Cut-Flower Bed

The cut-flower bed's perennials are nearing maturity. 

The planting area has filled-in nicely and will require extensive thinning in the Fall. 

(plenty of iris to trade/give away)

A crepe myrtle (Acoma, semi-dwarf) was planted in the middle area of the bed a few weeks ago.
This will provide some fast-growing height and structure.

Elsewhere: an autumn fern has been established 

under the canopy of the burning bushes

and, under the most dense part,

(very shaded -had to utilize a flash)

-a sprig of irish moss (Sagina subulata 'Aurea') is being tested

...hopefully, it will find the conditions to its liking,

and thrive & multiply!

(a few more sprigs will be added next Spring if all goes well)

Cut flower bed path

March 2005:

March 2009:

Iris

Iris are CG's favorite plant. They're easy to grow, multiply fast, and they offer year-round interest with their sword-shaped foliage. CG has been fortunate to have a couple of different sources for many varieties of iris. Other iris are wal mart discounts, but once in bloom, they are sure to be priceless wonders.

This year, CG will start growing Louisiana iris (mail-ordered 2 plants). A special planting area has been readied for their arrival (in about a month). The area is appx. 5' x 4' and 8 inches deep. Louisiana iris thrive in boggy areas, so the bed was lined with a plastic tarp and 2 mil plastic sheeting. It was then filled with shaved clay (unscented kitty litter). Once the bareroot iris arrive, they will be soaked in water overnight, prior to being planted. About an inch of sand will be added to the top of the bed, along with a top dressing of pine straw. Two different varieties will be planted, with the idea that once they begin to multiply, another 'bog bed' in the front side yard will have been completed.

The bog bed in the cut flower bed path is not the nicest thing to look at right now, but it should show quite a transformation in the next few months. CG's trusty gardening assistant can be seen in the next photo to put the bog bed in a better perspective:

Cut flower bed path

The cut flower bed path took its original form in early 2006. It was a rushed project that included transforming about half of the backyard from grass (weeds) into more manageable areas. It all had to be done in a hurry in between CG's year long first and second deployents. The mass planting of burning bushes can be seen as small twigish figures to the left of the bed.

29 March 2006:

In March of 2007, CG returned from 2nd deployment and the work began anew. Bushes needed to be relocated, some beds extended, and the cut flower bed and path needed a more permanent emplacement. (the tarp was used to smother the weeds/bermuda grass)

29 March 2007:

In July of 2008, CG began tackling the upgrade for the cut flower bed path. It would now be wider and more closely match the concrete around the pool. What CG didn't realize that it would take a lot of dirt work (digging, filling, levelling) and would require 16 sections of concrete. It took an average of 6 bags of 80 pound concrete to complete a single section. The entire project totalled 7,680 pounds of concrete -all mixed and poured by hand). Work was slow. The summer was hot. CG doesn't feel as young and spry as he once did.

26 July 2008:

Next update for the cut flower bed path: 29 March 2009.