Blank slate ideas

Yes, you're probably correct that there is more maintenance as the fish grow. But many people put way too many fish in their ponds which adds to the burden. My pond is probably 5000 gallons and I have around 15 small fish. Even if they grow, I'll still be under the recommended limit, although I seriously doubt my heron will let any of my fish get large enough to worry about that. I lose a couple of the biggest ones each year so I have nothing larger than 4 inches - even though the pond is 5 years old.

I have to confess I'm one of those who likes the water clear :) But I guess I am just lucky because I don't have to do anything to keep mine clear (shade helps). If I had to work at it, I'd probably learn to live with it looking more pond-like because I don't have the time to mess with it.

Sounds like a beautiful pond!

All right, flowerjen - you've had a ton of input from frosty northerners (well, maybe that doesn't apply to ROBINDOG in CT). Now, consider ideas from warmer climes which you inhabit and elaborate on all the great things inherent there...

Like a great viburnum collection!

I can see where 25' wide by 40' long could provide homes for a dozen or more full-size specimen viburnums, or even more if you prefer smaller versions mixed with larger in a diverse shrub border. Throw in some winterberries, and you have a bonanza of bird berrying bushes to rival the finest alliterative arrays in arboreta.

Here's a blend I suggested to another Viburnophile-in-training (also copied below):

http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/p.php?pid=7716766

**Viburnum dilatatum Linden Viburnum - clones include 'Asian Beauty', 'Catskill', 'Erie', 'Oneida', and 'Iroquois'; Cardinal Candy™ would be my last choice among the red fruits. 'Michael Dodge' provides yellow fruit.

**Viburnum nudum Swamp Possumhaw Viburnum - 'Winterthur', 'Brandywine', 'Pink Beauty', others

**Viburnum dentatum Arrowwood Viburnum - Crimson Tide™, Cardinal™, Indian Summer™, Blue Blaze™, Red Feather™, Raspberry Tart™, etc. Obviously, many more could be enumerated.

**Viburnum plicatum f. tomentosum Doublefile Viburnum - 'Shasta', 'Shoshoni', 'West Olive', 'Lanarth', 'Molly Schroeder', etc.

Some others you should add - for variety, toughness, extent of bloom time, fall color, evergreen-ness, etc...

**Viburnum x pragense

**Viburnum x 'Conoy'

**Viburnum cassinoides (sometimes called V. nudum var. cassinoides) and clones

**Viburnum x burkwoodii and clones, especially 'Mohawk'

**Viburnum x 'Cayuga'

**Viburnum x juddii

**Viburnum sargentii and clones

**Viburnum sieboldii and clones

**Viburnum prunifolium and clones

**Viburnum rufidulum and clones

Without knowing too many specifics of your current garden landscape, these great multi-season shrubs will provide a lot of eye-candy as well as bird benefits. Central NJ farm soils are famous for productivity, so I can't imagine that these species would have any difficulty flourishing for you.

I'd use the fragrant early bloomers nearer your home, or at least in places you frequent that time of spring. The primary ones listed above are later to perform, when gardeners are spending more time out in the landscape.

All these are fine in combination with water features, whether a pond, rivulet, or splashing/falling cascade. The species that prefer wet sites (along with winterberries) make even more sense in that regard.

If you do desire to contrive elevation changes, I'd not go the "berm" route. I'd maneuver the existing soil from created low spots (basins) to created swells. That requires no additional materials, and maintains continuity of soil quality, predictability, and integration (no lenses or strident horizons between types). This variety of elevation can blend in the landscape seamlessly, yet provide variety to moisture regime and drainage to subtly different plants that need either sharper drainage or wetter feet.

If considered on 8' centers, with a corridor through which to saunter (dead straight or serpentine, depending on proclivities), there will be ample space to infill with all sorts of perennials, annuals, grasses, and garden follies (sculpture, art, birdhouses, scrap farm equipment) while the shrubs are maturing. That is, if you consider gilding the viburnum necessary.

You can never have too many viburnums (even if some are underachievers). AND - Sven/Andre/Turk should be keeping their physique toned by doing the earthmoving and planting, to earn the opportunity to provide massages...

ooooo luvly vibernumValley. I want a vibernum opulus which is said to be self pollinating?

