Jeri's Gardens
2006
I am an enthusiastic, dedicated ,amateur gardener.
I plan, plant, fertilize, water ,cross my fingers and hope for the best. What is it about gardening that people love so much? It is hard dirty work, what with all that sweating and hoeing and digging and bending,,, and did I mention sweating? But there something soothing about turning the soil with a spade, the aroma of the rich black earth , the texture of the loam and the discovery of a gardeners little earthworm friends ( who are carefully returned to their rightful place in the garden) Planting a garden is like creating a painting. You start with an idea and a blank canvas. Then you apply shapes, colors , designs... and many brushstrokes later you have it. It is either a shriveled-up mess, or something completely glorious! And there are always happy little surprises. Like those tiny "forget me not " seeds you "forgot" you planted, and suddenly tiny blue flowers are everywhere! It is worth the time and energy spent. Everyone with a heart, loves a garden!
<The beginning of a small herb garden. '
Two little maidens in the side gardens
These girls are plotting to cross the fence and taste my flowers!
These girls just like to watch me work...
Pearl and Bernadette
Aretha and Peepers
Bees and Butterflies love to congregate in this garden
Many things look better as they age, especially garden statues... a dilapadated old wicker chair makes a nice garden prop.
Be sure to plant some catmint to make the felines happy.... and to preoccupy them while the birds enjoy the garden.
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Page 22 in "Hopalong Jack"
Jeri's Gardens 2007
Butterfly bushes
Illustration from "The Journey of Bushky Bushybottom" Jeri Landers copyright 2007
I actually spent more time this year PAINTING flowers than planting them.
from "The Journey of Bushky Bushybottom" Jeri Landers copyright 2007
"The Journey of Bushky Bushybottom"...title page
Jeri Landers Copyright 2007
A little shrew likes gardening too!
Bzzzzzzzzzzzz!!!!!
Jeri Gardens for 2008
Since moving my sheep and goats to a new area, I am left with a meadow full of nutrients and the promise of a wonderful new garden! This is a large area and I will create an English Cottage garden here. I really have my work cut out for me! It looks exceedingly dreary and desolate right now, but I envision something like a "Secret Garden" with rose covered arbors, pergolas, stone walls, wattle fences, brick walkways, and foxgloves galore! Although I do have a terrible time growing foxgloves. Here is what I have to work with.
January
The weather has been chilly but I've been working up a sweat hauling sand from the creek bank to lay a walkway and steps. I will be using some 160 year old bricks which were provided for me from a friends home renovation. James is starting a 20' trellis screen to run along a border and my little ducks are assisting me in eliminating pesky grubs. .
Trudy Webbytoes eagerly anticipates the next fat, tasty grub.
Trudy is also a character in my new book, "The Journey of Bushky Bushybottom"
February and March
The new steps and walkway. I attempt to make everything look like it has been here as long as the house, over a century. Using a lot of moss really helps create that look.
I am always amused at those DIY shows..... where they have a crew of 3o, a landscaper, a stonemason, carpenters and gardeners.... Who do they think they are kidding??? Around here, we REALLY do "do it ourselves" With a crew of two: James and myself.
I cut these pickets with my trusty jigsaw..130 of them!
March 3,2008
Things are coming right along.....
Someone is laying her eggs in the lavender.
I am an earth mover and a builder of stone walls and wattle fences. I can't tell you how many carts of sand, mulch, muck and earth I have hauled around this place over the years. And stones,,, let me tell you about stones. I collect them from everywhere: the hollow, the creek, the woods .the side of the road,,,,, heck, I have been know to dig them out of the earth if I see so much as the tip of a promising rock poking out of the soil. I do this because I LOVE stone walls and put them up everywhere! Who gets excited to see someone tearing out an old sidewalk? I do! Because old concrete chunks make great walls.... I just built a 20ft. wall using the broken concrete from a local church sidewalk. These walls have a look of antiquity and are a great way to recycle.
May 3, 2008
Bedding plants and seeds , just planted in this new Perrenial shade garden
Growing nicely!
Bluebirds have moved into these little houses atop the gate posts.
Someone has laid her eggs in the Heather........ and Pitty Pat has hatched 5 Babies!
