March 2005:
The farm bed began out of necessity. As new beds were installed or replaced, plants and flowers needed a place to live until their accommodations were suitably prepared. The farm bed was installed directly on top of the existing grass using heavy duty landscape fabric and 5" X 20' fiberglass border edging. About 4" of mulch went around the inside perimeter, then the rest was filled with a landscape mix (type of bagged soil). The soil was amended in the immediate planting area for the temporary addition of the day lilies and azaleas. At first, CG did not think that the farm bed would be deep enough to plant daffodils. He tried setting the bulb directly on the landscape fabric inside the bed, covered it with soil and mulch, and it worked- daffodil blooms come springtime. An easy way for CG to maintain a continual source of early blooms.
March 2007:
The farm bed has been an invaluable addition to the landscape. When stella day lilies are put on sale at wal-mart for $1, the farm bed is ready to give them a home. Excess cannas are also planted here until they can be relocated or given a new home. CG mistakenly planted mint (felt obliged to, was a gift from neighbor) and it took him over 2 years to eradicate the highly invasive plant.
January 2009:
Notice that there are a lot fewer iris in the farm bed this year! They have been planted in mass groupings in the front bed and should find it to their liking. The pink azaleas were pulled out of the front bed and relocated here as well. The dormant day lilies have spots waiting for them in the cut flower and back corner beds. The farm bed may soon have to be extended to be ready for any bargain sale of perennials!
In December last year, wal-mart had the dormant bagged iris for $1 apiece! It was late in the planting season, but the ground wasn't frozen, so CG splurged and bought 2 of them. They went directly in the farm bed, and CG is keeping a close eye on them.
