This year we expanded our planting space to improve a strip of land behind my studio. It's by the alley, where the trash gets picked up and honestly has never been tended. We killed the weeds by covering the area with epdm rubber, (which we had leftover from construction projects) and leaving it there for several weeks. Old carpets could also have been used. Then we raked out the dead weeds and removed the gravel to prepare to plant. The soil isn't great back there but it's suitable for flowers. This season we got it partially planted and hope to completely fill it next year. For now a section is filled with zinnias and globe amaranth, or gomphrena. I had never grown globe amaranth before but really am enjoying them. And they are great for this spot, as it is very sunny and dry, and they tolerate drought and heat, which we have certainly had in abundance this summer. I want to harvest some to dry but for now will tuck a few into zinnia bouquets.
Another new plant we're trying this year is delicata squash. Which I hope to talk about here soon.
Did you try something new in the garden this season?
oh delicata is my favorite squash ever! pretty soon your house will be completely surrounded by loveliness.
ReplyDeletelove that photo with the little rogue gomphrena. super pretty. my garden was a pretty huge bust this year and the weeds are just incredible. i kind of gave up a few weeks ago and now it reminds me of jurassic park out there. but I did plant some zinnias and sunflowers that are doing nicely.
ReplyDeletedelicata squash is one of my favorites! i haven't had much luck growing it but whenever i see it at the market I love to take advantage.
I love that bouquet photo heather!! It makes my day just looking at it, I can't imagine how pretty it must be in person.
ReplyDeleteI grew thyme and lots and lots of thyme came up.
ReplyDeleteI love the idea of making an area of your outside that is neglected or simply functional, and turning it into something functionally beautiful.
ReplyDeleteit was our first year growing delicata squash, too. we also tried the mexican gherkins. they are prolific!
ReplyDeletewe love delicata squash! so easy to grow!!
ReplyDeleteI planted gomphrena too--it's so cute. I also rehabbed a neglected spot behind a shed by clearing it out and planted fennel. I was worried the fennel was too aggressive for elsewhere in the garden (plus it is allelopathic and can kill its neighbors).
ReplyDeleteMy new plant was a winter squash called North Georgia Candy Roaster--it is a giant! I'll grow the more tidy delicata in the future.