BEFORE AND AFTER: Portager Pathways

So our portager started off with just plain soily paths with some natural looking stepping stones. But this is rather messy and not all that nice. Portagers are somewhat more formal and hence the decision to start dollying up the paths.

We have only completed the one pathway so far. Will have to do it piece by piece as the pebbles can work out rather expensive depending on the size of the area one wants to cover.

So firstly we lifted the stones already layed down. We then layed a weed sheet down to stop weeds from growing in the pathway. We then layed down the stones again and filled it with white pebbles. I love the combination of the brown stones and the white pebbles. We also placed some solar pannel garden lanterns right at the entrance and built a focus point cirlce in the middle with spebbles and a little garden girl catching butterflies! And she helps to keep the birds away from the spinach and lettuce.

Next to the pathway in sequance we planted rosemary, mint and red basil on either side.

BEFORE AND AFTER: Vegetable Portager Garden

Here's a few photos of the progress that we have made from the time of layout and up to a week ago.

Below: Portager resting spot

GARDEN: Portager Phase 2 - Let the games begin

Phase 2 has been tiring and is not even nearly finished, but here's what we did get done in one day!

Below: Went of to the Nursery on Sunday and got some square steppings tones and plants for the portager.

Below: The plants packed out in the shade.

Below: Start of the resting area / portager patio!

Below: Just some details on the stones. 4 squares making one big square in the same patterns. Example below. Surrounded by 6 square other with various designs, not one of the 6 are the same.

Below: Deciding what goes where opened up a can of worms!!! Clearly this garden is muuuuccchhh bigger than what I thought, look, not even half the beds will be filled. From this photo you can also see the stones we started laying in the pathways leading in and down to the resting area.

Below: Revealing the secrets. We got these take away beer mugs at an expo on Saturday and we collected them. No, we did not drink that much beer!!!! They will work great in our eco-circles, which is the eco friendly garden style we decided on for this portager. More on this eco-circles to be revealed in good time.

Below: Planting decorative grass and ground coverings in between the square stones.

Below: The concept of the eco-circle is to have one large plastic plant container in the centre, planted in the circular bed. Or 2L coke bottle with the top cut off. Drill holes and plant it. I have planted 3 of the beer cups after we drilled little holes in them. Just to see as a test how this will work. I may make some of the other beds slightly different. When you water, you only fill the container(s) in the middle as appose to spraying water all over the plants.

 

Below: you can clearly see the 3 circles where I added compost to the soil. I counted about 15 circles in my garden. HEEEELLLPPPP!!!!! What was I thinking.

Below: Finally - one bed done!!! Butter lettuce and parsley mixed in my first eco-circle! And my only eco-circle for now. I think it will take a while to have the entire garden planted, but THIS is part of the journey, seeing it grow, and appreciating every step for what it is and for what it teaches us about ourselves and life in this world as we know it.



GARDEN: What is a PORTAGER

So, the idea is to have a Portager or as we may say in SA; a veggie patch. But we will be breaking some of the rules and keeping the ones we like.

And you ask me, what is a portager?

Below: A classic traditional example! But as you can imagine a little out of my reach ;-)

Definition and discription:

The traditional kitchen garden, also known as a potager (in French, jardin potager) or in Scotland a kailyard, is a space separate from the rest of the residential garden – the ornamental plants and lawn areas. Most vegetable gardens are still miniature versions of old family farm plots, but the kitchen garden is different not only in its history, but also its design.

The kitchen garden may serve as the central feature of an ornamental, all-season landscape, or it may be little more than a humble vegetable plot. It is a source of herbs, vegetables, and fruits, but it is often also a structured garden space with a design based on repetitive geometric patterns.

The kitchen garden has year-round visual appeal and can incorporate permanent perennials or woody shrub plantings around (or among) the annuals.

Below: A good geometric patterned example of a portager, with a lovely entrance arch and picket fencing all around!

Below: Still very formal with paving, focal points and beautifully landscaped

Below: This portager seems less formal, but in fact, it is not at all. Here they have made due with the available space, added wooden fencing. The climate and feeding must be excellent if you look at the plants. And I just love the little garden shed with french furniture, the perfect place for an afternoon cuppa tea with some mint in!

IDEA: Glow In The Dark Driveway

How cool is this driveway? This awesome glow in the dark driveway was made by mixing glowstones with gravel, causing the driveway to light up at night.

Glowstones, which you often see used in fish tanks, are a synthetic aggregate, based on Photoluminescent pigment and synthetic resin. According to Jinan Chenghao Technology, “When exposed to light sources, the photoluminescent pigment within Glowstone becomes chemically excited and will afterglow (i.e. glow in the dark).” The glow is initially very strong, but then slowly dulls over night.