Design Elements :: Stone and Brick

As things slowly start to heat up here in the South, I am reminded of shade and the respite one can find from the heat in finding cool rocks and flat stones to walk upon. Maybe with some trickling water, bubbling over more and ever more stones. I have been swooning over photos of spiral rock gardens, too (more on that soon).

I have also found myself taking lots of photos this year of bricks and herbs. I mean, they were meant to be together, yes? My day job involves organizing numbers and data - so something about the grid work and star designs get right to me.

I am going to summon the image of the Egyptians building the pyramids and start collecting rocks from around our land. Building small structures and accent points one at a time. I may consider this my resistance training component of my exercise routine, as well. The rustic-ness of the stones will work with our present landscape - bricks may be a-ways away.

Also ::

Speaking of summer fun and water and rocks - I must get back to Goshen Pass this year with Willa and Corey.

I am a late-comer to The Black Keys party, but am glad I arrived. Attack and Release is where I am starting and I already bought a ticket to their September Charlottesville show.

This is the veranda I want for our house. Corey and I have been talking about a screened-in porch and this is what I envision, complete with a pale blue ceiling. I'm pretty sure this is no-where close to what Corey envisions.

I made rhubarb turnovers this weekend with the rhubarb left over from making syrup. I got the idea here and they are, I mean were, super yummy. Even Willa was all, like, "Gimme!"

Moss Underfoot

Afresh from a previous night's viewing of Jane Eyre, I have moors and moss on the brain this morning.

And there is a place that actually sells moss. Moss Acres. They are kindred spirits, as their woodland creations and the trinity of water/moss/shade draw me in immediately. Inviting me to sit. And spend an afternoon. Among the cool rocks, the shade and the fairies. I meant, frogs. Who said fairies? Not fairies. Frogs. (Nervous giggle). A-hem.

They sell fern moss, cushion moss, hair cap moss and rock cap moss. Some mosses are sold by the square foot, the cubic square foot or by the clump (of course!). They also offer starter moss kits and moss sampler kits.

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These photos are from the Moss Acres website.

Call It A Comeback

The Black-Eyed Susan Vine. Long figured for dead as August rolled around. A single tear rolled down my cheek as I helplessly watched it become a crunchy mass.

Then, cooler weather and a ton of rain. I can't be quite sure, but I think it actually reseeded itself. Rising like a phoenix from the flames.

I started the Black-Eyed Susan Vine from seed in the spring (very easy and it produced extremely sturdy, substantial seedlings). This vine also does well in part-shade. It is part of my container garden, growing in an old bushel basket and winding up a rustic trellis.

A little bit of sunshine on a cloudy day. I can't take my eyes off of the blooms and the twining leaves. I think it picked up on my smitten-ness. And is giving me its best show.

Herbs for Partial Shade (and Containers)

Take heart! Even if you don't have a full sun deck or stoop (does anybody say 'stoop' anymore - or is that a Queens/Long Island thing?!) - you can still grow some of the more popular herbs.

The following herbs will tolerate part shade. Needing about 6 hours of light per day. And they all do well in containers. Just make sure to feed them every 2 weeks or so.

Mints

Dill

Parsley

Borage

Thymes

Oregano

Chamomile (pictured above)

Chives

Sages

Monarda

Lovage

Basil

Even though we have a lot of land, I still keep all of my herbs on our half-sun/half-shade deck . . . within shuffling distance of the kitchen. Alas, this girl from New York will always need a stoop-inspired container garden.

The Container Garden - Made in the (Part) Shade

Part of our container garden gets blazing-ly strong sun most of the day. The other half - life-saving, reprieve-offering part shade. By July, I fully embrace and appreciate my shade deck garden - along with a tumbler of icy limeade and a knitting project. Finally taking a cue from the seasoned Southerners.

What Has Worked In My Container Shade Garden (So Far)

Sprinklings of Impatiens in unusual containers
Japanese Painted Fern
Autumn Fern
Boston Fern (pictured at top)
Ivy

What I'm Testing Out This Year

Hostas (pictured above)
Black-Eyed Susan Vine
Asiatic Lilies
Vinca Minor (very invasive - I only recommend it for container plantings)
Sweet Woodruff
Daylilies

Other Part Shade Standards

Coleus
Hellebores (spring bloomer)
Bleeding Hearts (spring)
Different varieties of Heuchera
Astilbe
Pulmonarias (spring)
Primrose (spring)
Bellflowers
Foxglove
Lily-of-the-Valley (spring)
Virginia Bluebells (spring)

Also, this book looks beautiful . . . I don't own it (yet). But I DO have an anniversary coming up (a-hem).