old Kitchen you can see the pile of dirt and rubble that must be moved first. You can also see how very dry it is here, as the golf cart tracks are easily seen in the dry grass. We need regular rain.

 Two corner posts, 8 fence rails, and 6 end posts were purchased, along with some bags of gravel to toss into the post holes to speed drainage and slow down rot. We are still thinking about enlarging the width of the garden, but we will see.

While on vacation we took a side trip to Georgetown, SC. Next to the Rice Museum, the Lowcountry Herb Society has planted a small herb garden. This garden was in a small space and mostly shaded. I think our Herb Garden should do well with more space and more light. We will keep you posted.