Garden Pics: See the loves of our labors...#9

ROFL! Enabler to the MAX!

Alright- tomorrow I look around and see what I have and what I need... oh boy, I can't believe I'm gonna do this... hehehe.

^_^ I'm too far away to tell on you. (as I look around to see if there is anybody I can tell)

This was my one extravagant gift to myself this spring. While I was away visiting the Midwest, the kids and their helpers put it up for me. I haven't got the underpart enhanced, (or even fully planned!!) but am thrilled to death with it already.

Pony, guess RJ forgot about our "tadpole rescue missions" in past years where there were taddies in puddles everywhere in her yard during a wet spring and early summer. She DOES have quite a bit of wet. I'll have to take a picture today of my little ponds where the taddies are. I do not maintain them, just have water lilies in them and sometimes goldfish. (Unfortunately, the dogs can fish the fish out as they are really shallow.) Don't see many taddies in the bigger ponds with the moving water and the koi. The frogs like it better in warmer water. (now you know where RJ got some of her enabling skills.)

MountainGirl, that is so lovely. Were you surprised to see it up? And, welcome home!!!

Ooooh. Sharon, that's gorgeous. What an exciting addition!

And yes, you all are enablers... LOL! Hubby leaves on Friday, and I plan to get started that very day. ;D

Pony, that is so funny. My DH left on Monday, is returning Friday, and I have been rushing around like a 2 peckered Billy Goat, trying to get some things done while he is gone.

ROFL Lynn! Funny how that works, isn't it? I'll miss him like crazy, but I'll be glad to have the time to focus on my projects. And when he comes home, he'll love everything I did, even though he likely would have argued against them beforehand. ;)

EXACTLY!!!

A lily from my garden to you all.

That sure is a pretty lilly! Thanks!

WOW, would love to have a pond,Tried it once off the creek. But when the heavy rains came, lost it to the slit. And 25 fishes, not going there again. LOL

My only Lily that has survied this spot,( had 5). Have one other in a diff. location

Love this combo.

LOL, Sharon, I think we got to see that before you did! It is beautiful!!

Is there an unwritten rule that DH’s must argue no matter what? LOL

Lovely lilly, Willow.

Here's what happened at my house today. This used to be a huge deck. The good news is the new one will be smaller and I can make my beds larger!!! And I only helped, we hired someone to build it. Just started and I already want to change my name, I have to answer all the questions!! LOL

Lovely combo Tills!

LOL Sally- better answering questions than breakin' your back working! ;) Boy I wish I could hire somebody to do some of the stuff that needs doing in our yard. (We need to tear out and replace a deck, too!)

We had to. The deck was bad, DH has a bad heart and I can't do it by myself. So I save up, the guy is good. Works like a mule, doesn't charge too much. Hopefully this is the last. We've done two other decks, that last one was really hard for me, so DH doesn't want me to work so hard this time. But you would be amazed at the stuff we found under the deck, the raccoon babies took lots of stuff under there. This time it will be closed off so they can't get under. I filled 4 barrels with debris.

Here's the last one we did, I was proud of the stain job I did on this one. Even the 'guys' admitted I did a great job! LOL

Oooooh, that's gorgeous! Very nicely done. :)

Our remaining deck is rotted out bad too. We ripped out the one on the side of the house and I built a nice big raised flowerbed in its place. The back one I really want to replace with a cement patio instead of another deck. We found all kinds of weird stuff under the side one from raccoons and other silly critters, too.

I reckon we'll have to save up to hire somebody for a patio- I think that's a bit out of my league. (but I could "supervise" real good!) ;D

Sally,
That is a beautiful staining job! Very nice deck.
Sherry

I "supervise" very well, of course that makes it all my fault!! LOL I went through all those options too. This one is going to be composite, it's out in the weather and really takes a beating. I can maintain the decks now, but who knows for how long. The prices have come down a little and about all it will need is cleaning.

Edited to add: Thank you for the kind words. It was definetly a love of my labor.

This message was edited Jul 2, 2009 12:01 AM

Oh my... I had forgotten about composite. Maybe that would be a good way for us to go, too.

And because I keep yacking up a storm in a photo thread, here's a photo. LOL!

" 2 peckered Billy goat" - what an image!

Pony, You would be surprised of how accurately you described Lynnweidman's garden projects:

"And when he comes home, he'll love everything I did, even though he likely would have argued against them beforehand."

