Once we decided to downsize our home, one of the most major things I was looking for was a home with a garden. Sometimes you get lucky, and find everything you want in not only a home, but a garden as well. We didn’t. Be we saw possibility. MAJOR possibility. And that was confirmed yesterday while I began the {long} process of weeding our new {to us}, upper garden.
Remember the new 85 year old neighbor of mine who brought me flowers? Well, I met her husband yesterday while I was working near the arborvitae privacy hedge. WHAT A HOOT! Not only did he tell me he’s running for congress {at 85?} he also invited me for pecan pie and tea next week. 🙂 🙂 🙂
He said, “I heard you’re a gardener, and that’s good because this garden hasn’t been touched in years. It’s nice to know someone is going to bring it back to what it once was.”
Well, I don’t know about that, but I’ll tell you one thing… the backyard is full of moss. Lot’s and lot’s of moss.
And I can’t wait to dig it up and plant a vegetable garden in it’s place. I have high hopes of turning this little plot of land into a mini Monticello vegetable patch. A long, rectangular patch full of homegrown goodness. 
In fact I’m hoping to turn the garden into one of those well manicured ones you’re always seeing in home and garden magazines. At a little over a 1/3 of an acre it’s just enough to keep me busy without feeling chained to endless weeding and landscaping projects 24/7.
I have high hopes that by next summer we’ll be able to sit at the patio table nibbling on summer salads and gazing out on our newly planted perennial flower and vegetable garden.
And the patio garden? BRING IT ON!! I intend to have oodles of pots lining the back of the house filled with both vegetables and flowers.
I’m hoping to find a cool potting bench this winter to go alongside the house where those pots are right now. 
But I better get crackin’ if I want to eat more than a couple of heads of fresh broccoli this winter. So this weeks goal is to weed, weed,weed. Once that’s done, I can get back to what I know best… getting my hands dirty. 😉
Have a great Sunday everyone,
~Mavis
P.S. What do you think of my new garden space? Any suggestions?
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randy says
The presence of moss: moss likes acidic soil, moist places and grows often in shade. Can you do a soil test to check acidity?
Then get your asparagus patch in.
Mavis Butterfield says
And blueberries!! 🙂
Jackie says
I still can’t believe you left the greenhouse!
Mavis Butterfield says
The area around it was build up and it would have left a really awkward space back there if I had taken it. 🙂 This garden new will be super cool by next summer. 🙂
Wendy Steele says
That was gonna be my next question/comment….she left the greenhouse?????????
MARY says
“… he’s running for congress {at 85?} … ”
“… he’s running for congress {at 85!} … ”
FTFY!
Susan Dillinger says
If looking down road, long term, I would increase my patio area for entertainment, lounging, fire pit, etc. to be able to house misc flower pots and plants too and then be able to directly walk to garden to avoid misc evergreen hedges to have to trim and take care of. Just a thought.
Heidi says
Are you going to put in a new greenhouse/ I hope you are, because I want a greenhouse soon, so if you put one in, then I can follow along!
Cecily says
I love all your plans and can’t wait to see the progress! I can envision a lovely octagon greenhouse in between two productive vegetable garden beds and a border of daphne odora at the top of the bank with an arbor at the top of your flagstones with star jasmine climbing it. You would have separate garden rooms and wonderful fragrance from March to August. Just my suggestions, though whatever you do it will be awesome!
Sharon says
You had me at Pecan Pie! You are a lucky girl!
The garden & all will be beautiful. I can already see. 🙂
Christa H says
Fun project!!! Like the look of your new yard.
I would add a fire pit, a hot tub to rest in after all your gardening, walk way arbor, and a fence for deer. Yes to the potting table too.
Maybe leave some mossy rows between the garden rows to walk on?
You need some perennials that bloom for garden pollinators.
Maybe blueberry bushes on each end of the rectangle garden?
I would add some mulched areas that butt up to the patio so you don’t have to weed whack and can just mow the lawn.
teri says
It is going to be beautiful. Love your roof!
Lynne says
Did your wisteria move with you? Where will it go?
Mavis Butterfield says
No, but I plan on planting it here. 🙂
Practical Parsimony says
I read somewhere that vegetables don’t do well near evergreen trees. Now, it might be just a certain kind of evergreen. This info might just be a rumor.
If you can find a crummy dresser and paint it, remove the drawers and lay in wood for shelves, you might have something good enough until you find the awesome potting bench.
My lot is a little over 1/3 of an acre with a house with 2000 sq ft + footprint. If it weren’t for all the trees giving me no more than 10% of the yard in sun at any one time, I can imagine I could have a huge garden. But, I don’t have your energy and youth.
Practical Parsimony says
Remember, the arborvitae might have been planted since the garden was in use.
Renay says
If that is laurel along the patio – PULL IT NOW! I think Laurel is like Ivy – invasive and time consuming. A nice boxwood would be better or heather would be nice. What fun! I should have been out in the yard today but made pumpkins cookies and watched the Seahawks game. ;-(
Kari says
Have you watched the documentary “Back to Eden/” It is an amazing film that shows you how to have an AMAZING garden with a lot less work, water, weeding, etc. I highly recommend it! You are close enough to Paul’s garden that you could even visit it first hand (Sequim.) Here is the link: http://www.backtoedenfilm.com/ Since you are creating this new garden from scratch, it would be a terrific time to start it out this way.
Jane says
I can see it all now! It will be lovely…just please save some of that moss…maybe for paths? I love moss- it reminds me of my childhood vacation spots:-).
carolyn says
Hi Mavis!
I know that by weed you mean to get rid of them but how are you going to do it? My backyard is full of all sort of them and it’s sandy and rocky and thin grass what can you recommend that i could do?