But, before we start gardening I would like to take a trip back in time.
Back to early spring 2012.......
......... The Ancient City Gardener has just bought a kayak........Its a wonderful time......Lazy days of floating on the Intracoastal Waterway.......
.......With Beautiful sunrises.........
.........Plentiful Redfish.........
.......And exotic wildlife........
.......Such a wonderful time....... I think I'll do this forever.........
NOT!
BACK TO THE PRESENT!
Well, my garden suffered. I didn't do my normal weeding. My beds were taken over by weeds and now I'm paying for it.
In my last post, I mentioned removing some Heavenly Bamboo that was spreading. Well, after starting I came up with the great idea of removing everything in that bed and starting over.(When will I learn?!) Then replanting with a combination of ornamentals and edibles. I have removed 5 lawn carts full of mostly Betony weed (Stachys Floridana) with its runners and tubers. (Yes, I know they are edible. Actually, I've ate some of the small ones and they taste like Radishes with out the heat. Not bad,really).
Here is where I'm at right now. This is the south end of my house. It receives full sun all year.
I have transplanted some of the Blue Plumbago in front of the A/C unit and some Daylilies on the far right side. I'm thinking I would like to build some type of trellis in front of each window. Maybe a livestock fence panel hanging from the eaves and anchored to the ground. Then grow some edible vines on them. Possibly some Red Malabar Spinach or Passion Fruit. These would shade the windows in the summer to help cool the house, then die off in the winter and let the sun in to help heat the house. In front of the vines, maybe build a permaculture style key-hole bed on each side of the A/C unit.
At this point, I've got over 10 hours in this project and still a lot to do.
OOOOH MY ACHING BACK!
I'm not sure which crops will be planted in the beds. Got any ideas? Hopefully not Betony weed!
If you have any ideas, please comment or email me.
Soooo.....Until next time......Happy Gardening!
Hi Mark, I really enjoy reading your blood. Keep 'em coming!
ReplyDeleteThanks Debbie, I'm technically challenged so this doesn't come easy for me. But I'm having fun and I'm sure it will get easier. Please keep reading.
ReplyDeleteYou could also plant an "impossible to grow in your region" tree there, like a Key Lime. South walls are like gold!
ReplyDeleteThat was my first thought when I decided to change this bed. But even though I live in zone 9, I'm in a low area that has a micro-climate. Our winter lows can be more like zone 8. But since you had the same idea, I may be a gardening rebel and do it anyway! Nothing ventured...Nothing gained!
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