Inside: An annual tradition around here, our Stump Garden 2020 does not disappoint! Check out this year’s selection of annuals and returning favorites.
Stump Garden 2020
Of all the things that fell by the wayside this year, thankfully the Stump Garden wasn’t one of them. But it wasn’t due to any hard work on my part. In fact, this was the easiest year ever. With all the perennials and re-seeders, I only needed to tuck in a few plants in simple black plastic pots. One thing I did differently this year was to plant some vinca on top the of stump. Three kinds thrived on Stump Garden 2020–pale pink, white, and my new favorite variety, tattoo raspberry. (Top, second from the right.) It’s hard to see the pale pink vinca with the lovely burgundy dahlia in front of it. Previously I didn’t have much success growing dahlias, but this year they delighted me with some gorgeous blooms.
This is a long view of Stump Garden 2020. Notice the sweet potato vines on the far right. The sweet potatoes do double duty–beauty and good eating! Red seemed to be the unofficial, unplanned theme this year. I love the pops of color from the flowers, in different shades of pinks and reds.
Mexican firebush has reseeded itself for the last several years. It’s beautiful both in its feathery green summer appearance and lovely in this pinkish-red hue for fall. Mom donated some red salvia from her surplus stash, as well as the Mexican petunias potted on top of the stump. Unfortunately the petunias were not in bloom. Still lovely foliage, though!
And now for some returning favorites. . . Creeping jenny has taken over the stump! I love the texture and yellow-green of it! The splashes of silver mound and the sedums (top left and top right) are such a cheery sight to me early in the season. It’s such a thrill to see them make their spring entrance! Now for something brand-new–red dragon wing begonias! I had not been a fan, but like so many plants I’ve come to appreciate, Mom drops off orphans for me to incorporate into my garden plots, and I end up loving them. She knows me so well!
With each passing year, the stump changes. The wood has weathered, and some of the initial roots have fallen off. The perennials grow and spread out, and the reseeding plants surprise me, popping up in various places. I love how this established bed started from a fallen tree that no one got around to hauling out. Good thing, too! Who knew procrastination could turn into something lovely and wonderful, year after year.
Happy dreaming of next year’s garden!
Resources and related posts:
Cornfields, Stump Gardens, and Other News Fresh From the Farm
Stumped Again: Our 2019 Stump Garden
Our Top 10 Favorite Gardening Tips
Past posts from this month:
Coffee Love: How to Make Pour-over Coffee
How to Turn an Old Shirt into a Pumpkin
Acting Debut, Attitudinal Issues, and Other News Fresh From the Farm