From a Dream to Reality

It’s hard to believe that Peony Meadows really, finally exists. What started out years ago as a love of peonies for both T and I, and then a dream of sharing that love with others, has turned into my backyard being torn up and turned into gardens. My Hubby is on board with that, as it means less yard to mow. Which means that we can keep expanding as well. Right, Babe?

We started with a paper design of what we wanted. Then we marked it out with random pieces of wood, then spray painted it out on my lawn – neighbours were a little confused about all the colourful lines! Then after renting a sod cutter and a trailer – we removed the sod, loaded it onto the trailer and hauled it away. T’s kids were a huge help in this step. Those sod rolls were heavy.

After the sod was removed, then we marked all our lines again, and started tilling the gardens. or at least that was the plan. When my wonderful in-laws brought over the garden tractor, Dad said we could finally move my potting shed over where I wanted it. What a wonderful Dad. (He also helped with sod removal, driving the truck and trailer, etc)

Took a bit of work – first we used some old concrete pavers to make a base, then we had to get under the shed to lift it, Dad put some skids under it, screwed pieces across the front and back holding it in place, and then dragged it across the yard to the new home. And it looks perfect there, like it was always meant to be. After the shed was in place it was late enough, we all went to bed. Dad came back the next morning to start and finish the tilling.

And then it sat and waited like this for roots to arrive. We did add landscaping fabric to our paths. Eventually roots started showing up, from our supplies, from friends in town with an old bush that they wanted removed, to picking up someone’s extras from an hour away. We did panic a little bit as winter was rapidly approaching, or so we thought. Our last plants went in ground first week of November and winter did finally show up after that.

And just like that, we had the gardens planted. Now we are eagerly awaiting spring. In the end, we planted 17 named varieties, and have 5 more ordered for spring planting.

Spring, please come quickly!