My Test Garden Transformation in July

Earlier this year, I wrote about a test garden that I will be having in my back yard.  I am using the garden bed to grow all sorts of things as test plants for the blog posts that I write.

Some grow well there and some don’t like it at all, but everything gives me more knowledge of what grows well here in NC.

The progress on my test garden transformation in July has been amazing.

It is starting to look like a real garden bed!
I made the last post in May and it has taken me a while to get some things added to the existing bed after I tilled it and got rid of all the sod and weeds.

This was the the way the test garden looked in May, 2013:  The bed had some existing plants along the fence line and that is about it.

On July 3, 2013 I took some photos showing the way it it starting to look now.  Quite a difference from the photo above, isn’t it?

A big clump of elephant ears makes a great focus to the center of the garden.

The neighbors trees almost seem to be part of this garden bed now. I just need to find some plants to hide the fence line a bit better.

The star of the garden right now is an enormous sunflower plant.  It is at least 7 feet tall and the blooms are just starting.

My daughter loves the happy sunflower face that sits so high in the garden.The garden is about 1/4 done.  It will take me three years to finish it, I think.  I want to make it about 3 times as wide, with a flagstone path leading to our garden shed. 

The test garden will take in a large magnolia tree where I sit and enjoy it in a restful seating area.

Update August 8, 2013:  My test garden has been featured in a garden hop.  It is one of 12 garden tours featured on Our Fairfield Home and Garden. 

Thanks for including my garden transformation, Barb! And stay tuned for more photos as the test garden progresses.

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