How very excited to see that the Courtyard Garden has now reached complettion as of November 23, 2013! (picture shown is from Spring 2013)
Little did we know that when we started this project that it would prove to be such a learning experience for us.
We have had a "short study" in water run-off, erosion, the effects of excessive rain,the effects of intense sun
on plants, how to do soil samples, how to amend red clay, how to determine the amount of stones needed to cover this particular space...the list goes on!
The excessive rains of Summer 2013 brought over 22 inches of rain to this location. Over the summer months, this site experienced water run-off on 3 sides from the concrete that surrounds the garden on all four sides.
It was necessary to do a study to determine how to best handle this situation. Thank goodness there was a drain already in place in the garden!
Our job was to decide how to hide that drain, incorporate the present concrete fountain in a more asthetically pleasing fashion, and to determine which plants would best survive and thrive in this full-sun location.
By working with the nursery staff at Litchenfelt Nursery, we were able to settle on Kalideascope Abelias, Purple Pixie Loropetalum, Fairy Lillies, a Fire Glow Japanese Maple and hundreds of tulip and daffodil bulbs! The dry stone creekbed will handle the water drainage in a less noticable way, while providing a visual esthetic for the residents and other guests. One of the residents brought it to our attention on the final workday that we were forming a cross. We were so engrossed in the process of making it all come together, that we had failed to notice the cross formation! That is truly a "God-Wink!"
Thank you to ALL who made this possible! Those who made donations of items for our BIG Plant and Tag Sale in early June, to those who made financial donations, to those who sold bulbs for the FlowerPower Plant Sale, and to those who bought raffle tickets....thank YOU! We had the vision, we had the ability to bring it all together, and we learned we had the ability to bring this to fruition! (That was after lugging over 3000 pounds of stones to the courtyard from the front parking lot where the stones were dumped! LIVE and LEARN!)
The residents enjoyed watching the spring tulips bloom even amid the red mud. Then, the summer rains showed them what a river of red, muddy water looked like. All the while we kept telling them and the staff that we were working on a plan. A garden of this size, 24x30, is not formulated overnight! In late August, once all the rain had begun to finally dry up, it was actually time to start to create a garden;
Little did we know that when we started this project that it would prove to be such a learning experience for us.
We have had a "short study" in water run-off, erosion, the effects of excessive rain,the effects of intense sun
on plants, how to do soil samples, how to amend red clay, how to determine the amount of stones needed to cover this particular space...the list goes on!
The excessive rains of Summer 2013 brought over 22 inches of rain to this location. Over the summer months, this site experienced water run-off on 3 sides from the concrete that surrounds the garden on all four sides.
It was necessary to do a study to determine how to best handle this situation. Thank goodness there was a drain already in place in the garden!
Our job was to decide how to hide that drain, incorporate the present concrete fountain in a more asthetically pleasing fashion, and to determine which plants would best survive and thrive in this full-sun location.
By working with the nursery staff at Litchenfelt Nursery, we were able to settle on Kalideascope Abelias, Purple Pixie Loropetalum, Fairy Lillies, a Fire Glow Japanese Maple and hundreds of tulip and daffodil bulbs! The dry stone creekbed will handle the water drainage in a less noticable way, while providing a visual esthetic for the residents and other guests. One of the residents brought it to our attention on the final workday that we were forming a cross. We were so engrossed in the process of making it all come together, that we had failed to notice the cross formation! That is truly a "God-Wink!"
Thank you to ALL who made this possible! Those who made donations of items for our BIG Plant and Tag Sale in early June, to those who made financial donations, to those who sold bulbs for the FlowerPower Plant Sale, and to those who bought raffle tickets....thank YOU! We had the vision, we had the ability to bring it all together, and we learned we had the ability to bring this to fruition! (That was after lugging over 3000 pounds of stones to the courtyard from the front parking lot where the stones were dumped! LIVE and LEARN!)
The residents enjoyed watching the spring tulips bloom even amid the red mud. Then, the summer rains showed them what a river of red, muddy water looked like. All the while we kept telling them and the staff that we were working on a plan. A garden of this size, 24x30, is not formulated overnight! In late August, once all the rain had begun to finally dry up, it was actually time to start to create a garden;
Check us out on FaceBook! https://www.facebook.com/FountainInnGardenClub
FLOWER POWER FUNDRAISER to support the creation of a courtyard garden at the Fountain Inn Nursing Home has now ended. THANKS TO ALL WHO SUPPORTED THIS! We earned nearly $300.00 to purchase plants for the Courtyard Garden.
FLOWER POWER FUNDRAISER to support the creation of a courtyard garden at the Fountain Inn Nursing Home has now ended. THANKS TO ALL WHO SUPPORTED THIS! We earned nearly $300.00 to purchase plants for the Courtyard Garden.