the Carli garden

i have been planning a Carli garden for well over a year now. and, when we bought our house, the thing i loved the most was the awesome memorial garden already in the back yard. it was perfect. all i needed to do was plant a few more things to make it what i wanted.


well, last summer i didn't do anything, because the garden was already beautiful from what the previous owner had planted. as this spring rolled around, it was looking pretty bare, and dead. so, i started making my plans. drawing maps. making lists. then, plants started popping up.


so, i've spent most of the spring taking pictures of the plants, and identifying what is already in the garden. i've also pulled out quite a few weeds, and done a bit of trimming. i have a feeling the real work won't start until next year. everytime i think i'm ready to plant, some new plant pops up, and i have to figure out what it is, and add it to the map.


yes, there is a map. i drew a rough sketch of the garden, and its plants. i've been labeling them as i identify them. i'm also working on a map drawn to scale. and another map (also to scale) of what i eventually want the garden to look like. so, three maps. and we won't get into the countless lists... i have a thing for lists.


anyway- i'm going to post what we have so far- and please- if any of my readers have advice on how to care for/prune/water these plants- LET ME KNOW! i'm so clueless. also, forgive their condition. again, i have no clue what i'm doing.

this is a daylily.

giant yellow flowers- absolutely beautiful. there are 3 of these in the garden. 

according to chinese beliefs- the daylily is a flower of forgetfulness.

it is supposed to allay sorrow by causing a person to forget their pain.

daylily is also a common symbol of a mother.  

this looks like grass, but it is spiderwort. 
they are tiny white flowers. very delicate looking.
i also have a purple variety in the garden.
i can't seem to find the meaning of spiderwort...

i was told this is astilbe.
it's.. uh... unique? 

astilbe symbolizes/means "i'll still be waiting".

this is a pink rosebush. there are two of these in the garden.

pink roses symbolize grace and gentleness.

these are the poppies. they were huge! but, they're gone now.

bloomed and died. :(

poppies are a symbol of remembrance. they also symbolize eternal sleep.

this is delphinium. 

sooo pretty! 

delphinium symbolizes ardent attachment.

this is wisteria.

it's pretty, but the vines have proven to be a pain in the butt.

they grow so fast, and wrap around EVERYTHING. 

i'm trimming this wisteria everyday.

wisteria symbolizes love lost, but also the ability for the heart to endure.

this is clematis. 

i've been having a hard time keeping the wisteria off this vine.
i think it's one of my favorites.
clematis symbolizes ingenuity.

 i'm still trying to figure out what this one is... 

i was told this is a hibiscus.
it didn't bloom. 
and now it has fallen over. :(
the hibiscus symbolizes gentle delicate beauty. 

there are a few other unidentified plants in the garden. we also have a weeping cherry tree, which is another one of my favorites! i love it. but, i didn't get a picture when it was in bloom. we have a yellow rose bush... which i could do without. it's um... ugly. 

things i want to add: butterfly bush, forget-me-not, daffodil, hyacinth, bleeding heart, snow drop, sweet peas, morning glory, and lily of the valley. now... back to my lists and maps... i have a ton of work to do!