Ravensworth- a new destination (REVISED) Friday – 7/1 – 10 am

SOME BEFORE & SOME AFTER

We went by today at 5:30 while out doing our rounds of maintenance and watering and stopped to pick up a big pile of debris we had left in our clients side yard. Our client wanted to pay us for ten (10) hours and was out to an appt when we wrapped up at about 2 pm. So she txt’d us and asked us to stop by at 5:30.

While there we grabbed the debris. We had already taken eight bags earlier in the day when we finished up for today.
We grabbed the low hanging trimmings from a large bush and were greeted by our homeowner at the door.

Low and behold…..she wants us back tomorrow to tend the beds along the whole side of the back yard. So we are back again tomorrow. It’s been great work, and she is pleased as punch. We are here to serve. It is our pleasure. And we do admit it’s looking pretty nice back there for her. We love our work. Helping and serving…. Our blessing and then some.

AFTER…..so far…. But more to come.
Stay Tuned. Please!

”CONTESSA” says …… it’s all good.

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REVISED – Friday – 7/1 – 10 am 

We are continuing with our Ravensworth  project  Frankly  it’s been five (5) years since any significant bed cleanup-took place for our lovely “gardener” who is having difficulty these days doing her favorite gardening tasks. She is a very knowledgeable gardener and we’ve had some lovely gardening conversations  I’m learning and so is she. it’s been fun. We could probably chat for hours. BUT work prevails. This week we tackled the bed along the whole length of the house, in the back. We are up to seven (7) hours and are ready to turn the corner to approach the cutest little “oasis” in her yard.  A shady contemplative wonderful little corner with an overhanging tree

We will video it next Tuesday and post “before and after” work then. Its such a cute “spot.”

Best news is we are invited back to continue additional work.  We are delighted.  Hang with us for a bit longer as this project continues.  It’s been such fun.  😊

Preston Road Client/BEFORE and AFTER

BEFORE

Early Spring

AFTER

Today/6/27/Monday during our maintenance visit

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Our wonderful client on Preston Road works constantly and she knows very little about gardening. Her intro to us was: I don’t garden, I don’t want to garden and I don’t want to learn to garden, but I’d like to have one to enjoy and look at when I arrive home from my office.

Her honestly was so amazing, we could not resist wanting to teach her a little. Well-well..,,we have managed to nudge her interest and curiosity just a little, because she is so excited now to have a pink hydrangea this year. She has always wanted one. And she now even knows the names of all her “perennial” plants. Her $$$ investment in perennials was an easy “sell” because she would rather pay a little more to be rewarded each year with more robust and longer lasting plants. She agrees that buying “annuals” is a waste of money and time. But we have agreed to have a few Pansies from October through May and then a few Begonias in the summer months for just for a little added color. Simple additions…

She’s pleased as punch with her garden these days. It has   taken us three gardening seasons to establish healthy plants, but it is pretty stable and healthy looking now. She does have a very large tree that hangs over her bed space  so daily picking up of leaves and sticks that drop into her bed is very common. We take care of that for her. Our pleasure of course.

This year…. we are providing maintenance/watering for her, and daily we communicate by txt on next steps. Today we added a new flowering shade perennial called Columbine.  A sweet very unusual bloomer….and this one in the center front of her garden bed is such a pretty color. Very delicate…. and if you look…. ever so closely…..it’s quite an amazing little plant soecimen; if we do “say so. We picked it out for her.

“Contessa” says…it’s all good.

EA is our “lady” Homeowner

7 am Sunday morning and we have arrived at “lady EA’s” place. She has been residing here now for two years and gradually, as her gardener we have transformed a plant-less plot into a very inviting and very well planned out corner property. Roughly a 45 x 45 ft section of the front was a packed Native Ivy Bed. We have…,vine by vine….removed all of it. The pulling process took a solid week and we did it while EA was away. The goud news is the following spring not one Ivy vine returned.

