Garden Projects 2011 #3

Thanks, Marilyn. Picked up a homepathic remedy for it today. It's not too bad. Hopefully it will subside soon. I have just 2 small rashes from it.

Karen

I am going to add steps up the slope in my front year that lead to the side which will end up being a path to the back yard. I am also going to remove all the grass in the front and go with all garden on the front slope. The problem is I told DH I want the house painted (or divorce) and I cannot start the front until the house is done. I have made him aware of my timeline but he just doesn't get my spring planting window dilemma. I mean I planned the garden to match the new house color and he just needs to get on the ball! He usually just looks at me an calls my dad to commiserate.

I either ask to borrow a power tool, or just start doing a project myself which gets DH going, especially when asked to use the tools!

LOL...ME TOO!

Yes, BR, get the project started, then hubby will probably feel like he needs to get on the ball.

Karen

I would put a huge sign on the road - 'Still Waiting for Husband to Paint!'

Ooooh, I like that!

The problem is my DH is a Union Painter and all is "side work" comes first.........you know the shoemakers kids. The only time my house gets anything done is when my parents come to visit and they won't be here until the end of June.

I am very familiar with the above tactics. My DW knows I DON'T PAINT!!!! I'll do everything else (usually in a timely manner) but I refuse to paint.

bookreader, I use that expression ALL the time!!!
Hubby is a union HVAC tech and still waiting for my split system, we've been here 6yrs

I don't paint either. Hate it.

BR, that explains it.

Karen

We actually paint one side of the house a year, and the color matches up well waiting in between. That way it isn't overwhelming. And not every year, a few years in between, then start over.
But changing the color is a different story.

Laughing about "shoemaker" syndrome.....my son, the landscape architect, has been in his house 3 years now......the only plants he has are the ones I've given him, and only because my oldest granddaughter worried there would be no butterflies! Someone in our town painted a historical house deep burgundy with light tan trim.....I really love the combo.....

This is when vinyl siding is a very good thing. I finished ripping out the grass today. My right arm is paralyzed and my back is broken, but that part of the project is done!

Time for a hot bath!

It was a shower and it felt marvelous!

I did see this new siding that looks just like our cedar shakes but it is very very expensive. The housepainting ordeal will cost me a few delmonico steaks for my DH buddies.

I love the look of the cedar shakes.

Louise - congratulations! Please post photos when you've planted the area.

I love our vinyl cedar shakes. As our carpenter loves to say, "Vinyl is final". We've never had a problem with them in the ten years we've had them.

Thanks Pirl, I will.

I didn't know they made vinyl cedar shakes......great idea!

My house is 100 year old cedar shakes now. I just love the look of cedar and unfortunately that means you have to paint. But all the better for a cottage garden look.

I love cedar shakes. I didn't know they made vinyl ones. I don't like vinyl siding. Like the real wood better, but a lot more hassle, I guess.

'Shoemaker' syndrome is why I don't get into the landscaping or design biz. I would never have time for my own gardens.

Karen

I think they make a composite version as well... like the trex decking

My house has cedar shakes aged naturally, the next house will be log. Vinal siding just wouldn't look right down in the middle of the field surrounded by woods. :)
Something along these lines w/a fieldstone fireplace again....I love mine.
http://top-hottub.net/tag/log-cabins-in-scotland/

the log house my friend bought in south jersey.. she always has problems with critters wanting in.. too easy for the squirrels to eat the wood to get in.. they had to put screening up inside to keep em out.. and always have to repair holes

Good grief! Never heard anyone w/that problem here so far...will ask though!

her house was fairly old when she bought it.. even those little flying squirrels .. sugar gliders.. were taking over for a while.. but her place is so old there are old coke wooden billboards on the floor of the 2nd level of her barn.. recycle reuse even in the 50's!!.. her barn is 3 levels... and pretty cool.. there is a dumb waiter going up to the watch tower over the pines to watch for fires .. lots of good places for her kids to play hide & seek in there

Sounds neat!

several doors, rooms & stalls.. you bet it is... it did freak me out looking out the tower.. fear of heights ya know.. but I still had to look.. bad part is there is plastic windows up there... and it's like a small oven in the summer

My house is also cedar shakes....we let it go "natural" for a few years, but you need to be by the salt air to have it weather right.....each side of the house weathered a different color! We finally painted it dark brown....now it's light tan, but this winter was so awful, paint came off the house, especially the south side garage, in hunks! Since the place was painted only 5 years ago, don't want to repaint yet!

Allison, I love log cabins. My sister in Alaska has one that she and her hubby built together from scratch. It's gorgeous. I will have to ask her about the squirrel thing. They shoot the squirrels up there so they won't have a problem with them getting in.

Marilyn, I didn't know there was a problem with the cedar shakes not aging right. Too bad about all the paint coming off.

Karen

yeah can't be doing that in jersey... LOL

Robin find out the warranty on the paint. If it has a warranty you can at least replace it free. We are trying this product from Pittsburg that is supposed to be the best exterior paint out there. We'll see how long it holds up but it is guaranteed for life!

http://www.ppgpittsburghpaints.com/our_products/exterior_paints/manor_hall_timeless_exterior/index.htm

This message was edited Apr 30, 2011 2:05 PM

Robin find out the warrenty on the paint. If it has a warranty you can at least replace it free. We are trying this product from Pittsburg that is supposed to be the best exterior paint out there. We'll see how long it holds up but it is guaranteed for life!

http://www.ppgpittsburghpaints.com/our_products/exterior_paints/manor_hall_timeless_exterior/index.htm

Spent the day transplanting and potting up. Transplanted 3 columbines and potted up 5. Transplanted 5 rhubarb. Planted 2 raspberries (3 more to go). Planted a pink salvia. Visited local nursery to check their stock of annuals. Did some weeding. Probably finish raspberry planting tomorrow PM. Been notified love grass has been shipped. Made last minute order the other day: Star Cluster Coreopsis, Lavender Pinwheel Geranium and Double Jewel Geranium from Roots & Rhizomes; Scabiosa Beaujolais from Bluestone. That's it for this year! Anything else will be local.

Lots of work today, wish I had more time, but had to get ready for church

Fairy garden, the smaller scale with all the new Bluestone plants
I did finish off the bottom left rock border

Close ups

Shepherd's Warning