Every time I drop by when her DH is at work or gone for a day or two she has another section of lawn dug up, new bushes planted, top dressed, and beautiful! He was against her doing it in the first place, but the end result is wonderful!

Willow, I just love your lilly...so peaceful!

Sally, WOW what a project! Deck replacement is NO fun, but it is always so gratifying to look at the end result...especially if what you were starting with was in bad shape. Mine is due, but we are going to try to get away with just replacing a few boards instead thank goodness! I like the idea of the composite for maintenance. You did a gorgeous job with staining your other one, but imagine not ever having to stain again! Mine is in the weather with a herd of dogs regularly tromping over it, so I have to stain it every year if I want it to look decent. Skipped this year as the spring was so wet, and now my pots are on the deck and I don't want to move them all.......good excuse, huh? Doesn't look as nice, but that's life!

Was home too late last night to get very many pics of the yard, but it was wonderful to wander anyway...now that the sun has come back out, stuff is really coming along.

My daylily for the day...Etosha

I need some ideas from you creative gurus.
Here is a project that I would like to have completed (as if, a garden area is ever completed!) before the Roundup.
It is off the patio where we just put in a hot tub, so there is nothing planted yet, other than my little Hardy Musa. It can be moved,was just planted there to get it in the ground. I want a tropical theme in the area, so those Arborvitae in the pots will have to go somewhere else. We are planning to enlarge the patio (hopefully before the RU) adjoining this area.
I don't want to mow around those two privacy walls, and right now the walls are very wallish! They need some plants!!! I was kinda thinking of some flagstone around the pavers to enlarge the area because the hot tub is so big in proportion to the paved area.
HELP!!!

Another view of the area

This is the other side of the wall next to the side of the house

I am way out there (maybe) But I think. Mmmmm maybe some Heavenly Bamboo ( Nandina Domestica) I love the fall colors that they produce and are so elegant.

Lynn, Pics from the new camera? Nice! Hope you get better input than I could give!

Lynn - what's the exposure of the walls in question? what colours do you fancy?
I am big on vertical gardening, so I would make a suggestion to plant vines, like Clems, or Honeysuckle or an evergreen jasmine. If there is a shady side - hanging planters or attractive STRONG shelving for pots. But exposure (sun), soil & space will eliminate many choices.

Beautiful pictures everyone.....that deck is to die for!

Hope everyone has a great 4th weekend..... we are taking the train to Portland tomorrow night, probably going out to our friends beach house in Cannon Beach on Saturday and back to Portland on Sunday to catch a train home.....

Finally have the results I have been waiting for !!

Oh, that hottub is looking good right now!! sigh.......two trips to the dump and one to the local home improvement store today. Ouch! Lynn, I'm sure you will get lots of ideas from this group.

Enjoy your trip Trisha. It's hot down here right now, 95 in Eugene today, but supposed to start cooling off by Sat., the coast is supposed to be great!

We hit 87 at the bank a few blocks from the house today....I am already getting a tan this year.... can't remember the last time that happened...

Sounds like a fun weekend....walking over the head to Seaside, BBQ, Fireworks, Hot tub...shouldn't suffer too much....Just getting Bill out of town ant all is a joy in itself! Hope you all have a great weekend.

I posted the wrong picture of the other side of my wall. Sorry.
The area gets full sun all day.
Today I picked up some various grasses to put there. I love Bamboo,so I was thinking of that,also.
Thanks for the Nandina idea, Tills. I will do that.
Katye, I like the vertical idea. I was going to plant climbing roses to climb up each side of the wrought iron arbor between the two walls. Is star jasmine the same as evergreen jasmine? I have star jasmine in a pot that I bring into the GH during winter. Is it hardy to plant in the ground?
I like purples, pinks and yellows, blues, reds, white. I guess I like it all.

