I find great delight in dreaming of all the possibilities the garden has to offer. I constantly strive to make use of every bit of space while maintaining a strong sense of aesthetics, inventive design, and overall practicality. In 2021, I laid much of the groundwork for my new garden – built raised beds, planted trees, built a gardening shed, and more. For 2022, I have set some specific project goals that I’m excited about: a new coop, tree labels, a secret garden, and stepping up my indoor plant game. Read along to see my inspiration for each prospective project.
New Chicken Coop
When we abruptly moved in August 2020, I bought a ready made coop online. I left behind the original coop I had constructed earlier in the year. The coop I have now is rather small, making it difficult to clean. It also limits the amount of chickens I can have in my flock. I want to take elements of my first coop build (found here) such as a large hen house, and it’s walk in height to design a new and improved coop for the girls. I’m considering outsourcing the construction to the woodworker who built my fences, raised beds and shed. Send me a message if you’d like his contact information. The new coop must include: a large hen house (ability to accommodate up to 10 hens), automatic coop door, walk in height, dedicated spots to hang feeder/waterer, somewhere for the hens to perch during the day, and a pull out cleaning tray. For the design of the coop I want it to seamlessly fit in with the other cedar wood elements in the garden such as the run fence and raised beds. Here are some of the inspiration images I have saved:
Fruit Tree Labels
My fruit trees hold a special place in my heart. They were the first thing I planted when starting my new garden. Fruit trees also are an investment of patience, time, and nurture. 2022 will bring most of my fruit trees to their 2nd season of being planted. This is when most trees bear a modest amount of fruit. To celebrate their maturity, I want to craft durable tree labels. I want the label to have the practicality of what you may find in a botanical garden. I also want to incorporate an illustration or other artistic element with each label. My mom is a great resin artist, so I will definitely lean on her for her expertise. Here are some of the inspiration images I have saved for my fruit tree labels:
The Secret Garden
My vegetable garden, chickens, fruit trees, and more are all located in our front yard. By nature, it gets a lot of attention with it being the first thing you see when you come over. Similarly, our backyard is the main area for entertaining and gathering with others. There is a section of land, however, that is seldom visited or noticed. It is is only noticeable from our bedroom windows or if you are specifically invited over there. It often becomes an area for strewn garden tools, miscellaneous bags of mulch and soil. I’d like to revitalize this area of our yard as “the secret garden.” One of the themes of the book turned movie, The Secret Garden, is of neglect and care. When you neglect something it wither and dies or when something is cared for it thrives. The secret garden will house my large collection of potted citrus trees, my beehive, gardening shed, an intimate seating area and water feature. The inspiration for the secret garden is:
Stepping Up My Indoor Plant Game
I am surprisingly (or to those that know me well, unsurprisingly), not known for my indoor plant “game.” I’ve killed more English Ivy plants than I’d like to admit. I don’t know what most common houseplants are called. Also the ones that do catch my eye always surprise me with how expensive they can be! I have my sights set on a few indoor plants — that I do know the name of now. For me, the best way I think to keep houseplants alive and enjoy them, is by learning about each variety. What does each variety like or don’t like? What are the light and water requirements? What are some of the common diseases or pests they are susceptible to? When does it need to be repotted? As I introduce new houseplants in to my home, I want to be well-equipped with the knowledge of what will allow them to thrive. A few of the house plants I have on my 2022 wish list are: alocasia longiloba, taccca chantrieri, monstera deliciosa, and ficus lyrata. I look forward to bringing you along my indoor plant game glow up.
