WATER WATER WATER. It's the part of life we all require. Plant it with good instructions, ask if you don't know, buy from good quality companies, water, feed, water, feed.
You can't just plant something and water it = leave it for a few days and come back. I learned the hard way and thanks to Daves members I learned a great deal. Ask - someone will help you
Shihtzumom Cleamtis 2010 -
After looking at your garden/yard, I am ashamed to tell you to look at mine. I posted a few pictures of my clematis, that I recently dug up and moved to the back of my house, the name of my thread is "clematis trouble". That is what I do to flowers! I use Scott's lawn fertilizer 3 times a year (spring, summer, fall), I also use miracle grow tree and shrub soil to amend my clay soil, then I use miracle grow liquid a few times a month and then in the fall I use the miracle grow spikes! I try so hard...but between my brown thumb, the deer, and my bad soil I think I am just doomed. By the way Pearisburg, VA is only a couple of hours form where I live, we go by there when we go to the dublin flea market, but we haven't been in the past couple of years. Do you have any nice garden centers down that way?
No garden center around here. When you go to the flee market you pass my house just as you leave the main red light and exit town where the Auction House is on the right - just over the hill (near National Bank) my house will be on the right. It's a 3 story with white wrap around porch. It was blue/gray and we put yellow siding and a new roof on last year. You can't miss it - it's right on the road and a white picket fence in front. Stop by next time the flee market is coming - should be soon shouldn't it? August?
It always sets clematis back if you move them. Plant them at a 45 degree angle and back fill with good soil. The dirt here is my best asset - old farm land. WATER is the main thing for any plant just put into the ground. Water deeply, less often.
Here is a picture from July with my crape myrtles in bloom
another at my side door
We sold our hot tub and I stained the deck, which I had used the guys advice at Lowes and stained it the color of dirt that some guy got for his - LOL
There was nothing in this yard Sept 2006 when we moved here. There were 2 ornamental pear trees in the front and a pussy willow in the back. I've done everything myself - no gardener. Weekends and afternoons.
Beautiful! It must be such a pleasure to walk around your yard.
Anna
Thanks - it is very nice and I've worked my butt off doing it. It's therapy, exercise, creative time. I do enjoy it.
All the more reason to enjoy!
Unfortunately we have not been to the flea market in two years. We always went with my husbands sister and her husband, but after 24 years together they divorced last year, needless to say it was devastating. But if we go next next year I will have to look for your house, your yard is breathtaking! And yes I'll agree your rich soil is an asset! Here in WV we have orange-yellow, clay soil that is just awful. Even though I ammend and fertilize it still isn't enough! I bought two butterfly bushes today at Lowes for $2.00 on clearance hoping they'll do fine, I think they are hard to kill. Also my crepe myrtle isn't even blooming good and they are supposed to be another plant that is very hardy and deer resistant, but the deer are nibbling mine this year.
Kathy,
idohair is right ,your yard is breathtaking and must be the envy of the whole town.UNBELIEVABLE what you have done yourself.It looks absolutely great and such a pleasure to look at your pictures OVER and OVER AGAIN :-)
Thank you ladies! I enjoy the yard and my husband and our friends continue to comment on something new almost every day. The clematis should start blooming again soon. I have Romantica starting to bloom again and that is a very nice one to get ! It gets huge and beefy stems.
Venosa Violacea has grown about 9 feet tall and was planted last Oct. Full of buds ready to open. I hope to have a nice picture of that one soon. The yard is about as full as I can get it so buying more isn't on my list. I will be getting a couple more climbing roses for the side of the house where the crape myrtles are on post 7872292 above. The 2 roses there are walmart roses that I moved from the former house and they are back to the root stock, I beleive, so they need a replacement. I'm thinking of a monster grower in either bright pink or red. It will be against the yellow siding and the trees will not be in bloom unil the first of July. I need tall color there. I have a rooted Santana that was taken last year and is about 2 feet tall now but I need a larger rose for great color next summer. Suggestions? It will be from Palatines! Blaze Improved is a choice but open to something else that will get huge, bloom often, good in humid conditions.
Kathy
Kathy, looking through the photos of how your yard has progressed is truly inspiring. It must be very rewarding to garden in Zone 7... you can grow just about anything that isn't a true tropical! It's obvious how much care you have taken with your gardens. Thanks for sharing the results of your vision with all of us.
Evey
Hi Evey !!!
I was just thinking about you.
Kathy, you have quite the collection, just wonderful! I don't know how I missed this thread before! And your house is such a perfect backdrop for all of it. Good job with all you've done.
Evey! Hello!
I was trying to put together a obelisk for clems and thought of my sweet Bijous, crossing fingers they will come back with vigor this year.
Nice to see you Evey.
