2023 June Garden Sustainable Stewardship Practices for the Southeast
The Fountain Garden
I’m looking forward to spending long weekends at the beach this summer, but I cannot deny that spring and fall are preferred. I’m not a fair-weathered beachgoer; I’m in it for the lifestyle.
As I read back on last year’s June post, I was happy to read the following, “I’ve been working like a madwoman to get the garden to a pure maintenance state! I think I’m there.” And I am there, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t a lot of work to do. At least now, it’s easier to manage.
And while I have it easier to be in the garden, my husband is just gearing up. We had a termite problem in the back. It would appear we had a leaky hose, leaking water into the crawlspace, creating the perfect environment for termites to house and feed. It will be no easy feat. He estimates he needs to dig out 100 wheel barrels of dirt. He says he needs to change the slope, for one, and also to expose the sill plate. This bottom foundation board is where the termites are feeding. We need to dry it out.
I’m trying something different this year, managing the swamp sunflowers, Helianthus angustifolius. The fall pollen and nectar are essential features for the wildlife needed an extra boost the prepare for the winter. The plant itself is too tall and gangly for my landscape. Over the years, I’ve cut the stems back to about half in June, and while I ended up with a shorter and stocker plant, they were still too tall for my liking. I cut them to the ground as I worked in the raspberry/muscadine bed in early May. I’ll be curious to see what they do this year.
Click HERE to learn more about the pipevine swallowtail!
The Back 40 (ft) North to South—As I readied for a tour group, I covered the spring herbaceous cutbacks with pine straw, as is my habit I’m letting this area rest for a while. The new compost area is on the Southside where the hardy kiwi use to be.
Back 40 (ft.) Detail. Art by Marina Bosetti.
Magnolia yuyuanensis gifted to me by Dr. Dirr
The Back 40 (ft) South to North—Direct sowed cosmo seeds. I’m unsure they will germinate, but I thought I would experiment since the Back 40 (ft.) is a no-work zone.
Gazebo Corner—The confederate jasmine, Trachelospermum jasminoides, is blooming!
The Epimedium Patch—The plants I placed in March are filling out nicely.
The Wildflower Patch Extension—Celedine Poppy, Stylophorum diphyllum
Amaryllis and a ceramic totem. I purchased the art from Niche Gardens, decades ago. Sadly, it’s the one artist in my collection I don’t know.
Mixed Border South to North detail
The Wildflower Patch—
Bee Hotel
The Southside—The Southern Magnolia tree has now disappointed me. Ha! The leaves are falling at a rate that I can keep up! Many of the raked leaves go into the yard waste can, and many others in the open area of the Southside.
I had a garden group stop by on May 18th, so I did a final rake and then covered it with pine straw. I’m hoping the bulk of the leaves has fallen, but what does land on the pine straw will at least blend in. This is a tree we plan to remove for a couple of reasons. For one, it was poorly sited; it’s too close to the house, and two, we hope to put in solar, and the evergreen tree is blocking out the southern sun.
The Ostrich Fern Garden—Adding pine straw around the individual plants made the fronds pop!
The Front Fountain Garden—Remember, over the winter, I reworked the fountain reservoir and bed? It’s finally shaping up to what I had envisioned.
Fountain Garden floats
The Food Forest—’Celeste’ fig
Growing paw paws, Asimina triloba
The Food Forest Extension—I added a couple more blueberry plants.
The Parterre—The incredible show of the snapdragons is over for the year. They were magnificent! Once removed, I reworked the soil and seeded pink, yellow, and white zinnias, which should only reach 18-24 inches high.
Poppies in the Muscadine/raspberry bed
The Raspberry/Scuppernong and The River Bed.
First time having aphids on the scuppernongs. Sprayed with water, but will use Neem oil if they persists.
At least since the hard cutback last fall, I will be getting grapes.
The Raspberry/Muscadine. I finally figured out how I’m going to trellis these babies. Now I just need to be home enough to do so…the beach is always calling!
The Pollinator Garden.
The Blackberry Patch with Chimney Swift Tower—The work to erect a trellis system is now upright and working beautifully for the fruits.
Rock Garden—Full
The North Side
The Girls Garden
Mixed Border—North to South
Mixed Border—Detail—Birdbath and Black Millet
Mixed Border—Detail—Foliage and blooms
The Wildlife Pond
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Glossary
Until soon,
Helen
#WeCanAllBeeBetter!