Garden Obelisk

Obelisk Gardener’s (c/o) stained with Gardener’s exterior wood stain in graphite gray (c/o)

I’m aware many of you are enjoying a gorgeous winter wonderland this season (I envy it), but for those of us living in Zone 9, including Phoenix – we enjoying an extended gardening season! You know this is my favorite time of year – fall.

I used to love spring but with allergies it made me change my mind, tee hee. But I still do love spring because everything I planted for fall really flourishes come spring!

For months I’ve wanted a really tall obelisk to add to our garden beds. I love adding height to my garden – you’ve seen me do it with adding a random rose bush in the middle my cutting beds, and other garden fixtures just to bring a visual height. Benjamin and I spent 2 hours staining and assembling this obelisk from Gardener’s (c/o) and I was so happy when it was done!

You can read more about it on the blog post I wrote for Gardener’s here. Same photos but text is focused more on building the obelisk and what I’m growing!

In this bed, the furthest bed north, I decided to plant around the obelisk lavender, stevia, rosemary and the vine is Dutchman’s pipe – all plants which like well-drained soil and this particular garden bed of ours is a bit drier than the rest.

For now the Dutchman’s pipe will climb up the obelisk (if it can make it through winter) but I have other plans in the future, to either add another obelisk in another area and have white roses climb it, or we move this in another space. Right now, this works great and we have other things to worry about, like the expansion framing and the trenching that was done through this garden area by the time you read this post to bury our electrical lines!

Don’t let what I’m wearing fool you right now, that day was cold. But then some days are totally nice and I can garden in an outfit like this. And the mosquitoes are still out, that means it’s not cold enough! I got bit the other day and I was pretty furious about it as I feel skeeters are my nemesis.

I swell really huge the they bite me, unlike any normal human. I will also be the one bitten in a group so I’m like everyone’s mosquito repellent, they like my blood!

As you can see my basil is doing great, it tends to go everywhere and block the sun from my other plants so I had to get some supports to help keep them in place.

Jardin Half-Round Flower Supports via Gardener’s (c/o)

Usually by January when  the freeze comes, the basil says goodbye. So I try to plan ahead and have other plants nearby to take its spot, like lavender.

Planting for fall isn’t incredibly satisfying when starters are tiny, or you want to be frugal and plant from seeds, but come spring the beds are very filled out. I’ve learned to allow space for growth with artichoke and a few select flowers.

Pepper and Eggplant Stakes via Gardener’s (c/o)

I decided to give peppers another go, added a jalapeño again too – clearly Benjamin’s plant. These stakes are so pretty, sturdy and smaller version fo the tomato stakes I have.

I changed our drip irrigation to this 1/4″ drip line emitter I found on Amazon and use these (get a few packs). And also don’t forget these landscape staples too to keep them down.

It’s been nice to be outside again, it’s the reward for a long hot summer.

I realized why I love to garden so much. It’s another form of artwork and creative expression for me. The difficult part is nothing ever stays put, things die, they don’t bloom when you want, they don’t stay in their line. But, it teaches you patience, that you aren’t in control and allows you to replant, reshape and get creative. And it’s also fun because it means you can constantly be creating – your canvas changes so you can prune it, and swap things out without things being 100% done, it’s never 100% done!

When the garden area was ripped up with the trenching I received many DMs asking about how I felt and people freaked out. I explained that I knew it was going to happen and expected it so I was mentally prepared. It’s also fine, I’ve taken a bit of a break anyway with work and focusing on the expansion so it’s allowed me to have things imperfect for a bit so I can concentrate on other areas of our home.

Here are the stories on Instagram – (see original blog post if you are reading in RSS feed or email)

Maybe 2019 will be the year you decide to take up gardening? I took many classes and it took me years to learn but I am still loving it and can’t wait to add more.

I’m also excited to be telling you I’ll be working with Gardener’s in the new year so I hope to share more garden adventures and products to assist and encourage your gardening journey!