Found any rocks lately?

My newest area will eventually be filled with yellow daffodils, hostas,
purple grape hyacinth and purple crocus. The daffodils will appear to
spring up from a dry river bed that will meander through
a more natural-looking part of our garden

I have this funny picture in my mind of a geologist, somewhere, googling rocks, seeing the title to my post, coming to my blog, and scratching his head over why a geology site would have scores of posts on cooking, sewing and crafts.

Anyway, I guess I should have given this post a nicer title, like "How we use found rocks decoratively and functionally in our landscape".


A neighbor of ours did a bit of research on the geology of our area. What he discovered was the soil here is littered with rocks due to a massive glacier cascade, a very long time ago.

This is very good news for the stability of our home's foundation. But when it comes to planting, the rocks present a few problems.

Every time I dig even a 1-foot deep hole, I am faced with extracting a bunch of rocks. They can be as small as a pebble, or as large as 2 feet in diameter. Over the years, we have set aside these rocks, in a designated spot in the yard, to use later in the landscape.

The extra large rocks

The very large rocks we use for their sculptural value, placing here and there, but sometimes just getting them out of the soil and leaving them right in that spot.

Here's one that must weigh 100 lbs at least. I can't get it to budge. So it's been left right here, at the edge of a walking path.

The large rocks

low retaining wall

The large rocks (less than a foot in diameter, but larger than 6 inches in diameter), I have used to build low retaining walls, for terracing, such as in this area on a slope. The narrow bed it created is now planted with a dwarf boxwood hedge.

The medium-size rocks

shallow terracing

The medium-sized rocks (less than 6 inches, greater than 4 inches) I use for two purposes, in terracing, and in edging a gravel walking path out to the woods. For the terracing, here, I stack 3 rocks for a shallow terrace, for the area that drops down from the lawn to the small, lower pond. I usually have to touch-up this one each spring, as freezing and heaving cause some movement of the stones.

edging a gravel path

For the walkway edging, I place 2 rocks side by side, then top with a third rock. The purpose here is to keep the gravel from being scattered outside the path, by us as we walk to and from the woods.

I don't have a photo, but I also use this size rock to mark where invasives, such as oxalis and ivy, are not allowed to cross. I simply lay them in a line, within a bed -- one side of the line for invasives, the other for more favored plants. Anyone in the family can come out, and know where to pull the ivy or oxalis that has crossed the line, keeping my perennials safe from an invasion.

The small rocks (what I think as river rock)

stone mulch under a tree

The small rocks (what I think of as river rock sized) are what I use under trees, as ground cover, and at the base of daffodils. The river rock prevents many weeds from taking hold as seeds are scattered, and they form a nice ground cover under trees where lack of sunlight and competition for water & nutrients from the tree overhead, might prevent good growth of grass.

stone mulch up against house

These small rocks are also the ideal size for placing at the base of the stone front to our kitchen, between a paver path and stone exterior wall. Again, as a weed barrier in a spot I don't wish to be constantly patrolling for weeds.

The tiny rocks (more like pebbles)

decorative edge to a bluestone path

The tiniest of rocks, more like pebbles, I use decoratively along the walkway down to a pond in the sunken garden. We've laid bluestone steps in the center here. The tiny stones, along with sandy soil underneath, make a good medium for succulents, like hen and chicks, to edge this walk, and minimize weeding for me.


I was moving some daylilies yesterday from their cramped quarters, to a more spacious area. I'm thinking of laying small "river" rock at their base, as I do with the daffodils. I like the look of the flowers in a dry river bed of rocks. One step at a time, though. Developing our yard is turning into quite a significant project. But I'm enjoying every step of the way!

Is gardening your thing? Or is it something that you do because it needs to get done? I think it's a lot like rearranging furniture. I get an idea that I'd like to move this over here, and that over there. Fortunately, moving plants is a lot easier than moving sofas!

Thanks for reading, today!

