Rocks, rocks, and more rocks.
You’re familiar with the little path in the Secret Garden – the one with stepping stones and bark that leads to a crabapple tree. I started that path several years ago when I discovered that there was a tree in bloom that I hadn’t noticed before. Don, in his ongoing work outside clearing paths, etc., cut back a lot of brambles and expanded that path this summer.
He has been doing incredible work up in the woods, hoeing all the weeds, widening paths, making new ones – it’s really quite magical up there. In his eagerness to clear things he went a bit over the top earlier in the week. He cleared out a section that borders on the path in the Secret Garden. I was working inside and had no idea what he was doing and then, when I went outside, I couldn’t hide my disappointment. Suddenly, the right side of the path was more exposed and all the little areas where wildflowers (and weeds) grew were gone. He did a good job of clearing, mind you, but when we talked about it afterward, he realized he’d gone a bit too far.
Then he came up with the idea of rocks. We live in a very rocky area and there are lots of big rocks up in the woods. He wondered if adding large rocks to that space would change it for the better. I thought it was a good idea. So he started digging out rocks. The first few he brought down on his own, but I soon joined him because they are HEAVY and I didn’t want him doing it all by himself.
Here, you can see the area we’re talking about. The path is to the left. The area that Don cleared is to the right.
We’re gradually adding ‘filler’ rocks to the big ones, but most of these are quite big, quite heavy, and might I say, gorgeous. We dig them out of the ground and transport them down the Secret Garden via wheelbarrow and, in two cases where the rocks were really big, via a dolly. We’ve done all of this in the past 5 days or so, taking breaks (like today) when we need to rest our muscles. Previously, Don would dig out a big rock and carry it to the wheelbarrow. He quickly realized that was hurting his back, so we either lift the rock together, or roll the rock toward the wheelbarrow. Much better. There are rocks up there that are HUGE and way too big to move – and we wouldn’t anyway because they are a part of the landscape.
Then we decide where to place them. They’re truly beautiful, each of them unique.
This photo was taken from outside the garden. The area to the right of the rocks in the background is a series of stepping stones that I added several years ago and they take us up to the back forty.
Our largest piece.
We’re going to add a bit more, especially smaller rocks to fill in those spaces. We find them everywhere on the property. I’ve been taking a lot of them to make a larger border on the garden bed in front of the porch. I already added larger border rocks to the big garden bed, which were found by Don when he was clearing the paths. I really like the larger stones in those borders as they give the beds more definition.
We worked for four hours yesterday and it was hot and humid, so yours truly was exhausted.
In anticipation of your questions, no, we don’t know if we’ll plant anything between the rocks or just let the area evolve. We get wildflowers that pop up in this area, so we’ll see. The whole idea is to keep it natural. The Secret Garden is surrounded by the house and trees, so the play of light and shadow on the rocks is ever-changing.
It’s a big project and so far, it’s costing us nothing but sweat and time.
There you have it.
Stay safe.
Happy Friday.
Wow! That is a LOT of big rocks and a LOT of work. I will be interested to see how it all fills in and turns into a lovely rock garden for you to enjoy for many years. I wonder about those rocks – how did they get there, how old are they, what is their story? Interesting! Your land is certainly a fabulous playground for you two! Thanks for sharing your hard work!
I know. We kept wondering how old they were. Thanks, Ellen. Stay safe!
I love this. You and Don are working so hard…it is paying off…a sanctuary. I am continuing to home school on Facetime, isolate, and projects. Just read the latest Miss Julia book-good but not like the earlier ones-am going to reread some of them. Also rereading the Miss Read books. I ordered from library, drove there…they bring them out in a bag and place on a hook. Love this. However, they are opening next week…I hope they continue this…my eldest granddaughter works in the library during breaks and summer; the youngest granddaughter volunteers weekly…not sure if that will start again. The two eldest granddaughters are continuing to deliver food until college begins…and the youngest rides along. Very lucrative endeavor. Hope you have a good weekend…we are in the 90’s and hot for this area. brendab
Love the Miss Read books, Brenda. It’s very hot and humid here as well, Brenda. Stay safe!
Both of you are making good use of your stay-at-home. One of my favorite thing about New England were the stone walls though I know it isn’t stone walls you are building. Watching you all making this place yours is exciting. It is going to be icky today. Too hot and humid for me. Yuck.
I love the stone walls. There is a stone foundation on the section of my neighbor’s property that is right next to ours. We always wonder what was there. A house? A barn? It’s fascinating.
