July 3, 2008
Ok everyone, here is what I was working on when I should have been doing the LumberJocks’ eMag. Here is what I was doing when I DID have a working internet and what was I left to do the eMag when the internet WASN’T working. (And yes, I did get the newsletter finished. I have a great boss—who gave me to the end of the week. Thanks Martin!)
Back to my triangle garden. A little history:- my goal for the year as to work on my vegetable garden and only one flower garden—my new “triangle garden” between two paths
- I planted some ground cover on top of a mound of new dirt and some other plant seeds
- I filled the mound with rocks
- an ugly weed (bind weed) took over the garden and won the battle
- I removed the rocks
- I removed the ground cover and other plants that had started to grow
- I covered the mound with that lovely black landscaping cloth that I’ll probably curse down the road but it should help kill off the bind weed that I was unable to get rid of
- I covered the cloth with mulch (two different kinds because.. well,, it just happened that way)
And then I had this big pile of brown mulch in the middle of my backyard that is getting quite full with greenery and “natural” looking flowerbeds. I have to say that I was a wee bit annoyed and disappointed, especially since I am having the big LumberJocks & GardenTenders picnic in less than 2 weeks.
Then, as I sat staring at this big brown “elephant” in my backyard I saw a vision!!! My very cool turtle rock was getting lost in the soil and plants (aka weeds) .. why not roll it up onto the mound where it could be seen! Then, well at least the big mound would have some decoration on it.
Rick did the lifting/rolling—the rock is so huge, you can’t pick it up to move it. Once I saw my turtle sitting on the mound I knew that I was done. I had created “Turtle Island” (native story, basically “the earth”).
And.. when I was picking up the extra mulch and some patio stones I saw a pile of broken pieces and asked if it was all garbage. The guy said “take it”. Although I did want the pile, I wasn’t able to take it but I did see at the bottom of the pile a little cement turtle that had lost its tail. As I grabbed the turtle I saw something that caught my eye—the tail! And so I have a second turtle for Turtle Island (to the left of the Pea Tree) and you can’t even tell that the tail isn’t attached. (I’ll add a picture of this little guy later after things dry up outside)
-- - Debbie, SW Ontario Canada (USDA Hardiness Zone: 5a)
18 comments so far
dini
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607 posts in 139 days
hardiness zone 5
posted 66 days ago
Looking good, Deb!
-- the day you quit learning is the day you quit living.
Eklectic
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1380 posts in 222 days
hardiness zone 5a
posted 66 days ago
great!
Very creative!!
the ROCK GARDEN!!
-- Eklectic, Follow my Bliss, South East Ontario 5a
GrandmaT
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2692 posts in 300 days
hardiness zone 5
posted 66 days ago
My heart felt so bad for you when I read that the awful weed had taken over your triangle garden. I know all the hard work and planning you had put into that garden. So when I began to read this my heart sank a bit lower as I read you were so upset and the picnic was just down the road, and I know you want to show off all of your beautiful yard and all the hard work you have done. Ahhhhh, but as I read more … a smile developed over my face … MsDeb has prevailed, you beat the weed!!!! You have created a peaceful, artistic place that truly draws not only your eye to it, but you body as well. I am sure everyone will be checking out your very cool Turtle Island!!!! Genius MsDeb, pure genius!!! :-)
-- "A perfect garden is just a garden to be in-perfection. Mornings to work on it and evenings to pause and look at it." Southeast Michigan, Zone 5a/5b
MsDebbieP
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3089 posts in 422 days
hardiness zone 5b
posted 66 days ago
thanks everyone :)
Gram T—the weed won the battle but I won the war – (temporarily, anyway). haha
We sat outside this morning and I just had to keep looking at my Turtle Island. I am sure that it will become a very spiritual place for me as I get to know it.