And you all should see all the work that Kathy has done on the inside of her house this winter. Inspirational. I played sounding board to her zillion of ideas for her kitchen this winter and by the time she was done it was yummy, So much so that she had me starting to work on blueprints for my Vt kitchen in earnest. Nothing started yet, but somehow she will get me started just like she did when she tempted me to build my endless stream project. Then with her help and that of SongsofJoy, we got our endless stream built and it is the best part of our garden. So she is a real inspiration and trouble maker for me. I look at her work and think I can follow suit. I have been adding roses too, but not like her collection. No little dogs though and our house is not painted, which is lucky for me. Patti
Kitchen renovation is a must very soon here...the laminate is thread bare, the dishwasher seems to make the dishes dirtier and only 2 burners work... But then I just go out and check on my clem babies.I feel more comfortable in the garden. Atleast I can dig it up if it doesn't work..I need inspiration!!!
And a endless stream sounds wonderful.
Nice to hear from you Evey!
It is good to hear from you again Evey. I hope all is well....
Hi all! Springtime is almost here in earnest in the deep south... 40's and 50's at night with 70's and 80's in the day. In spring and fall, I can still spend a lot of time outside playing in the garden, so I will enjoy every minute I can before the summer heat puts an end to my fun! =)
I'm sure you all will have lots of clem and rose blooms to share soon! I can't wait to see the parade of pics.
Kitchen renovations sound fun. Are there photos of any of the projects on DG somewhere?
Bliss,
Thanks for bringing up this this thread. I have really enjoyed this project and do it all myself. I do enlist my youngest son, Mark, when he has time after work for holes for posts and mulching when I can't move anymore......those sore shoulder and neck muscles are already starting.
That kitchen was a crazy project. The granite countertop made it had for me to make decisions but with the help of Patti WE did it. Dan chimmed in and I used his Jute paint color for most of the kitchen and a bold red wall for my husband's accent color. Turned out pretty well thanks to my Patti.
The picture is when we first purchased the house in Sept 2006........see why my wallet is empty!
I love befores and afters.Shows someone's vision come to life.
Post #8006167
This post above really shows some difference in the side door area.
WOW! What a transformation. I'm sure these pics are very inspirational to those just starting out, as they show that just a few years combined with hard work can make a HUGE difference in the garden. Good job!
Kathy,
I always admire your dedication to your home and garden.
This lady puts the energizer bunny to shame!! I am proud to be her friend and have been with her on most of her projects from the beginning via Dave's garden, we have learned alot on our journey into gardening and projects around the home. The same goes for Brigitte another talented woman. There is so much more to these two talented ladies that you don't know. Both have beautiful gardens and homes. All put together by themselves and their families. Thanks for being my friend all these years.
Diamond Dan
Diamond Dan, well put. You never know who will pop up on DG and be an inspiration, friend and comrade from a far who is willing to post help for life's little foibles, as well as serious personal tragedies, trials and train wreaks. And then there is the abundance of all the common sense and good information about everything imaginable that our garden pals contribute daily.
And Dan, thanks to you,I can't walk anywhere in our garden and not think of your stellar efforts to provide so many of us with splendid roses when you ran those great rose coops. Even if I never actually meet but a couple of DG people in the flesh, I feel closer to many on DG than I do to many of my actual flesh and blood neighbors. Lucky us. Patti
Dan, You are so sweet. You're a good friend and I thank you for every helpful tip, every suggestion and for listening to me fuss about kitchen colors. Thought that would never get done - not that I'm 100% happy with my choice of red - I just decided to live with it. (I wasn't going to tell you that part). I need to get working on more copper trellis for my new clematis and roses. You started me on that one too. I did some pretty nice copper work and a newbie. That's a fun project.
Patti,
You are the amazing decorator and coop partner. Sure miss those coops but don't miss our kitchen redo. Thanks for all your professional help!!!
Bridgette,
You are such a lovely lady. I enjoy our email chats when we find time -glad you're on FB even if I don't understand that German talk.....LOL
Blissful,
Thanks for the comments. I've worked hard and spent lots of money. My knee's are showing wear!! It is amazing how much changed in this yard in 4 years. I guess I didn't take enough pics in the beginning or I can't find them - but boy does it look different.
I have about 10 yards of Walnut mulch that needs spreading. If the rain stops I hope it will still be walnut colored! First time I've tried the stained mulch. March weather is crazy for Virginia - are you guys like that too? One day it's raining and 50 then it drops to 34 and starts snowing only to be 67 the next day. Can't wait to get out there and dig. My columbines are popping up like crazy and the grass is so green after the 4 inches of rain we had in 3 days.
Dan, we need a skype night. We can drink some green beer this weekend! Don't forget to change clocks! Finally - time change to the good one. Why can't they just leave it alone?!
Just taking another look - glad I did - now I know where a couple things were hiding!