Parkfairfax then planted a small Holly tree at her request. And we began creating a garden space with new bushes to enhance the front center bed. We now have three Crimson Red Azalea bushes, two “Lady Red” Knock Out Rose bushes, two pinkish winter blooming Camellia’s, two sweet smelling Gardenia’s, just planted one week ago and three transplanted Day Lilies which we will yet divide again and create some new plants along the side if the house. EA has a very petit garden Etagere which accommodates five perennial plants potted in colorful planters. And we have  added a metal hanging basket with White and Pink Geraniums, Petunias and white Verbena.

This year….her second season Blue Hydrangea has quite a number of blossoms. The branches are heavy with fairly good sized blossoms for a two year old bush. The stems are still thin but within the next couple years they will strengthen, thicken and mature in size to support larger blossoms each year. It’s a powder blue so we are using a Nutone Hydrangea plant food to strengthen it to produce it’s true blue color. It’s a bit of a “Drama Queen” in terms of playing wilted when it’s warm outdoors, but Hydrangeas do this until they are three or four years established in their “spot.” We are delighted with its growth and it’s size in only two years time. And this year we added right beside and near it ….a beautiful pinkish/purple “Dahlia” tuber.  Beautiful blossoms and it’s also just getting started. They compliment each other beautifully

All in all…, EA’s lovely little end unit has taken on a very established look in a very short time. Often as we are working there…… we can hear complimentary comments at how pretty the property is looking. It’s come a long way and we are only just beginning. People tell us they walk up this way on Beverley Drive,  just to enjoy and see if anything new has been added to EA’s pretty garden.

We now are providing daily tidying and watering service to help keep EA a very happy “lady.”

Indeed our pleasure to garden here.

“Contessa”says…… its all good.

 

Ongoing Client- Beverley Drive…a continuation of new spring plantings

Our client had some spring work done in March but with the cold we had we are just now getting her planting completed. Two very nice white Gardenia bushes added today. Her Hydrangea is in its second year. Still a somewhat small bush but it’s looking very pretty and tons of buds still to bloom. We added a hanging basket, four annuals in planters on her etegere.  We created additional Day Lilies by dividing and planting in new spaces. Beautiful additions last year were  three Red Azaleas which bloomed in April, along with a two week lapse when the Knock Out Roses bloomed. We have just deadheaded them and already new blooms are appearing. Her garden is looking full and complete. Wec are very pleased at how everything we planted last year came through nicely. It’s a great garden. Our resident is thrilled. We billed today at six (6) hours.

“Contessa” says….. it’s all good.

REVISED – Four Growing Seasons – Winter Berry Bush

………today we walked by our favorite bush.  And what did we spy but the Winter Berry Bush we just love filled with the tiny white flowers that we spoke of when we last posted. So the transition in spring/summer is the white flowers which as we approach the end of summer will begin to fall off and if you page down in this post you will see what it turns into. A bush with the most vibrant and beautiful prolific red berries you have ever seen. It’s the winter transfiguration.

What a marvel.  We think our most favorite female bush “ever.”

Spring – and very soon to be….tiny white flowers

Winter – the bright red berries are prolific,  but the birds come every day so by February it’s pretty much bare.

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Early Fall/ winter…. Gorgeous red berries

This is a female Winter Berry Bush. The male bush is nearby tucked in a more shady area of this yard. We walk by it everyday. It may be difficult to tell from the photos, but it’s a real eye catcher. We especially love to see the birds coming for the berries that are tucked tightly to the branches. It’s a stunning specimen. So attracted us. We want one for our yard. Working on that.

”CONTESSA”

New Client – Valley Dr – English Style – REVISED – Mon – 6/6 – 7:31

Tomorrow we start a “garden renovation.”  It’s a gorgeous garden, but our resident homeowner is looking for some colorful blossoms in his “green” space. 

