Happy Birthday, Dear Blog!

Welcome to Astolat Farm.

This week my blog turned three years old. I wrote the first post on Thursday, February 21, 2008. This is what I said,

"Like many of you, I long for springtime to arrive! As my garden is currently covered with snow and ice, I have a little more time on my hands, so I feel this is a good time to begin a blog that shares with others my passion for gardening. 

My garden began in my dreams long before I retired from a demanding and stressful job. Back then, most of my gardening efforts were confined to containers and hanging baskets that I placed liberally on a small patio and on three porches. Since I retired, some three years ago, I have landscaped the areas immediately around the house. I plan on venturing further once spring arrives. Here are some 'before' and 'after' pictures that show what I have done to date."

 It is such fun to look at 'before' and 'after' photographs, so I am showing the ones I posted in that first missive. I have updated some of the 'after' pictures ...

THE SHADE GARDEN

BEFORE

Under an old cedar tree, I marked out my first garden. I used the lasagna method to make the flower bed. I planted shade-loving plants.

AFTER

(The picture of me on the swing in the shade garden was taken by Linda Koehler, reporter for the Times News.)

THE COTTAGE GARDEN: VIEW 1

BEFORE

H.H. tills the soil for my first herbaceous border. My grandsons call this machine the 'tillerator.'

AFTER

The 'after' photo is the exact area he is 'tillerating' in the previous picture. The picket fence was added much later. The fence is around the kitchen garden.

THE COTTAGE GARDEN: VIEW 2

BEFORE

The same 'tillerated' area from a different angle.

AFTER

THE KITCHEN GARDEN

BEFORE

The potting shed was installed first. 

The kitchen garden was planted around it.

AFTER

 

Herbaceous border along the kitchen garden's picket fence.

 THE PATIO

BEFORE

H.H. used a machine to tamp down the base of the patio which consisted of crushed stone and sand.

I put the slabs of Pennsylvania blue stone in place ... H.H. helped by lifting the heavier ones. I built most of the dry stone wall. Making the patio and wall was like completing a giant jigsaw puzzle.

AFTER

 There have been several other additions to our gardens since that first blog posting was written:

THE WOODLAND WALK

H.H. made the woodland walk by clearing invasive plants out of the old, disused orchard. He discouraged the return of the invasives by planting 50 to 100 white pine seedlings. The white pines are now fully grown, and while he still needs to do battle with the invasives every spring, the pines create a very pleasant ambiance with the old apple trees, pear trees, walnuts, white birches and sassafras.

Foxgloves are one of the few flowers the deer do not eat in the woodland garden.

THE FISH POND

The fishpond is our latest addition. You can read how it was installed here.

I do hope the fish survive the winter because the grandchildren chose them and named them. 

There are koi in the fishpond.

I concluded that first posting three years ago by saying,

"I hope to document the step-by-step progress I make toward realizing my dreams, but I find it a little scary putting myself, and what I hold dear, out there for all the world to see. I look forward to receiving your comments, and hopefully your support, as I begin this new venture."

After three years, it is not so scary any more, because of all the wonderful support I receive from my dear friends around the world. The community of garden bloggers is very special! Thank you everyone!

Bluebirds on the heated water dish this morning.

~~ I love reading your comments. I hope you leave one so I’ll know you visited!

I look forward to visiting your blog in return.