I wish you were able to come and see it for yourself :)
The big test will be on Saturday when we have our family bonfire breakfast. I can’t wait to hear the feedback
-- - Debbie, SW Ontario Canada (USDA Hardiness Zone: 5a)
GrandmaT
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2692 posts in 300 days
hardiness zone 5
posted 66 days ago
Well I am sure the feedback will be nothing but positive!! And yes, I could see this spot becoming a very tranquil and spiritual place for you. Amazing how things turn out, sometimes better than if we had planned them. :-)
-- "A perfect garden is just a garden to be in-perfection. Mornings to work on it and evenings to pause and look at it." Southeast Michigan, Zone 5a/5b
MsDebbieP
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3089 posts in 422 days
hardiness zone 5b
posted 66 days ago
exactly!!! :)
isn’t life fun :)
-- - Debbie, SW Ontario Canada (USDA Hardiness Zone: 5a)
John_L
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120 posts in 268 days
posted 66 days ago
Very nice work Debbie , i like the big turtle .
-- John in Cranbrook , http://www.extremebirdhouse.com http://community.webshots.com/user/cranbrook2
greenthumb
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545 posts in 242 days
posted 66 days ago
Nice turtle?
-- Central northish Ontario
MsDebbieP
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3089 posts in 422 days
hardiness zone 5b
posted 65 days ago
thanks :)
-- - Debbie, SW Ontario Canada (USDA Hardiness Zone: 5a)
Bon
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1294 posts in 202 days
hardiness zone 5a
posted 65 days ago
Wow MsD. that looks really cool.I love it.Great idea. :-)
-- Bon,Hastings,Ont.....zone 5a....Always room for one more
MsDebbieP
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3089 posts in 422 days
hardiness zone 5b
posted 65 days ago
thanks Bon :D
I love it too—every time I go out into the backyard I am reminded of “Turtle Island” and the birth of our lands.
-- - Debbie, SW Ontario Canada (USDA Hardiness Zone: 5a)
Damocles
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793 posts in 276 days
hardiness zone 5
posted 65 days ago
Ha! I love that turtle! Tortuga triangle!! Very creative…
-- Living on the square...Metro Detroit
dini
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607 posts in 139 days
hardiness zone 5
posted 65 days ago
Y’know, Deb, with the demarcation between the mulch colors, it kinda looks like a tide mark. ;)
-- the day you quit learning is the day you quit living.
GrandmaT
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2692 posts in 300 days
hardiness zone 5
posted 65 days ago
Well Dini, great comment … and yah, it does look like a tide mark!! How cool is that MsDeb!!!
-- "A perfect garden is just a garden to be in-perfection. Mornings to work on it and evenings to pause and look at it." Southeast Michigan, Zone 5a/5b
MsDebbieP
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3089 posts in 422 days
hardiness zone 5b
posted 64 days ago
yah!
at first I was upset that the 2 piles of mulch were different colours and then I looked at it creatively and thought “hey, that works!”
-- - Debbie, SW Ontario Canada (USDA Hardiness Zone: 5a)
Bon
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1294 posts in 202 days
hardiness zone 5a
posted 64 days ago
I was so facinated with your turtle I missed the mulch colours.Ya it really does work (lol)
-- Bon,Hastings,Ont.....zone 5a....Always room for one more
MsDebbieP
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3089 posts in 422 days
hardiness zone 5b
posted 64 days ago
we had our bonfire breakfast today. The backyard was a hit with the family. They were really impressed with all of the work that Rick and I had done. I also got lots of tips from my brother. I’ll post them in a different blog
-- - Debbie, SW Ontario Canada (USDA Hardiness Zone: 5a)
GrandmaT
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2692 posts in 300 days
hardiness zone 5
posted 64 days ago
Glad to hear the backyard was a hit with your family. Makes you feel good doesn’t it! Look forward to those brotherly tips …
-- "A perfect garden is just a garden to be in-perfection. Mornings to work on it and evenings to pause and look at it." Southeast Michigan, Zone 5a/5b