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My fabulous deep red clematis.

Earlier in the spring, I started Project Terrific Terrace, to beautify my ‘garden.’ I took a few photos this morning to show you all how it’s been progressing.

Mostly, it’s been going well. I debated just showing you the lovely photos and letting you believe I am a fantastically gifted gardener. I figured you wouldn’t buy it so I may as well be honest.

If left to our own devices, Andrew and I would probably starve if we had to rely on ourselves for food. Andrew’s strawberries died a few weeks after we planted them. All 6 plants are now  - deceased.

The tomatoes are another story. We blame the Belgian weather. It was hot and sunny when we first put them outside. Then it turned cold – very cold. We brought them in and tried to resuscitate them. They live on, but have gone completely leggy and there’s not one flower to be seen. I seriously doubt there will be a tomato crop this year.

All is not totally lost on the produce front, however. My cayenne pepper plant is covered in blossoms. If nothing else, I’ll be able to spice up our lives with my peppers.

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Cayenne Pepper Blossom

For the most part, my herbs are doing well. My lemon balm, rosemary, thymes, bay and chives are all great. I planted 3 tiny plants in one planter – marjoram, mint and apple mint – and they are all huge now. Mojitos anyone?

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Left to right: apple mint, marjoram and mint

On the bad news front, both of my lavender plants, which I have had for 5 years now, up and died out of the blue. I have no clue what killed them. One of my new sages also seemed to contract the plague and die. However my variegated purple sage looks fantastic!

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Variegated Purple Sage

My ice plant garden is also filling out nicely.

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Ice plant garden

Speaking of ice plants, I had one little hen & chick plant that wouldn’t fit in the ice plant garden. I popped her into a pot of her own and look what happened…

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Hens and Chicks in Bloom

My wisteria is alive and well. Unfortunately I didn’t get any photos of it in bloom as it has been ridiculously windy lately. It is now green and happy, but flower-less.

I do still have colour on the terrace, however. My Azalea is still blooming, as are my pansies. I also have a sweet little geranium on the go.

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Geranium

My pride and joy is my beautiful clematis. This has taken over from my dearly departed passionflower from last year. I just love the deep red colour. I’ll leave you with a few photos of this beauty.

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Clematis

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Clematis

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Clematis

So overall, I think Project Terrific Terrace has been a success. What do you think?