Lynn - you are a night owl like me! I just came in a bit ago - when i couldn't see anymore. I just had to get those weeds out that were over-enthusiastic about seeding themselves hither & yon.
Ah - I don't remember thecultivar, but it's a jasmine officinale, hardy to Z6. White flowers - I'll see if i can locate the website I was on. Just need to remember which one...
Clumping Bamboo - this will become a spreading clump, and will take over the area eventually.
Full sun - leave room for annual vines. I have had a blast growing different types, especially Cobaea Scndens. Quite a performer! Dolichos Lablab is another fun one. Both of these run to 10' or more, and have interesting foliage. Passifloras, Thunbergias, Gloriosa Lily, Mina Lobata, Mandevillas, Ipomoeas - all fun to grow, but only the Passies have varieties hardy to our area. (P. caerulea is one.)
The Loniceras are definately hardy - very floriferous & some more fragrant than others. You WILL be pruning these to keep them from their joyful exuberance, but -- not hard & pretty quick, unlike Wisteria. Vines like things planted at their feet & that way the bottom "legs" are hidden. Some nice vertical grasses are Calamagrostis, Panicum & my favourite: Molinia. Lilies, tall Veronicas, Aconitum, Echinaceas - easy to site & not high maintenance. Cannas & Phormiums would go nicely with your Musa, too.
You did not specify the depth of the bed - but layering uprights within a small space is not hard to pull off.
If i were you, I'd pick a colour scheme or a couple (few!) must haves & work with those as the base.
Also - climbing roses - they can get quite large. Find out the 10 year estimated size. you could also use a shrub rose (old-fashioned type) which will love the support of the arbor. 1 would be all you'd need. I'll see if i have any pics...

Cobaea scandens - foliage

flower bud

flowers open greenish-white

flowers finish on the purply side

All this is happening on the same plant at once.

I love that Cobaea scandens, thanks! I am planning to go to Heidi's to pick up some Bamboo, I will have to ask her if she has that vine.

I have a Passiflora, and Ipomeas that I started from seeds, that are growing on another arbor. Only 1 bloom on the Ipomea, a really pretty blue one, but there should be more blooms soon. I think I have a cutting of a Lunicera, but of course, I did not tag it.

You are coming to the RU, aren't you? I am so hoping for some more good ideas from you and everyone else. Just don't be judgemental, all of my beds are still in the building (and planning) stage! And I am definitely, or not winning the war on weeds.

Yes, I am like you, (night owl). I usually stay outside working in the yard until I can't see anymore, come in and make dinner, (well, ok, I cheat and usually nuke something from Costco or there is always cocoa and toast if I am really tired), and then collapse in my chair to spend the rest of the evening with Dave. (Dave's Garden). I drag myself to bed around midnight or 1 am, or so, and then lay there planning my garden beds and "to do" list until I fall asleep.

I just bought home 2 pickup loads of Tagro, so I do need to get back out there and shovel s***. Do you guys use this stuff? Do you like it?

TAGRO is the most amazing thing ever. I've used the straight mix as fertilizer before and had great results. We bought the TAGRO potting soil for the big flowerbed I recently built, and I have never seen plants grow and bloom so fast. It's almost scary. 0.o

Ahhh! LOL - "spend the rest of the evening with Dave"!
I take an even easier route, Lynn: peel a banana - no work involved whatsoever!!! Nice packaging, too! Plus - it's compost material....oooh the laziness that ensues when i re-enter the house...If I didn't have a job, i would never come inside at night.

I will be surprised, but very delighted if you find Cobaea - the only grower I can think of that does it is Langley. Easy to start from seed & it does take off in the heat.

I am planning on coming to the RU - but waiting for my folks to let me know when they will be up here (either that weekend or the next). Please - never never be concerned about your gardens being judged - Oh my! We all know the process involved, and that babies eventually grow up. Ask Kathy about my mess! Talk about weeds - good Lord, they are rampant this year with all the rain & nice warm weather we've been having. At this point I am weedeating to slow the weeds down. I have completed about 2/3 of my PNW garden, but the hard part is going to be getting rid of the baby wild cherry trees, the creeping ranunculus & the ground hornets nest I found a couple weeks back. I have my front yard to do (major) & part of the orchard border (not so bad...). So I understand about parts are left unfinished, and the resulting dissatifaction. We do the best we can with what we have, including time, $, energy & availability of plant material (all MAJOR). Next year there will be editing & tweaking & surprises & more treasures for the soul. It's fun to have all that reaffirmed in another person's garden. the hard part is that others cannot "see" what you see. It is a process through which our time & hard work helps it all come together, and that is when we feel more comfortable with the work of our hands.
Now, tell me about Tagro - I have not seen this up my way - is it a local product? Can you look on the bag & provide any info as to manufacturer, and anything else pertinent?