Hot and humid here, too. Stay safe, Trina.
wow! that is a lot of hard work moving all those heavy rocks around … but it looks wonderful! hope you and don are resting today, keeping cool and don’t have any aches or pains from all that hard work.
love the photos … they show your efforts very well. and that sunlight (especially on the branch or vine in the top-center of the last photo) … beautiful, too! i hope you and don are sitting in those chairs right now and enjoying that view!
i’m not a big fan of camping, never lived in a place where i could do much gardening and bugs, bats, etc. still freak me out. far and away i love the sky and water (in all its forms) most of all, but over the years, i’ve become more and more interested in all aspects of nature. in part for the reason ellen d. wrote – i’d like to know their stories. in part because there isn’t a lot of big or moving water around here that doesn’t require a few hours in the car to get to and it’s been a long time since i’ve done some static-line skydiving, my appreciation for other kinds of nature has grown. and mostly because i’ve realized just how soothing being around/in nature is for me. when it comes to rocks, i have some from extra-special places along with all the heart-shaped rocks and sea-glass i’ve been able to find; some are in a bowl, others on the top of a dresser and i smile every time i see them. that’s my apartment-version of what you and don have been creating over the past few days. :)
hope the tax work is done and you can enjoy a nice, safe weekend.
kathy in iowa
Don dug up some more rocks – of course! But I made him promise to just get small ones. I, on the other hand, was inside in the a/c dealing with tax stuff. One of the rocks we found is rather large and it’s heart-shaped. I’ll take a photo of it. (I have jars full of sea shells and a bit of sea glass.) Stay safe, Kathy.
ohhh how I hear a beautiful stone wall calling !!!! Looks like a wonderful back yard!! Stay cool & hydrated. Typical June gloom here in OB.
Not a stone wall, just a rock garden of sorts! Stay safe, Priscilla.
You’ve both worked very hard with your rock area. It reminds me of a long gone river bed, like you could imagine water once flowing over those rocks! Weather here is cool and rainy in the North of England, though the plants I grew from seeds, Sweet Peas and Icelandic Poppies are coming along nicely.
Happy Friday
Yes, it reminds me of a river bed, as well. We added a few more today. I envy you your cool and rainy weather. It’s hot and humid here! Stay safe, Dee Dee.
I wish those rocks could talk. I’m sure they would have some interesting stories to tell. Just by the small fragments of china and pottery you have found while digging in your property there is some history there I bet. I love the way it looks and it will only get better with time. A wonderful payback for all your hard work. Take care and stay safe. ☺
Thanks for your kind words, Janet. Stay safe!
In case anyone is interested, there are some lovely jigsaw puzzles for sale on SewingPartsonline.com. Really lovely. 500 and 1000 pieces.
Beautiful work in your secret garden.
Thanks for the info, Jan. Stay safe!
Claudia and Don – great minds sure think alike. I had recently asked if there were still a lot of rocks easily found on the farm and my sweet BIL carefully picked rocks, just the size I wanted, and put them in the trunk of his car and brought them into town for me. I am using them to frame 2 sections on either side of our back steps where there is dirt framed in by the sidewalk on the left and the patio on the right. I’ve added the rock just inside the edge to add a more distinct frame, but naturally, as you have done. We did this this earlier this year when we thought it would be cooler, but in fact, the temps were in the 90’s at that time. Holy cow, it was so hot, but we got it done and luckily, my husband liked the final results also. Now to plant something that will self seed in the area. There are beautiful lilies that are on the one side that come back every year, despite my crazy weeding – fall clearing tactics. I think some allyssiums (ground cover ones) would look great growing through the rocks. Maybe next year. Too busy this year to do much more. Too many projects that are necessary vs fun. Love your rock garden – wild flowers growing through them would be beautiful I prefer a big of a wild look in gardens anyway. Kudos on the hard work.
“bit” of a wild look – also, why did I repeat this so many times? wow! Sorry about that.
xo
What you are doing with the rocks sounds neat, Ranee! Yes, great minds indeed!
Thanks so much. Stay safe!
Oh, Claudia, it truly IS a Rock Garden! A garden of beautiful rocks. The bonus will be if some wildflowers & moss decide to take up residency as well. As you said, it will be ever changing through the light of each day and then each season, as the nearby trees lose and then grow leaves. What fun to see how it looks every new day!! What a lovely new addition to Mocking Bird Hill Cottage!!