So in and amongst all this beautiful but very crowded plant life are some Black Eyed Susan’s. Coming up now, and showing buds. (Bright yellow with brown centers). We are going to be paring down the scale of several plantings. Divide and conquer, remove all the Hosta and add perennial splashes of colorful blooming plants. Such as Purple/Bluish Butterfly Bush, Orange Tiger Lilly’s, maybe some Rose bushes in peach, red and yellow, and and White Peony’s are also an option.

We will be arriving at 10 am and will start by digging up all the Hosta. (approximately (8) eight). They are huge.  Parkfairfax has agreed to provide new homes for them all. Our residents rear property backs up about 800 ft to the Coryell Pool,  so he thought it might be a great spot to relocate them to. They can then be enjoyed by everyone in the community, or transplanted to a more shady woodland setting. No need to waste anything –  will be our motto during this renovation.

And so we begin at this new and exciting project.  As we  proceed we will post additional updates. We will make a couple site visit trips to Merrifield Garden as our client wants to select his own plantings.

He has loved the Garden he bought with the house. Things have really matured and grown and so it’s time for him to put his own stamp on his property. He uses the back patio a lot for guests and entertaining so he wants to give it new life. We are very pleased he asked us to help.

“Contessa” says ….. it’s all good.………….!

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REVISED – Monday – 6/6 – 7:31 pm

We’ve tight in video space so tonight we have photos. Anywhere in the video above where there was Salvia, way overgrown we have removed it today. Ten )10) bushes that are now surrounding the tree on the outside of this yard. Our crew guy was not at work today so tomorrow he will haul them to the yard. Originally they were the size of basketballs. Pretty foliage with dusty purple flowered stems. But they had grown to the size of tires, were flattened out and extremely woody on the stems. Sort of what a real gardener would refer to as has-been’s. They (3) covered the backyard entrance and the bed was so flat. We severely edged this bed and used the dirt to fill the holes where these plants were located and we “built” the bed up. Super attractive now.

Tomorrow we are removing all the Hostas. We count ten (10) and next week we will do a nursery site visit to pick out colorful flowering perennials. We are only just beginning. There is much to accomplish. It’s very exciting. A total new look coming. Stay connected with us.

 

Gunston – Woodlands Property

BEFORE

So this property is at the very end of a very long strip of homes. This woodland area is so far back from Gunston Rd  that it’s front door is literally 40 ft from woodlands. As we were working a good sized Deer passed in the lower brush and he was not even 50 ft  from our working location. We quoted six hours for this project,  but in all honesty since it had been five years with no upkeep it could have easily been ten hours. But our homeowner who is renting it out will now receive both spring and fall appointments so as to keep things maintained and in rental worthy condition.

Our pleasure… this go-around at six hours. Our unexpected event here was that we get bitten alive by natures trusty Oak Mites. They are “buggars.”  Beware if you are over that-a-way walking your pooches.

AFTER

Tons if debris removed from this site – as the bushes had not been trimmed in five years time. PFX came to collect it all with the “mini John Deere.”

It’s looking wide open and very spiffy now. And bugs will be less likely to congregate. It’s all good.

Milkweed – Attraction – Butterflies

So…..this is “Milkweed.” Most often seen on farms,  in pastures, along the side of country roads in ditches and we spied two stalks of it ten days ago, right in the center of a neighborhood Daylily bed. We just pulled hard and it came out.  No real roots to speak of, just white dirt covered ends.  So we cut the tops off creating a pencil length stalk and without even washing it off, we put it in a glass of water in the kitchen window. A gardening friend didn’t think it would root or produce anything. 

Well today we looked at it….and there it is – new growth on both stalks. Nearer the top.

We are going to plant it in the garden in a sunny spot. Remember it develops an underground traveling root system so it can spread and become highly invasive – so plant it closer to a wooded area where it can grow without disturbing your more domestic plants and flowers. And once it takes off – do your best to contain its growth. It’s a bit like the herb “mint,” it will spread everywhere.

We only waited ten days for this new growth. Amazing plant life. It cannot stop itself. Nature just keeps on giving. We love it. And very soon we will have “butterflies.” How can you not love this. Pretty exciting!!!

