What's left on my list?

Here is my list from April.


1. Finish mulching around the vegetable garden.

2. Build a retaining wall on the east side of the garage.

3. Lay fabric and mulch on my path to get rid of the grass, finish edging with rock, and create a seating area as a destination.

4. Move trees!!!

5. Find permanent homes for the techny arborvitae and cottoneasters on the east side of the garage.

6. Shade garden on north side of garage.

7. Plant cutting garden!!!

8. Put down corn gluten on lawn to help cut down on weeds.

9. Move lilac.

10. Add lights to front walkway.

11. Add new water feature to front garden.

Most of my to-do list has gotten done.  I still need to work on number three - I know I won't get the patio for the seating area done this year.  But I hope to get the path in good shape with a brick border.
I still need to move the maple trees and the lilac.  I am also working on a path next to the retaining wall and have purchase a beautiful arbor to place at the end of that path.  I'd like to get that in.  There are also bulbs and some more shrubs to plant.  I am hoping for a nice fall!!

New trees

We are adding some Black Hills spruce trees to the tree line.  They are about 6 feet tall.  They look so small compared to the Austrian pines, but they'll grow! 

The holes are dug, but we didn't have time to get them in place. We'll get that done tonight.  In our zone, evergreens need to be planted by early October. They'll need to be watered until the ground freezes to ensure they have enough moisture to get through the winter. 

Roses and catmint - still going strong!

These are Sven shrub roses - just planted this year. And look how nicely they combine with Walkers Low Nepeta (catmint).  The puple continues on the corner with some nice russian sage.

Mums!

This hardy mum just started blooming!  Doesn't it look great?

Tiger Eye Sumac

Another shrub for fall interest (although it looks good all summer, too!) is the Tiger Eye Sumac.  These were so tiny when I planted them, I wasn't sure they would make it through the winter.  They have grown and are looking good!

Winterberry Shrub

I planted three winterberry (ilex) shrubs in the front garden for fall and winter interest.  They are still pretty small, but look at the nice orange berries!

Retaining wall - one last section

This is the east side of the new planting area.  It is pretty empty now, but it will get filled!  I plan to add trellises on the wall and some clematis. 

Retaining wall - more pictures

The back section of this garden includes a pagoda dogwood on the corner and lots of hostas!  There are also three upright Japanese yews. When they are mature, they will  get to be about 15 feet tall.  There are also some goatsbeard, bleeding heart, ferns, ligularia, coral bells, varigated jacob's ladder,
and astilbes. 

Retaining wall - done!!

This corner includes a new rain barrell, some Blue Mammoth, and Honeybell hostas, a few columbines, a Jack Frost Brunnera, and some Roy Davidson pulmonarias.

Redshift coreopsis

I wasn't sure this coreopsis would change color like it was supposed to. It has - the petals are becoming more red. The coloration is interesting - I like it!

Just about done ....

With this retaining wall. It stretches all the way around the back of the garage and is about 100 feet long.