It’s the tail end of the three-day Independence Day weekend here. I’ve spent it in various ways.
Reading lots for school about metadata and creating standards for digital library architecture. I find it all (mostly) interesting and will probably share some of the metadata stuff this week.
Building a new garden bed in the backyard. Since we had a dog we never really did much with the backyard. But now that our dear Godzilla has gone to the great dog park in the sky, our fence along one side of the yard that was falling down because the who-knows-how-old fence posts were rotting was no longer needed. We decided to build a garden bed with a trellis, a climbing rose, and clematis along part of the fence line and then along the rest we will eventually make a semi-formal garden shrub and flower border. So my Bookman, who had already taken down the fence and most of the fence posts, and I spent time building this:
We salvaged a few fence posts and the trellis fencing to make what will eventually be a pretty garden spot. The climbing rose in the center is William Baffin. The clematis on the left is an alpine clematis called Constance that will bloom in spring. The clematis on the right is a jackmanii superba and will be blooming this time next year (I hope). The bird bath is copper and has a lily pad and a turtle in it. On the ground beneath is a cute fat chickadee like bird ornament. And the little round stepping stone was made from the leftover concrete we used to set the posts. As you can see we aren’t quite finished. We need to put down mulch and we ran out of the edging we were using on the trellis. We are very proud of ourselves since we managed to set the posts straight and at the same height (the shorter end posts we might eventually saw down a bit and put a fancy topper on but since we only have a hand saw this might be something we never end up doing) and line up and attach the trellis pieces. Now the plants just have to climb. Climb plants, climb!
Next year at the big spring garden sale we’ll be getting some perennials to add to the bed. This fall I think we’ll have to plant some tulips and other spring bulbs there too.
Since I had the camera out, Waldo was looking cute rolling around on my desk. Here is an action shot of him in the process of rolling off the desk:
And here he is looking cute on the desk chair, pretending that he meant to be on the chair all along:
Dickens was sleeping under the furniture somewhere and missed out on the photo opportunity.
And one more thing I did this weekend: I finished Rebecca. More on that tomorrow.
Waldo looks a lot like my cat! Here are some pics, but he’s a lot fluffier than they suggest.
I love that your cat’s name is Lestat! He does look very much like Waldo. Is yours a particular breed? Waldo is an American Bobtail. His brother, Dickens is black and you’d never guess they came from the same litter.
I bet your flowers will take off with the warm weather! Now you just need a bench so you can sit and enjoy the view (book in hand of course). Cute Waldo photos! My cats are mom and daughter, but you would never know there are related by looking at them!
Wow, I am impressed! you did such a great job! That is going to look amazing when the flowers start climbing! And I can’t wait to hear what you think of Rebecca!
Very impressive! And nice action shot of Waldo.
Why is your neighbor’s yard so green, and yours so brown? :p Maybe your neighbors won’t like there being no fence there anymore. Did you ask them before you tore down the fence? You might have ruined their naked sunbathing, or something…
That bed’s going to be gorgeous! Here’s hoping you get just the weather conditions you need. And cuuuuute cats. Mine wave their paws and say hello.
Super job. I dare not show you pictures of my overgrown mess, but I am trying to work on it. It is just way too hot and humid to be outdoors down here. I wish I could grow Clematis. I hear it likes cool feet and a warm head. My clematis offered up one small blossom years ago, then gave up the ghost. Hot feet, hot head, I’m afraid.
Oh Danielle is right, you need a little bench so you can hang out there with a good book! Great job!
You have to share some more pictures when the plants have grown; I bet it’s going to be gorgeous.
The budding garden looks lovely – you make me want to get outside and put some trellises along one of the fences
Just imagine the book reading possibilities in a chair near those lovely flowers!
Of course Waldo meant to land in the chair. That was just the fastest most economical fun means of ending up there.
Your garden is on its way to being an oasis.
omigoodness your cat is so cute!!
okay, now that that’s out of the way
I really appreciate your blog, and you have a lot of good insights into books that I’ve been reading recently too.
I love books of all kinds also, and am trying to start a kind of teen(ish) fiction discussion blog. But not the cheap and awful teen fiction! The GOOD teen fiction like Phillip Pullman and Jaclyn Moriarty
Nice job! It will be lovely in a couple of years.
Danielle, the rose should do especially well in the warm weather. I was thinking a bench might be in order. And a tree. And maybe a little water garden with a fountain. See how it all spirals out of control? Waldo says thanks
Daphne, why thank you. We were completely surprised by how well it all turned out.
Sylvia, thanks!
Cindy, my sister, the neighbor’s yard is green because they water their grass and we don’t. As for nude sunbathing, I’d rather not think of it.
Litlove, thank you all around.
Grad, a little at a time and your overgrown mess will turn into something lovely. Yes, Clematis do like a warm head and cool feet. We are hoping a good layer of mulch will work for the rest of this year and then next year we will be planting perennials in the bed to provide some coverage.
Iliana, you and Danielle are right about the bench. I must keep my eye out for a good one and if you ever make your way up here you are welcome to sit and read on it
Jeane, when the plants are filled in and blooming I will definitely take some pictures to share.
Verbivore, you and I and several others are thinking along the same lines. I need to plant a tree to add some shade though.
Carrie, yes, I’m sure he didn’t tumble off the desk at all. I love how cats always manage the “I meant to do that” air. And thanks, we are working on making a little oasis one small step at a time.
Abi, Waldo thanks you and so do I. I am sure your blog will be a great success!
Em, thank you. Yes, now we wait for it all to fill in and hope it looks as lovely as we imagine it will.
Nice job in the garden! I’m no gardener, but I can definitely see the appeal of starting a project and then planning on adding to it in future years so you can watch how it changes over time. Love that cat action shot!
My cat looks like your cat, except she’s a she! Therefore, I think your cat is Super Cute
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=30822529&l=bc881e94d3&id=19100233
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=30812021&l=4d1b732f9f&id=19100233