A garden is much like cooking breakfast.

A garden comes together much like breakfast.

You choose the main elements.

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Then you add some spice or something exotic and unusual.

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Mix it all together.

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Let it simmer and mature.

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Then you let its unique character shine through!

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Of course, there always a few surprises!

A 60 lb Pitt bull – black Labrador running towards you as you are attempting to photograph daffodils!

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A few nice surprises when you purchase a bag of mixed bulbs.

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An overgrown camellia you find behind the old barn.

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Now after 10 years a few plants have matured and I need to evaluate their position in the garden or move their neighbor.

It’s amazing have fast time has flown by!

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Sounds of the jungle!

The English Ivy which covers my neighbors back yard trees bloomed earlier in the summer and now the berries are ripe.

Hundreds of birds are flocking to the feast! They will be feasting from dusk to dawn for a few days until the berries are gone. Unfortunately, the seeds pass through their digestive and germinate all over the garden. It’s a constant battle to pull the seedlings to prevent a complete take over.

The patio and sidewalks will be stained purple, too, from the birds berry-stained droppings. It’s an interesting bird watching time but I think I would rather have no English Ivy in the neighborhood!

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Temporary fencing

Gus is 60 lbs of muscle which can wreck havoc on the new Spring growth and delicate leaves.

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In an effort to guide him away from the perennial beds I use 2 foot tall temporary fencing. I place it along most beds but leave him areas as straight runs such as along the azaleas.

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They are dark green so they blend in with the landscape once things leaf out and also provide support for those floppy day lilies.

If I didn’t do this simple step I would find this!

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60 lbs of Gus on top of German irises!

Xxx

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