Great choices, VV. Having a pretty decent viburnum collection, I can't argue with that. On the berms, I was not suggesting new dirt to be brought in - just using what she has. That's what I have done in a few places like the pond. I used the dug out dirt for the waterfall area and rest of that raised bed.

This message was edited Jul 4, 2010 6:01 PM

Nice suggestions, VV...and yes, my part of CT is very frosty!

No accusatory fingers pointed...

Berm is just a pejorative term to me - evoking parking lot islands and the ridiculously mounded earth separations between new developments and highways. These are often filled with dead plants in a few years sans irrigation, thus displaying their brown shrouds ever so much more prominently.

Thanks, Robin and dahlia.

The image is Viburnum plicatum f. tomentosum 'Shasta', ever fruitful this time of year with cross-pollination.

You are welcome to try a V. opulus by itself. That species (and V. trilobum of similar tribe) fares poorly in the Ohio River valley and central KY where I garden, so I have few of these from which to offer an opinion. That said: try it out. See if it fruits well for you. There may also be individuals of this species in the neighborhood that will partner up for you - so you won't need two different ones of your own.

Don't hesitate to get another one, though, when/if you have less than acceptable display. That species should be dripping with fruit that can persist all winter - which is one way to bring color and delight to (shall we say) your longest season...

Shasta is one of my favorites. I'm liking sargentii more and more. Mine are maturing nicely.

After a long time, I gave in to trying Sargent Viburnum. As a close relative of the Cranberrybush Viburnum crowd, I'd assumed it would have their predilections to climate several zones north of me.

I have been pleasantly surprised with the performance of three clones over the past 5 years, though.

I have one plant of 'Chiquita', and half a dozen each of 'Susquehanna' and 'Flavum'. They all look a little weary foliage-wise by summer's end, but they are growing in full sun in a nursery row condition and rare supplemental watering for the last three years. They fruit like mad, and don't seem to have any trouble with growth extensions.

I just got 'Calvescens' this year - it is young plant but flowered and is now setting fruit.

'Chiquita' is an extremely compact and uniform growing little plant. This should be the required pollinating partner for the small landscape.

I expect that I'll move a representative sampling of these plants to a northerly exposure (or at least afternoon shade for our "sultry" summers) to see how they do in a long term landscape setting.

This is 'Flavum' fruit ripening in July 2009.

I'm loving Chiquita. Have three. Fullest viburnum I have. I'll look for pics.

I only had pics in flower last year and this spring. I'll get some current fruiting ones tomorrow a.m. if I don't sleep in too long.

Here's one from May. Still young.

Here's my 'Chiquita' in flower, 28 May 2010...

I got this as a plug in fall 2004, and it went into the field in spring 2006 (I think).

Great ideas VV, Viburnums have been on my want list.
I will def take the ideas of making the elevations without adding any dirt, will work with the areas where they took the tree out and dig it out more....I really like that idea... will def NOT be working in this 100° weather though... I wanted to get it done by my daughter b-day in August...maybe will have a cool spell....lots of luck on that, huh?

Mid-summer is not the time for this! Especially with no rain.

I know, it's crazy!!!! I wish hubby had decided to not use the space last fall. If the weather cools a little(like those few days last week) I can at least lay out all the hardscape and plant in the fall.

I just had to move some containers off the patio - they're frying. Lots of crispy leaves. My weeping katsura is even crispy, and it's in a huge container that gets watered every day. Just moved it.

Yes, all my containers went into the shade....even my lemon tree.

Haven't moved my two citrus yet.

flowerjen be very careful working in the heat even if it seems 'cooler'.

Muggy even at 7:00 a.m. at the Valley.

'Chiquita' Sargent Viburnum seems to be shrugging it off, though. Here are current images - first is closeup of fruit.

Whole plant...

Clusters in morning sun...

Nice. Have to check mine for fruit.

Very lovely, VV! I also liked your shots of the horses and the pool. Inviting right now!
Louise

How long do the berries last before the birds devour them?? On my Shasta, not very long. Neither on the Blue Muffin. Others last longer.

Nice to see our Ky friend checking in with the Northeast gardeners. I could see a melding of the two ideas to create a great garden feature. Building an endless stream with Viburnums to attract a plethora of birds to enjoy the berries and the water feature and of course a nice bench for you to enjoy the spot.

Sounds perfect, Patti!

Yes, but make the temp in the high 70's for better enjoyment!

Yeah!!