The area selected (about 8×5 m) was used primarily as a test bed for newly acquired or propagated perennials and a few roses. It is on a slope. The soil retaining 2×6 pressure treated wood frame was decaying after about 12 years, and needed to be removed anyway.
This is the area last summer.

As a perennial bed last summer...

End of last year....What a mess...

Mid-April was a good time to get started. The first tedious and boring task was to transplant most of the existing plants in the area to other parts of the garden and into pots.

Existing plants and decaying wood structure were removed...

A simple retaining wall was built at the bottom edge of the slope. It started to look promising.

A simple retaining wall was built at the bottom of the slope.

A layer of the existing soil was removed so that a new layer consisting of triple mixed soil, sand and gravels can be added; another tedious and boring job.
The main anchoring rock structure and a narrow path through the rockery area were installed. The main anchoring conifers were planted. This is a fun part.

The main rock structure was installed.

A closer look...

Plant materials were introduced at the same time when the final layer of gravels was added. These plants are mostly new acquisitions from Bever Creek, Thimble Farms, Lost Horizon, and Wrightman. There were little areas set for lewisias, saxifragas, gentians, hardy cactus, penstemons, dwarf irises, and primulas etc. These little plants simply disappeared into the rockery; for now. (I was hoping to go around the garden to extract some of the ‘more mature’ clumps of ‘rockery appropriate’ plants for this new rockery, but I have to move on to other projects. Have to wait until next spring.)

Starting to look like a rockery corner...

I did get to enjoy the flowers of some of these new plants even though they are still tiny. You can see the rest here.

2010 is a strange year; spring arrived three weeks earlier and hotter than usual. Some of the flowering plants reluctantly put up a quick show and left. Good thing I was too busy to be disappointed; busy making new beds, renovating neglected beds and making desperate attempts to clean up the mess that I piled up over the years. I think I can see light at the end of the tunnel. Perhaps, a couple more seasons, I will be able to spent more time strolling around the garden with a favourite drink instead of monkeying around in the dirt. (Yeah, you have heard that line before.)

I have added/replaced some of the pictures in some segments such as Seasons, Conifers and Maples. I have also extended some perennial groups such Heuchera and Hosta etc. You can navigate to any of the segments using the buttons in the sidebar to the left.

Hope you find some of the new pictures enjoyable. Have a pleasant visit.

This was when my garden said goodbye last November

More pruning to be done….

By garcan