Winter is Fast Approaching – My Winter Tour

I took a walk around the garden this morning to see how everything was doing – I took some pictures to share. Early on I was greeted by my local hummingbird. I was happy to see s/he was still able to find a couple flowers on my salvia ‘hot lips,’ hardy fuchsia, honeysuckle and toad lily. Poor little guy won’t have anything after awhile so I’ll need to make sure the feeders stay full.

I started my little tour in the front yard where the flower beds are already buried with leaves from the Walnut and the Magnolia trees – their winter mulch… I don’t bag or remove leaves from my garden – every last leaf is tossed in a flower bed to feed the worms (and other critters in the soil) and protect the plants from the winter cold.

Front garden - mostly sun perennial bed

Front garden - part to full shade

Front garden - part to full shade

I walked towards the back yard – hitting the side garden first. This is where I have the chicken coop and bog garden. It’s pretty colorful this time of year because of the viburnum that hangs over the fence from the neighbor’s yard – I think it likes my garden better.

Side garden view towards the back yard.

Carnivorous Bog garden and chicken coop.

Back yard - north facing mostly shade perennial bed.

Then I ventured to the back patio and veggie garden. It’s looking a little bare since all the patio cushions are in the garage and the veggie beds are resting. I do like how the patio ground cover is finally filling out – even if most of it is moss. It’s helping create the lush look I originally wanted.

Back patio

Later today, I’m going to seed Territorial’s fall cover crop blend in the veggie beds – it’s a mix of Austrian Field Peas, Crimson Clover, Hairy Vetch, Annual and Winter Rye. I’ve never planted a cover crop before so it’ll be interesting in the spring when I need to turn the soil. Oh, and can you see the tomatoes that are still trying to turn red in the greenhouse – I’m pretty sure the heater is helping.

Raised beds & greenhouse - fenced bed is planted with garlic & onions.

Then finally I walked out to the back alley to check out the garden I recently re-planted out there. A couple months ago I removed all the Iris and replaced them with grasses and drought tolerant plants – I was having a hard time controlling the creeping bent grass that was growing between the tubers. I can’t wait to see how this bed fills out next year!

I also noticed the frozen banana plant that I haven’t protected from winter yet.

Alley garden - full sun

Now that I’ve pretty much filled every possible space with a garden, I’m now eyeing the hell strip (space between the front sidewalk & street) that’s beyond the front hedge. Then maybe I’ll be done? That’s next year’s project.