I am back on track: working outdoors and an Easter project -- super simple lace headbands

These last couple of weeks were unusual for me, first with my body, and then with problems with the house, kids and a friend. You know what they say, when it rains, it pours!!! I am optimistic that this week will go smoothly enough (life is never totally smooth, so I'll settle for smooth enough). Thank you so much for your kind words, encouragement, support and "been there" attitude. Truly, your words helped.

Over the weekend I was able to get out to the veg garden and get the potatoes planted. And my husband set out on constructing the new bed where one of our fig trees will go in early April. This is right up against the brick patio, in a sunny spot. Keeping fingers crossed that this will bring a better fig harvest! (The two fig trees are currently in pots.)

And the good weather is continuing. I spent several hours pulling weeds yesterday, moving some plants to better spots, planting a couple of new plants, and adding some river rock to the new daffodil area. I had forgotten how much I like the way daffodils looks with river rock at their base. Technically, this isn't real river rock, probably glacial rock. As we dig new areas in the yard, we set the rocks aside, to use decoratively in the landscape.

I also continued with Easter bunny work, and am now done with the baskets.

We do candy and small gifts for our kids in their baskets. My son mentioned his long-sleeved white t-shirts were wearing out. He's getting a replacement shirt, from Old Navy. No sale, no discount, bummer! But it's what he wants, so I don't feel badly about not getting a deal. I also added some packets of instant oatmeal for him to keep at his office. He doesn't always get breakfast at home, so this tides him over until lunch. (And he's got a sweet deal on lunch. The bosses bring lunch in every day!)

My daughters's biggest "need" is related to next year's university expenses. So, I'm going cheap on their baskets (spending half of what I spent on our son), and putting the other few dollars into the budget for things like bus passes. But I think they will appreciate what I've added to their baskets. They both take dance classes, and are always borrowing my mascara (I know, you're not supposed to share mascara) and face powder for recitals. Well, they each are getting their own. I discovered an inexpensive cosmetic line at Target last week -- E.L.F (eyes, lips, face). The mascara was $3 (half of what Target was charging for Cover Girl), and the face powder was $1. While I was there, I also bought myself some concealer ($1) for my very dark under-eye circles, and so far I am pleased. But also, for my daughters, after Christmas I found these bath/lotion gift sets on clearance for $1.18 each. And, there was one last thing I wanted to make for them, using sewing trim scraps. (You remember, I've been cleaning out my sewing closet this winter.)

These lace headbands.

You know, I actually bought a lace headband for myself this past fall, and spent about $4 at the mall. Driving home, I had that thought, "what was I thinking? These would be super simple to make!"

And they are -- each one taking about 20 minutes of my time.

Basically, I started with about 21-22 inches of lace for each headband. One of the lace pieces I lined with peach-colored ribbon, both to add color and stability to the thin lace. The other, made of a more substantial lace, has a trim daisy hand sewn on. I also used 1 hair ponytail holder, each, to give them elastic stretch.

I changed my mind on the trim daisy, and went with 1 hot pink one instead

I ironed the lace and ribbon smooth. Sewed the ribbon to the back side of the lightweight strip of lace.

I turned under 1 end about 3/8-inch and pressed. Then turned that under about 1/2-inch, and pressed again.

I slid the ponytail holder under this fold. Using my machine, I stitched the fold down.

Next I pressed the other end, in the same way as the first, and pinned the other half of the ponytail holder into place. I tried the headband on myself.

I was guessing at the size for my daughters. I wound up cutting about 1/2-inch off this end, and pressing 3/8-inch under, then 1/2-inch under. I slid the other side of the ponytail holder under this fold, and stitched down the fold.

Voila! Lace headbands, using sewing trim scraps for a total cost of --- FREE!

And now, the Easter baskets are filled and tucked away in a closet, freeing up the rest of my week for the more meaningful activities of Holy Week.

How about you? Do you have some things you want to get done for Easter? Have you had cooperative weather for working outside? I know it is still wintry in some places, and I'm hoping for spring to come to your area soon, too. Thanks for reading, today!