Progress on my Test Garden

Readers of my blog will know that my project for this year (and the next two) is my test garden.  I have a model that I am emulating from Garden Gate and will grow shade, semi shade and full sun plants in it to write articles about for my blog.

Read about the beginning here.

Read about Stage Two in early July 2013 before my daughter’s graduation party here.

I thought it would be fun to put some before and after pictures for this post.  The garden is growing so well right now. Although many of the plants this year are annuals, that will change as the garden grows. (it is only 1/3 the size that I want but it’s too hot to dig now.)

These are photos before the party in July showing the existing small fence garden that I put in last year just to get the project started, the area that was tilled for planting this year and then photos of the garden now.

How my Test Garden has Grown!

This is the left side of the garden in May 2013 planted last year.

And the right side of the garden in May 2013. Not many plants yet!

But the full view shows some structure and the of an established garden.

Before planting in early June of 2013, we tilled the entire garden area to get rid of the lawn and weeds.

We started with a single tree – about 3 feet tall. It looks very lonely!

My daughter’s favorite flowers are sunflowers, so they were planted in the center.

By the time of her graduation from college, we had a nice collection of plants growing and more to be tested soon.

Compare the left side of the garden to the original photo – what a difference!

The right side is also getting filled in.

The full garden bed almost covers the fence line now.

The focus of the garden now are huge Elephant ears that I found growing in my compost pile 2 months ago.

My little single tree is now five feet tall.

The tree is a mystery for now. I got 10 free trees for a membership with the Arbor Day foundation last year but I mixed up the tags.  The trees I received were:  2 white flowering dogwoods, 2 flowering crab apples, 2 Washington Hawthorns, 2 Eastern red buds, 2 golden rain trees. 

I THINK it is a Washington Hawthorn, since I planted the largest one I had and they were the biggest.  But time will tell. 

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

This great collage was designed by Melissa from Empress of Dirt who is also featured in the garden hop.

Thanks for including my garden Barb!

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