Happy Valentine's Day and chat

Thanks John. I am glad I can be of some help...lol
Oh and you too Pirl,, I am glad I can help you spend more time in your gardens...lol

This message was edited Mar 8, 2012 10:20 AM

Yep I need to change that curve for sure. It looked ok yesterday, but now I see it needs more.

The enthusiasm to change things is great and so is the first 10 or 20 minutes, then it becomes work. Take it easy and don't demand too much of yourself, Marie.

Well pirl I am not retired so I have to do what I can when I can. I have to plan the days I have off according to the weather. So if it is raining all the days I have off in a month, well then I dont get nothing done. So yes I am pushing my self, But I really dont mind the sore muscles. It is like a good work out at the gym. But I get better results of the garden than my body...lol

That's true for me as well. Curves in the garden were easier than the Curves gyms we've all seen!

I do recall the rainy weekends when I was working and also recall getting up at 5:30 to try and get something done before heading off to work - then going back to the garden when I got back home. It took all my time and those gardens were tiny compared to what I handle now. Retirement is a blessing for gardeners!

Amen to that Arlene. Oh, Arlene, I love that corner of your garden. I'll need to show DH that for inspiration as we work to revise our garden setting this year. Marie, sounds as if you're well on your way of recovery. Be active, but do not over work yourself. Listen to your body ... it works best that away. John, thanks for the compliment. We were just lucky there. There seems to be more work in the garden. The gardener's work is never done. It's a journey. ^_^

Well, I purchased a few more clematis last year. One to replace my "President" that was a no show last year for some reason. 'Francisca Marie' and 'Empress'. Although, all 3 are in the same general area, but only Empress is leafing out like no tomorrow, and it also shows flower buds! So I moved the other two next to 'her' and perhaps that's where I'll plant them as a group there. What say you?

Since they all have different looks, I think it could be interesting. The colors are also different so that would add to the scene.

I think I used Josephine instead of Empress but at least they are close in color and shape.

Awww, that sure makes a beautiful trio. Arlene. Thanks. Heading out to look for a Tuteur. :))

Has any of you grown some Leatris, I got 20 some bulbs and planted them in front of my acapulco agastache, and in front of leatris I have planed some blue salvia, so I hope it will look ok. My roses are sopposed to come end of Marchl, and hoping to finish my famous trellis. Pirl, that Astilbe in your picture is almost like my Sister Tereza, just a little more pink. they are up about 8", can't hardly wait. Etelka

Here is what I did, took out the timbers that ran the length of the drive and met the stone in front I moved the stone over to create a continuing run with a curve. Will be paining the right side of the house this spring. Siding was done last fall then the rains came. Seeing the front head on, would you take out that cedar tree?

Now just need to remove the rest of the old timber on the left and redo that.
But dear ole hubby who is like the husband on that TV show that for the life of me right now I cant remember, put 3 ft rebarb down in those timbers. I do not know what in the world he was thinking...lol I still have more to get out of the flower bed since the timbers rotted and the rebarb did not. I dont know how I am going to do it.

Etelka - I do grow liatris and it's a spiky/fuzzy pretty accent plant. I think you will like it. Astilbe are such nice plants. Once the color fades you can remove the flower spike or not, as you please. I removed mine last year and there were over a thousand of them. Make sure you use compost and mulch for the astilbe. They enjoy uniformly moist soil.

Marie - You've done a lovely job. Your curve is soft and ideal for mowing. My guess is that your husband must have pounded in the rebar to keep the timbers from moving and it seems he did a great job. Maybe you could encourage him to remove the timbers.

Marie...When I need to remove rebar such as you are (tho mine are only 12"), I use the tip of a round shovel. Begin prying up about an inch at a time til you can grab it and then use a back and forth motion til it is worked out. Might have to dig away a bit of soil, also make sure the ground is wet, it will help immensely. If the timbers are still in place ,pry up as much as possible with the shovel also.

pix: geranium rozzane and dianthus X loveliness
pix: sorry I forgot which clem this is, duh, lol.
pix: centaurea phyggria purple
pix: durandii, I'm thinking
pix: centaurea phyggria yellow

Loveliness sure lives up to its name!

Marie, that curve looks very nice. I see that you may feel that cedar tree is out of place, but maybe if you grow a tree angled out from the corner of your home, it will eventually balance it out. Maybe someone grows their clematis up on cedars?
Kathy, those are pretty. Is that a yellow bachelor button? My durandii has a few big buds. Hope it will bloom soon
Pirl, I love vanishing curving paths.
Lily, that is a pretty combo. I have a belle of woking...maybe I will plant Rosemoor near it

Bananna...no, but is in the same family tho. Bachelor button is "Centaurea cyans", which is an annual at 18". The above two are both perennial and grow to 36", and bloom all season when deadheaded, (faded blooms picked off).


