Put down the shovel and walk away...

Have you ever had a day/week where nothing looks good in the garden? I've been at this point for a couple of weeks now. After many days of walking around in circles looking like I didn't have a clue I decided to take a shovel and just start! The results are better but still a far cry for what I'm looking for. I tossed plants I didn't like anymore, divided, staked, and moved way to many perennials and shrubs. My back is crying 'mamma' and I only hit one bed. ***CRY*** I have many more to go. Send some good back vibes my way. I have to finish this or I'm going to go crazy. LOL

Sending good vibes and a hug. Maybe a purposeful day away from your garden to look at others or to go out for a cuppa.

What if by July they look awesome? I keep visualizing the July and August blooms... I'm looking right now at a bunch of piddly foliage!

Here's how I get a lot of inspiration for gardening: A large size sketchbook that I save clippings, magazine photos - etc etc. and arrange them together on pages in whimsicle ways....Like one page had some pebble garden floor mosaics with blue accent tiles, so I went thru my box of clipping and chose some flowers that looked good, an arbor, this and that - not always formal garden "Things" - sometimes just colors, patterns, designs, bits of torn up paintings, etc...I think of this as my dream garden seed packet!

That sounds like a really pretty sketchbook!

datdog ~ I know just what you mean, I am at that point too. Seems like nothing will turn out like it has in the past. I know our cool spring isn't helping.
I'm sending positive thoughts your way, I bet things will turn out great, your pics are always amazing!...here's to inspiration!
Jackie

Thanks everyone. I'm no closer then when I last posted. I did get one area done *sort of* it's as good as it's going to get. I still need to divide and edit some plants out. I have great soil and things grow really quickly. Coming from a place that had poor soil I'm use to over planting. Here is the shade bed that I did. This bed has a path that goes back to a bench and the compost area.

Front of the bed.

Problem area. I've never been happy with this planting.


Half of my problem is with my lawn. Check out that sad excuse for grass. It's dragging down my whole look ;)

This message was edited May 24, 2005 12:29 PM

Take out the grass and plant more flowers. That's what I keep doing with ugly patches.

caitlan your sketch book sounds like a great winter project for me. Although I fear I'll put myself in the poor house wanting to buy the plants I put in the book.

I can't Sylvia. Two little girls and two dogs needs some space.

I am in the same place datdog! I am using a lot of restraint these days, as I want to rip out fully grown established plants to re-do. I walk around and I'm not satisfied with certain areas. My neighbor just laughed and said, "don't forget, the garden is never done!" and I grumbled. It is true for me. I'm always going to dig and change.

P.S. I look at our grass like this - a great pathway, and a great place for the dogs to run on. But mostly I walk on it, roll carts on it, etc. and it always looks mediocre. I'm glad it's green, but that is about all it has going for it!

P.P.S.S. - (whispering) I DO think your shade garden looks great.