Fall Garden Projects

We are having a simply lovely, warm, sunny September in Seattle and before I start my new job I've been completing some garden projects I've been planning all summer and pruning back some plants that have passed their prime.

My potted lavender needed a new pot where it could spread out, as its clay pot lost most of its integrity over the winter.  Here's its replacement.

Notice my attempt at squirrel deterrent, i.e., strategic placement of spiky sticks to make it a bit harder for them to enjoy digging in the new dirt.  Boy, do squirrels love some fresh dirt to dig in, the cheeky devils.

My plan is to take out that whole strip of grass about a foot deep and replace it with pavers and potted plants.  We're trying to cut back on the grass (and mowing) a bit at a time.

I thought the purple plant added a bit of color to the mostly grayish foliage on the lavender.

I spent a lovely morning trimming back my white lavender plant, which clearly likes its location. Depending upon your state of mind, you could consider lavender pruning peaceful or incredibly boring, as you need to trim each lavender strand individually.  I have in the past pruned back lavender a bit too enthusiastically and lost the entire plant.  The key is to stop before your back goes out from bending over, trying to make the cuts in the right places.

I was joined by the neighbor cat, who kept me company by rolling in the trimmed lavender buds.  I am sure she was nicely scented for the rest of the day.

Another plant that is thriving is a white heather plant.  Now I have to research how to properly rein it in a bit, as it wasn't the plan to let it fill the entire planting bed!

Adding some nice color behind the enormous heather plant is a Coneflower (Echinacea) plant that I just added.

Another recent addition is a verdigris bird bath next to the fence.  It may need to weather inside when it starts to get cold.

On the left is a different variety of lavender, purple heather, with a peony bringing up the rear.  I do have a fondness for lavender and heather, as they both seem to thrive in Seattle weather.  Soon it will be time to haul home some mulch and tuck everything in for the fall and winter.

Does anyone else forget, when buying big bags of soil or mulch and letting a nursery man place them in your trunk, that when you get home YOU will need to lug them up the driveway and into the yard?  Darn, those bags are heavy!