We found a few rocks that already had moss on them, Chris. I’d love to see more. That area is very damp because all the water runs downhill into the secret garden. I imagine we’ll see some more moss eventually. We added a few more rocks today. (Don dug up some smaller ones.) We really like them. Stay safe, Chris.
Claudia, I have looked at these pictures 4 or 5 times today. In the 4th one, that shows the biggest rock…… at the top right of the pic are 2 rocks. The one on the top right looks like a raccoon with stuffed cheeks and the one next to in, to the left, looks like an alligator…. they are all so interesting!!!!
Ha! I love it! They have personalities, of that I am sure. xoxo
Yes…that is a lot of rocks! All beautiful in their own right. It will be interesting to see what plants pop up, and where, and how this all comes together. With Mother Nature’s help, I know it’s going to look fantastic once you’ve both finished gathering and moving them. Or have you finished?
Be careful….I think you’ve earned a rest! ;)
We are almost finished. Don added a few more rocks today and I want one more large one placed at the other side of the entrance to the path. We have to add some more bark nuggets and then we should be done. Stay safe, Donna.
The rock garden looks really nice! I know it’s a lot of work, but you’re lucky you have these rocks near your property to use in your gardens. There aren’t any big rocks like that around here and they cost a fortune at the garden centers.
Have a great weekend! Hot here today – 91 – and storms coming in tomorrow for the next few days.
We’re lucky, yes! But the same rocks that we find up there are in the soil everywhere on the property, just in smaller sizes. And that’s what makes gardening here a huge challenge. If I had a quarter for every rock I’ve had to dig up around here to create these garden beds, I’d be a wealthy woman.
Hot here, as well. And humid! Stay safe, Melanie.
Now THAT is a project. And well done. I love it already — just think about what it will be in time!
Well, we’re encouraged to have projects during lockdown, right? I guess we finally found one! Thanks, Jeanie. Stay safe!
That’s going to look wonderful when it’s completed. Such hard work for you both but well worth it. I hope you can have a break from it soon though. Take care .
We added some more rocks today and now we’re going to take a break, Fiona. Stay safe!
Those rocks! They were meant to be a focal point in your upper garden! It might be really cool to stack some, maybe 4 or 5 into a vertical eye catcher! Your creativity has another outlet!
We’ve thought of that and will probably do that sometime soon. Great idea! Thanks Kelly and stay safe!
Oh, what a lot of hard work – moving those rocks. All for free, except for the sweat and toil to get them into your garden. It will be interesting to see what grows there. I think it will look great when the garden has had some time to develop.
I wish we could send you some of our cold winter temperatures. My feet are so cold at the moment even though I am wearing 2 pairs of socks and slippers. Time to put the heater on.
I’m not ready for cold yet! Our winter lasted way too long with a hard freeze in MAY, so even though I’m no fan of humidity, I’ll take it. Stay safe, Robyn!
Talk about making lemonade from lemons! It’s truly beautiful. One of my favorite things about New England is the stone fences. We have a good portion of one that is in charming tumbled down condition in some areas and I only wish we had a path to it so I could sit among them and contemplate the wonders of the earth. Rocks, mosses, ferns, little doors to chipmunk homes, an occasional butterfly, the breeze in the full summer leaves…earth! Our home. XO
Stone walls are so beautiful – they’re around here, as well. We’ve already seen a chipmunk on one of the rocks. They’re going to like this!
Stay safe.
wow! they are truly beautiful. I’ve always loved rocks. all sizes really.
I hope you haven’t hurt your back with all your rock moving.
I have been absent.
in hospital for 5 days with COPD flareup. not fun. then moved to a new apartment!
not sure which was worse. lol. the flare up or the moving!
but my new apt is in a lovely complex across from a green walking park with big trees.
a lake is somewhere in the back. someday hope to be able to walk there and still breathe!
but I love this tiny place I’m in now. 550 sq feet. AND no more long concrete STAIRS to it.
it’s wonderful being able to park right near my front door. just two steps up to my porch!
it’s heaven. and I hope not to move ever again. I have a small enclosed patio on the front.
like a sheltered porch. just right for a morning cup of coffee when it’s cool.
and I can see the sky over the tree tops from the porch. I think I’m going to love it. xo
I’m so happy for you, Tammy! (But I’m sorry you had to spend some time in the hospital. I hope you’re feeling better now.) Youre new place sounds just perfect for you and you deserve it, my friend. Stay safe!