An evolving ornamental garden of perennials and bulbs in a formerly all-grass traffic circle at the intersection of two quiet residential streets. Maintained by volunteers, mulch and compost provided by the city, weeding and deadheading by me (Groundskeeper). All annuals in 2008, mostly annuals and new, tiny perennials in 2009, and mostly perennials in 2010. Lots of bulbs including my faves, the summer blooming surprise lilies (Lycoris squamigera)--as big and showy as amaryllises.
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| Pushing up Mar 30, 2013 | ||
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The earliest bulbs are breaking through frozen ground in the circle garden, which gets more sun (and thawing) than any spot I know in town. Crocus, tulip leaves, daffodil leaves. As the snow melts, junk appears. Motorists toss whatever they please out the window onto the circle--an item every day or two. The Roosevelt kids, all... ...see more |
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| Spring, oh Spring Jan 07, 2013 | ||
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Cabin fever has me dreaming of Spring. Here's a list of the native perennials that I hope to introduce in the traffic circle this year. All are prairie natives, tough and adapted to the climate of central Iowa, not to mention the traffic circle's micro-climate. Some, such as rattlesnake master and compass plant are extravagant... ...see more |
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Wow! Thats alot of plants. That will certainly fill up the space. |
| Traffic Nov 17, 2012 | ||
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If the garden in the circle kept a diary, the entries would include (my guess) sozzled drivers returning home at night bleary-eyed and driving over the curb and across the perennials and down the curb on the other side and back into the street wondering what those bumps were. There'd be an entry for the guy (he's a guy, has to... ...see more |
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| Last load of mulch, 2012 Nov 03, 2012 | |
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| Fastest of Weeds? Sep 26, 2012 | |
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| Behind My Back, or, The Weeds of Summer Aug 18, 2012 | |
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| No rain, no problem Aug 16, 2012 | |
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| Surprise Aug 16, 2012 | |
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| Laughing at drought Aug 08, 2012 | |
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I wanted to talk with you and there you are- top of the page.This concerns bugs.I have noticed a lot of those large green beetles on my porch and they scare me. I was eating a sandwich Saturday sitting ... more ยป |
| Spring 2012 Jul 10, 2012 | |
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Beautiful. Great idea wrapping the utility box. |
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Hoping the idea spreads around Des Moines. |
| What Was Here? Jul 10, 2012 | |
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I don't remember how the traffic circle looked before we made it into a garden. Just an impression of mangy grass and a boulder, with weeds crawling into the street. Google van to the rescue. Here's one view of the circle (give it a moment to load) before the neighborhood adopted it. Compare this Google photo with a photo from... ...see more |
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It is so wonderful to see the difference you have made. |
| Volunteers Jul 09, 2012 | |
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| Weeds that Like it Hot Jun 28, 2012 | ||
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The garden got a big load of compost last year that turned out, woe is us, to be poorly made and therefore full of healthy weed seeds. Thanks to a lot of volunteer time in the garden and a new layer of mulch this spring, so far the weed seeds have not produced a big crop of weeds but almost every morning when I go to the circle... ...see more |
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| Catmint spreading, blooming Jun 13, 2012 | |
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| Many Hands, Much Mulch Jun 02, 2012 | |
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