Lotus Designs Update

IT takes many hands to make a garden.

A few months ago Lotus Designs was hired to create a new garden for a courtyard space in Southern Pines, NC that was surrounded by the both the church and the school.  The garden had many challenges as it had a large entry point through 3 arches, and ground level windows along the sides.

Emmanuel’s old garden had stepping stones laid upon dirt and gravel and made for unsafe access to the different areas.  I wanted to design a garden that was safe, low maintenance, functional, attractive from all viewing points, and would have long term appeal. Early designs always seemed constrained by one thing or another, the windows, the exits, the narrowness of the space.  And then the cross started to form and there is was.  It surprised me and the church garden review board.  But then we all knew that this was it.

Major construction began over the school’s Presidence’s Day break.  A dedicated handful of members had previously taken out the old plants and railroad ties from the previous center planter.  But LOTS and lots of soil still had to be wheelbarrowed out because there was no way to get large equipment into the site. Earlier last month the cobbled pavers and walls were professionally installed.  Knat’s Creek worked Fri and Mon. while school was out, and much of Saturday, to get far enough along to work around the return of students on Tuesday.

Then after a successful church fundraiser to purchase the plants, we were ready to plant. On Saturday March 10 a group of 6 volunteers from the church and I went to work.  Four Hours later, the newly shrubs and trees were in. Mondo and liriope, saved from the original garden was divided and replanted.  It was a rare treat for me to be part of the planters.  We were finished with the planting by lunch and what a transformation. 

Irrigation was installed last week, and this week a cedar lattice screen, made by another one of the parishioners, was put into place to hide the large heat pump.   Now only mulch and a few annuals to go before the garden is complete.  Should be looking grand just in time for Easter!