To borrow a turn-of-phrase from the cool kids, “it’s been a minute” since you’ve seen hardscape and softscape progress adjoining the sunken courtyard. Credit many, many concurrent happenings. And, to be 100% candid, you may also credit the temptation to idealize (ie. to wait for prettier pictures). But that’s bogus. Tempting, but disingenuous (and even distorting.) So today I share with you an update on the icehouse landscaping as of today, May 29, 2024. Warts. And. All.
The sloped ornamental beds are mostly planted now. Only seeding remains, and that is scheduled for next Tuesday. I haven’t yet told you what we’re planting in these beds, so I’ll include an inventory list in a moment with a promise to revisit as these plants begin to establish and bloom.
But first a quick catchup on other elements including lawn, fire pit, and privacy enclosure. Unfortunately, these photographs offer an overcast and soggy perspective, but Glen sure managed to squeeze an awful lot into that one frame!
Let’s start at the top left of the image above. Enclosing the utilities (generator, mini split compressor, propane tank, etc.) behind the carriage, barn, the newly completed privacy fence screens these unsightly essentials while defining the sunken courtyard. There does remain one final carpentry project associated with the enclosure. Glen and Tony are troubleshooting dimensions and functionality, prepping more of our homegrown stump-to-lumber cedar, and fabricating/painting/installing a pair of access gates on the model of those we use in Rosslyn’s garden and orchard.
Near the top right of the photograph below, you can see the fire pit (centered on stone pavers) surrounded by newly planted grass. The grass is still germinating, but after more than a year and a half of dirt and gravel, It’s a thrill to see lawns returning at long last. Thank you Glen, Tony, Bob, and Phil for your detail oriented perseverance. I hope that you are all as gratified as I am to see this project nearing completion.
Now for a list of what Teddi (and her Amish helpers) have planted so far.
- Dusty Miller (200+ plants)
- Echinops bannaticus ‘Star Frost’ (7 plants)
- Hydrangea ‘Annabelle’ (7 plants)
- Nassella tenuissima ‘Silky Thread Grass’ (9 plants)
- Peony ‘Duchesse de Nemours’ (6 plants)
- Peony ‘White Tower’ (6 plants)
- Shasta Daisy ‘Becky’ (14 plants)
By now you’ve likely noticed that everything we’re cultivating in the sloped flowerbeds north and west of the icehouse courtyard will be white and green. And yes, that’s a whole lot of plants. And a whole lot of patience!
But wait, there’s more… Teddi’s team has also plants plenty of roots, rhizomes, and bulbs.
- Bleeding Heart, White (3 roots)
- Columbine ‘White Barlow’ (3 roots)
- Gladiolus ‘Deluxe White Prosperity’ (15 bulbs)
- Iris, “White Bearded” (24 roots)
- Iris, “White Swirl Siberian” (25 roots)
- Lily, Asiatic ‘Bright Diamond’ (30 bulbs)
- Lily, Asiatic ‘Casa Blanca’ (80 bulbs)
- Lily, White Exotic (100 roots)
- Poppy ‘White Ruffles’ (7 roots)
- Trillium grandiflorum, Great White Trillium (20 bulbs)
The flags in the photographs mark locations of roots and bulbs until they start to come up. That way the seeds won’t accidentally be over-planted next Tuesday. 
And, speaking of seeds, here’s the inventory for next week. 
- Callistephus Chinensis ‘Needle Unicom White Aster’ (100 seeds)
- Iberis Sempervirens ‘Candytuft’ (1,000 seeds)
- Cerastium Tomentosum ‘Snow in Summer’ (5,000 seeds)
- English Daisy Bellis Perennis Super Enorma (1,000 seeds)
- Poppy ‘Prickly Carolina’ (1,400 seeds)
- Poppy ‘White Cloud Peony’ (15,000 seeds)
- Sagina Subulata ‘Irish Moss’ (11,000 seeds)
Seeds, seeds, seeds. So many! And — if the weather gods smile upon us — most of these seeds will germinate.
What am I missing? Well, almost 50 Adagio Maiden Grass plants now soften the perimeters of the east and west decks (as well as the hot tub), and 8 Emerald Green Arborvitae break up the transition from stone pavers to stone wall and enclosure fence. We’re holding off on shaping these until they’ve established a little bit better. And I’m still deliberating on whether or not to add 4 Miscanthus Chinese Silver Grass plants to the sloped beds as originally envisioned.
Oh, I almost forgot the Periwinkle (Vinca minor) which will be planted as a groundcover border surrounding the stone pavers. The first supplier with whom I’d contracted ended up canceling the order after almost a month, apparently because the number of plants was too ambitious. Hhhmmm… might’ve been worth considering that before completing the sale. We had actually been in discussions on the size of the order since last summer, so this wasn’t exactly an impromptu decision. But it is what it is. Fortunately, another provider shipped the first half of the order this morning, and the second half of the order is supposed to ship out tomorrow. Teddi is also looking for an alternative to help supplement the order to ensure that we have enough plants in time for them to establish. So, for now, imagine 400+ Vinca transplants finding their way to us in time to be tucked into the rich soil before summer’s hot sun arrives.
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