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.