Pix: Centaurea montana, Perennial, 18-24", blooms all season
Pix: Centaurea montana, "Amethyst In Snow", perennial, 18-24", blooms all season
Pix: Above centaurea in full bloom, 36+" at base
Pix: Centaurea macrocephala, hardhead, perennial, 36-40", blooms all season

My mouth is watering looking at all these nice pictures. I want summer and blooms so bad...lol
I have been going through many pictures looking at how my yard has changed over the years. Beds added, beds made larger, My large Hosta bed that is no more because the voles ate them all...lol

Each year I see something new I want to do. I sure hope the next owner likes it...lol

I count it, my Sunset clelmatis has 9 buds on it, maybe in a week it will be blooming. Today I had some time and worked in the garden and in the afternoon I went for food shopping and ended up with 15 plants, does that happens to anybody else. I got some pincusshon plants 3 of them and cut them in half, and for the first time I got some perennial poppies, also got some wave petunias to fill in the space of the tall perennials and got some coleus, 2 doll each, for my shady space. It was a good day, don't forgett to turn your clock ahead, loosing sleep tonight. Etelka

Went to the doc today. One of the ports as they call them was getting real red and sore. He is concerned that it is an abscess so he put me on strong med's till Monday and said if it is not better then to call the surgeon. Just what I need...lol

Yes, Etelka, it happens to many of us. When I go to the dentist I usually come home with a trunk full of plants. We can always manage to find plants calling out our names.

So sorry to hear that, Marie. I hope it's a strong medicine and that it works fast. Drink a lot of water when taking antibiotics.

I love it when our Lowe's starts putting plants in their discount area. I have gotten some good things and a few bad. But mostly good.

Here's to Lowes discount center. I love it. Primroses for 99 cents here.. My wife Susan has become addicted to them . She planted some last year under the dogwood and they are beautiful. I have been placing paver stones this morning about half a ton. I bought a ton of them . I took a nap this afternoon.

As my back allows I will do the rest tommorrow.

John

I have 5 clems comming in the mail soon like in the next week !! all though its warmer here than usual they will have to live in the house for about 5-6 weeks !!!!! how do I keep from killing them ??????

Gloria

Our Lowe's just opened in January so I'm anxious to see their sales.

Good work, John! I took a nap, too, without an excuse as good as yours. That's hard work.

Glevely - why can't you plant them outside?

Yesterday I picked up 2 new clems, Vyvyan Pennell and one created by a local nursery named Sonoma Batik, shown below. Actually, Zuzu bought it first last Oct. when I took these shots and then when I checked the stock yesterday, there were only 2 left so I thought I better grab it.

While I am here, I thought I'd share a few more shots. These were taken beginning on Dec. in one of the greenhouses where I love to shop. Names on images.
I hope my bad memory is failing me again and I already posted these in a thread earlier!
Makes me excited for blooms this year!

And 2 more

I'm considering getting that Sieboldii. Such a pretty clem.

pirl its still winter here and I dont want them to freeze to death :0)
Gloria

Sue - they are all so lovely. You really are a terrific photographer.

Sieboldii is so gorgeous!

Clematis do fine in winter weather. Unless you have snow cover or frozen ground you can plant them now.

That is good to hear pirl, I have a few coming in that I ordered. I was hoping I wouldnt have to try and keep them inside.

Just remove any leaves that would be buried as you plant them and remember to water well (don't drown them) and give them 3 to 4" of your favorite mulch.

Feeling any better, Marie?

Sue, that Sonoma Batik is gorgeous!
Marie, I hope those antibiotics are working well and you are better.

I'm probably the last person who should be posting pictures of Clematis in this forum, but here is an overexposed shot of the first bloom on my Omoshiro. It's only about 6" tall and already has a bloom on it. What's up with that ???
(Note: Just got this plant a year ago.) It's planted at the base of a Burgundy Iceberg rose.

Jasper it looks like you have the touch. It makes me wonder how such a small plant can support such a beautiful bloom.

Sue Thanks for the pics. I planted Rebecca last year ( I have a stepdaughter named Rebeccaof whom I am very proud). I have yet to get a bloom from it.

Good work, JD. I hope this is just the start of many more blooms for you.

It's not unusual to get blooms on young plants. It doesn't happen often here but now and then I do get such blooms.

This 'Blue Moon' bloomed before I could even get it planted back in 2005.

Mike, that's going to be a great color combo! Every time I see that rose I am impressed with the color, I think I just just get finally and then maybe I will add my Omoshiro to it also, or any of the other lighter ones I have.

What a nice gift of a bloom. I love that little cage you have for omoshiro. Did you make it?

Really loved the Belle of Woking...might have to spend some cash......

good grief I have leave buds and it only March !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! we all ways get a ggo freeze and more snow here this time of year but its going to be in the 60's all week

Gloria

We've had times when they were in full leaf and then snow arrived yet the clematis did just fine - no damage.