I Like Curves

By John Markowski @jmarkowski0

Last week, I wrote about my efforts to expand one of my garden beds and I could immediately sense that you were all deeply riveted. Seriously, is there anything more exciting and visually stimulating than watching the progress of someone digging? Don't say anything, I already know the answer ... it is a resounding "no".
And then I realized I left you hanging without follow up photos of how things look today. How friggin unfair is that? I am supposed to give the people what they want, and they want more photos of cut-out beds (research shows it). One day I'll grasp the concept of supply and demand. 
So without further ado, I give you updates of my work, my magical turf diggin work:
As a refresher, here we were as of last week:  

And here we are as of today:



Other worldly right? I kid you not, I stared at my work for hours on end, and photographed it like a newborn child. Curved beds are a thing of beauty and may they never go out of style or lose appeal. They warm my heart.
There is nothing better than a newly dug or expanded garden bed (assuming it is curved). New opportunities to plant and create and dream big. Even if we are only talking about a 4 to 5 foot extension. The possibilities are endless and the mind is ready to be stimulated.
What to add in front of my purple coneflowers and russian sage:

What groundcovers to contrast with my blooming Yarrow:

Maybe some new Carex to mix in with the other ornamental grass I already have in this bed:

The kind of stuff that keeps me visiting garden centers during my lunch breaks at work.
The kind of stuff that has me drawing diagrams while I'm watching TV at night.
The kind of stuff that makes me believe that I am an artist.
And to top it all off, the path from my driveway through this new bed and into my backyard is lined with stepping stones that I saved from my great aunt's property before it was destroyed by the new owners:

I walked on these same stones when I was a child in her creepy, yet ridiculously exciting and entertaining backyard in the late 1970's and early 1980's. I think about those times each and every step I take into my backyard.
Now I've given you what you wanted with more still to come.
You're welcome.
John