This weekend I mentioned in mistemper'd weapons that I have been spending far too much time dressing up a rock garden that I will never see mature. I managed to let cotoneaster run amok and shade out most of my rock garden plants.
Looking at my alternatives, I took the William Tecumseh Sherman approach, and marched through the full wall with a scorched earth policy. The cotoneaster had risen in rebellion; it fell in ignominy.
The top photograph shows the rebellion in full force. I rather liked its "natural" garden look -- until I saw its effect.
The photograph below shows today's battlefield. Please note that even the sun shines on my work.
I need to add some compost to what remains of the soil. Then I will plant some new bedding plants that will do well in the wall. My goal is to pick a limited number of colors that will bloom from late winter to late fall.
I am not certain why I have decided to play farmer in the dell. Maybe I have spent enough time on Jonna's web site listening to her plant choices that I just needed to get back in the game.
On Saturday I will take a trip to the nursery to see if I can find just the right mixture of tender plants to survive the winter. And then the garden will be on its own -- to be raised by wolves.
