Another Newbie

I am devoted to "lasagna gardening style"
Its a method of creating a garden without turning over the sod.

Yes, I would get rid of the yew, for sure. It kind of screams 50's and 60's!

Heather - Victor is excellent at suggesting shrubs!

Rosy (great name for a gardener!) don't forget to save a sunny spot in that half acre for some veggies.

Thanks, pirl.

Yes, I wholeheartedly agree with Don - set aside room for edibles! Fruits, berries, greens and other veggies. Not only will it save you $$, but you will have the peace of mind in knowing that no strange additives are in it, and the satisfaction of growing it yourself.

Another important consideration - what pests, critters and plant diseases are in your area. Check with your local cooperative extension on that. That will help with making choices. Also, your average rainfall and temp range are important factors.

Absolutely set aside room for veggies. Even aside from the pesticide issue, there's nothing as satisfying as selecting your own tomatoes for a salad at night when farm stands are closed.

Once you grow your own asparagus you won't want anything the store offers.

Welcome from me and the cats who only grow edibles - well they just grow fat and I grow the veggies and fruits.

Hi Yankee cat.

Hi back at you. :)

Hi Heather! Very nice property with lots of designing fun ahead!!! I agree that the driveway suggested curving beds to me immediately. I also agree with the idea of keeping some sunny spots for veggies and fruits. Once you know what kind of plants you want, let us all know so we can send you some plants or seeds to help you out. I see some daylilies in your future! lol And a buddleia or two for the area where MIL is not allowed to go, and a carefree rose bed and some peonies and a lilac and some perennial geraniums........ah, isn't this fun?! :)

Does your sun enjoy growing any specific plants, Heather? Maybe he could carve out a section for himself as you supervise.

Oh, Donnie, that is exactly the types of plants I had in mind!

I think I will plan a "Mother-in-law" shade garden in the back with all foliage plants.

Pirl, great idea about a little area for my son. He always "helps" me out. He likes to dig for treasure (rocks) and build garden borders with them. Everywhere he goes, he is on the lookout for rocks and brings me pocketfulls full as gifts for my walls, lol. Maybe he will follow in my geology footsteps? I just asked him and he said he wants to plant sunflowers.

Jo Anne, I have been reading about lasagne gardening since you mentioned it...sounds like it is right up my alley.

Perfect! Let her wander around some hosta, caladiums, heuchera etc. She'll love it! lol Meanwhile, I think you and DS will be having a ball with some rock gardens filled with color. What fun! Are you receiving lots of garden catalogs? They can give you lots of good ideas to help you plan your beds.

You'll have to get to meet wha (Bill) and introduce your son to him. You just might have great stone borders in your future.

Louise is right - those catalogs are terrific for great gardening ideas, not always just for buying plants.

Bill is the rock person, & he doesn't live too far from you!

if that kid is picking them and bringing them home he's not going to meet me - no stones leave the property!! :)

Bill - don't you actually REQUIRE a rock for admittance to your property?

come on memory i do not want to scare folks off - when they show enough interest, that is when i drop that little pre-req and ask for description before hand. i am choosey about the rocks i keep here :)

Tell me about it! lol

Rosy when we get rid of this snow, you might canvas the neighborhood & see what grows well there. You don't have to copy them, but you could see what the soil can produce. Great trees in back. Make sure to save the leaves next fall for compost.

Remember Joe Rockhead from the Flintstones.

I LOVED the Flintstones. We used to pretend we were them. I was Wilma. lol

Me too. They were not subtle in their 'borrowing' from The Honeymooners.

Not in the least! Bam Bam and Pebbles were cool!

Yes they were. I remember one episode where they were imitating the Beatles.

I missed that one. Would've loved it.....loved/love the Beatles.

Victor you pretended to be Wilma too...

lol, Ronnie!

Remember the ones with the weird neighbors? The Gruesomes?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bEH6_W5jplY

Bill, do you love the rocks, or the walls? I'm a rock girl - I studied geology at UMass. And don't worry, Alex only picks up pebbles :) Do you have any pictures of your borders?

Yes, pirl and Louise - I pore over those seed catalogs all winter long!

I'll have to show Alex the Flintstones. He loves the Jetson's and Yogi Bear.

Hi Rosy. Welcome to the Northeast Forum. I'm Eleanor. I don't post very much any more due to lack of time (raising an autistic grandson) but I check the thread list almost every day to see what's new!! Eleanor

Hi Eleanore missed uou

rosy i love both - here are a couple links to a rock wall i built a few years ago.
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/873748/
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/1005994/

have built several more since then that are scattered through the project threads here - also have "specimen" boulders/rocks in every garden bed here.

Hi, Eleanor......hope you and your GS are well, & not stir crazy like the rest of us!

And the pics from the RU at Bill's house...
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/1129400/

OHH MY GAWD. All those pix of Bills at one time .It sure is beautifully laid out and really impressive.

Rosymom
Here is an album of how I started the biggest Lasagna Garden here.
http://smilebox.com/playBlog/4d6a49314d6a55794f54633d0d0a&blogview=true

Thanks for all the links!

Bill, your walls and gardens are wonderful! It was nice to put some names together with faces.

Thank you everyone who has welcomed me! I'm so glad I subscribed :)

Off to read about some more about lasagne gardening...

Welcome Rosymom!

I'm a newbie too! I'm hoping to learn a lot here, as my gardening skill are beginner-level!

Welcome, Kathy!