“Contessa” says….. it’s all good

The Garden Contessa

Contessa Says:  It’s Time To plan for Gardening!!!

Our newest JUNE/JULY/AUGUST   Gardening Announcement 

The Garden Contessa, former owner of Contessa’s Garden and Gift in DelRay is offering June, July and August  appointments. You can still clean up and give your beds a boost by abating with fresh soil and mulch. If you have not cut back your winter early spring plant growth, let us do our magic on your beds/bushes. Make your plans now, and let us help.

For COVID safety, we are always masked and gloved. Our spring season so far is robust and because of recent chill and rain we are really only now getting ready. Summer is coming quickly so it’s the perfect time to plant. If you’d like to arrange for your FREE, first time consultation appointment, please txt 703-548-1882. If you happen to see us out-and-about in our neighborhood, please feel free to introduce yourself. We love meeting new potential gardening contacts. References and photos of current projects are available. Gardening is our passion, so no project is to large or two small. We do it all. ContessasHome@gmail.com

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if you are a current gardening client from our previous  seasons, and many if you are with us three and four years now, we will be offering you priority appointments on spring services. If you know what you have in mind, jot down a few notes and when we contact you, we can discuss.

Last year we did a fair amount of instruction and consultation. We love to teach and share. If you like the process, and the work of taking care of your own yard, we encourage you to retain us for hands on instruction by the hour. One hour can often give you the confidence to execute. We will keep in touch to watch your progress and offer suggestions. If you simply want it to look great and you don’t really feel like you have the gift, or you just don’t really have the time, we are happy to help.

We do have ongoing upkeep and maintenance clients. These relationships are generally arranged for services for the entire spring/summer/fall and even into December. With our mild winters and global warming being a reality, gardening is very much a year long event, with the exception of January and February. Ask us for a site visit and a plan just for your garden…..year round. We will of course customize our service to meet your needs.

We have been gardening in Parkfairfax since 2005. We love our community and our mission is to help you with your garden, but it’s also about dedication to beautifying the neighborhood we all call home. We work closely with our wonderful and dedicated Parkfairfax gardening crews and all projects are discussed with them when we need permissions or advice. We work closely with our Parkfairfax Director of Operations at the yard. A plus for you as we are familiar with current landscaping and modification gardening guidelines, and in some cases services that you need can be handled by their team, by using the Buildium tool.  Thus can be a cost savings firc you. It’s a win-win!! We can offer some helpful tips/advice on posting tickets to be completed in the PFX “Buildium” platform.  It was created for residents and it is the best way to report your projects that need attention.

Fibally….Its already proving to be a wonderful and liberating season. We think plants coming up, are the encouragement we all need right now. “It’s about new beginnings!”  We all need plant beauty in our lives. We are so much looking forward to being outdoors and serving you well

“Contessa” says….. it’s all good

Our Ongoing client – Martha Custis

Our wonderful  ongoing client wanted a refresh today. We started by clearing “Vinca Vine” out from under an Azalea bush that she planted. It’s the first spot you see in our video. Later after the bush finishes it’s bloom, we are going to round it up a bit and today we trimmed off some of its undergrowth. It’s a more tidy look and easier to clean under.  Then we completed a serious weeding because we’ve had so much rain, the weeds have been growing like mad. We do both properties for both clients. But the other client works so we rarely meet up with her. The two neighbors are good friends and have a mutual understanding regarding yard upkeep and care, so it makes sense to do the two together.

Our client wanted the Rose bush dead-headed and while pruning during blooming phase, is not  the best timing, the bush had way overgrown,  since our late fall trim before the end of November. It bloomed until then.  It’s a quite amazing bush. We like to see some balance with an open path  between the two bushes, so we also trimmed the Azalea bush on the center side. Technically your bushes should not invade or overlap with each other.

We are, as of todays visit, going to go by on a more regular maintenance basis, to keep the area looking tidy and fresh.

”Contessa” says…. its  all good. Our pleasure!